Tallahassee/Leon County Hosts 2026 World Cross Country Championships
Tallahassee Hosts First Cross Country Stampede of Athletes in 2026
By Nick Gandy
A stampede rolled through Tallahassee on Saturday, January 10.
It wasn’t the impulsive old west type of stampede with spooked cattle running amok and destroying a town, but one Tallahassee has planned for the last five years.
Saturday’s stampede started in front of a 1200-foot long replica of the Florida Historic Capitol building, which sits about five miles west of the Apalachee Regional Park (ARP) and featured cross country runners from more than 60 countries.
The stampeding runners caused no damage to Tallahassee’s state of the art cross country course. They were greeted with cheers, by nearly 10,000 fans in attendance as they began five races of 8 to 10K runs.
After years of planning, the ARP course showcased a little bit of everything Florida has to offer its millions of visitors annually. Prior to the opening race, fans were treated to a performance by the Florida A&M Marching 100, followed by the National Anthem.
Once the stampede made its way from the start line, runners ran up a man-made incline to signify a rollercoaster of Central Florida’s theme parks. They proceeded through white, soft sand to pay homage to Florida’s thousands of miles of coastline. Looming ahead was a water hole giving runners the feeling of running through Florida swamps. To add more validity to the swamps, runners leaped across meticulously-sculpted logs adorned with equally crafted alligators, snakes and turtles.
The event was broadcast internationally. Announcers called out names of runners from the US, Kenya, Ethiopia, Spain, Australia, New Zealand and France just to name a few. Fans waved flags of their country as runners came down the homestretch. Runners collapsed in joy and fatigue as they crossed the finish line.
At the conclusion of the races, athletes paraded down a red carpet with fans lined up behind velvet ropes to receive their medals. The national anthems of the gold medal winning countries were played. For many, it was certainly the first time to hear the Ethiopian and Kenyan national anthems.
While Tallahassee’s original brush with sports greatness may be football and its two championship caliber teams in Florida A&M and Florida State University. The city is now recognized as a Cross Country hotbed
The Apalachee Regional Park, or ARP, is truly a gem. While it serves as the home course of the Florida State University Cross Country team, it has hosted a variety of events since opening in 2009. It’s a destination for the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) State Championships, has hosted NCAA Regional and National Championships and a variety of USA Track and Field Championships.
The World Cross Country Championships has been the defining moment of the ARP in Tallahassee.
There was a big-time sporting event feel in the days leading up to the event. Buses, accompanied by Florida Highway Patrol cars, traveled east on the Apalachee Parkway with World Cross Country Championships signage on the sides.
On race day, it was a Who’s Who of Tallahassee and Leon County officials, along with Olympic distance runners and World Cross Country officials. On top of that local enthusiasts lined the course and had the opportunity to run the course themselves once the five races were complete.
Besides the local economic impact, an estimated $4.3 million, benefited hotels, restaurants, and retailers through sports tourism from athletes and spectators. This event, the first World Championship in Leon County, placed Tallahassee on the global stage, showcasing Apalachee Regional Park and delivering substantial returns on prior county investments in the facility.
With runners from 60 countries visiting North Florida’s Capital City, there was worldwide television exposure of the event. The production value was nothing short of award-winning. Strategically-placed cameras and several handhelds dotted the two meter route. Drone cameras provided astonishing footage of the runners making their way through the track and the wooded areas surrounding the ARP.
Just 10 days into 2026, Tallahassee got the New Year off to a big start of sports tourism in the State of Florida. On the horizon, look for more national and international events including the College Football Playoff National Championship, Florida Spring Training Baseball, NCAA Basketball Tournament Regionals and the World Cup.
Tallahassee felt the impact of the stampede in a good way. Where will it head next?
Visit https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-cross-country-championships/tallahassee26 for complete coverage of the World Cross Country Championships and results. For more information about the efforts of Visit Tallahassee, visit www.visittallahassee.com.
Nick Gandy is a 30-year sports communications professional who has worked with the Florida Sports Foundation, the state of Florida’s lead sports promotion and development organization, since 1998.