The World Athletics Cross Country Championships in Tallahassee is set to host a highly anticipated senior women's race, where Kenya will once again field a formidable team. Having clinched the past nine titles in this event, Team Kenya aims for another gold medal, despite the notable absence of two-time champion Beatrice Chebet. Athletics Kenya president Jackson Tuwei expressed confidence in the squad, stating, "We are the defending overall champions. This is a young team, and I am confident you will give your very best in Florida. We wish you all the best of luck as you go out there to represent Kenya."

Kenya's bid for glory will be spearheaded by Agnes Ngetich, the world 10km record-holder. Ngetich, who secured a bronze medal behind Chebet at the 2023 World Cross Country Championships in Bathurst, was also integral to Kenya’s top-four sweep in Belgrade in 2024 and achieved a fourth-place finish in the world 10,000m final in Tokyo. Joining her is the fast-rising Maurine Chebor, a 21-year-old who won the national trials in October and has made a strong return from injury struggles in 2024. Chebor's impressive form includes a second-place finish at the National Cross Country Championships in February and winning the Kenyan police cross-country title last year, making her a leading contender on her international championship debut. The team is further strengthened by national trials runner-up Brenda Kenei, Joyline Chepkemoi, Rebecca Mwangi, and Caren Chebet, as Kenya targets a third successive senior women’s team title.

The senior women’s team title at the World Cross Country Championships has historically been a contest between Kenya and Ethiopia, with these two nations sharing every gold medal since 1995. Ethiopia will once again present a strong challenge in Tallahassee. Their lineup includes former age-group stars stepping up to the senior ranks, such as Senayet Getachew, the 2023 world U20 champion, and Asayech Ayichew, who was the runner-up in the U20 race in 2024. Ayichew arrives in excellent form, having won the Jan Meda International Cross Country, which also served as the Ethiopian Championships, in Addis Ababa in November. The 20-year-old gained valuable track experience last season with Diamond League appearances in Xiamen, Rome, and Eugene. Other notable members of the Ethiopian squad include marathon specialist Shure Demise, world U20 3000m champion Aleshign Baweke, Alem Tsadik, and Lemlem Nibret, who achieved fifth and eighth places respectively at the past two world U20 cross-country championships.

Uganda has also established itself as a consistent presence on the podium in the senior women’s team race, securing medals at four of the past five editions, and is expected to be a major contender once more. Their team is led by national champion Joy Cheptoyek, who dominated the Ugandan championships in Mbale in November and notably placed seventh in the world 10,000m final in Tokyo. She is joined by Sarah Chelangat, who finished fifth at the World Cross Country Championships in Belgrade two years ago. The squad also includes Rispa Cherop, Kereen Chemusto, Martha Chemutai, and national 10,000m champion Rebecca Chelangat, all of whom performed well at the national championships.

Meanwhile, the USA's hopes for a strong performance are primarily vested in Weini Kelati Frezghi, who extended her cross-country season to secure a place on the US team for Tallahassee and was rewarded with a victory at the trials held in Portland in December. The stage is set for an exhilarating competition with top athletic talent from around the globe vying for the coveted titles.