20 March 1998 - MARRAKECH, Morocco - A record number of athletes (831 from 70 countries) will take part in the 26^th edition of the IAAF World Cross Championships this weekend, which return to Morocco for the first time since 1975. Conditions are sunny, with temperatures nudging 31 degrees, and the grassy course, constructed especially for the event, is mainly flat: "From what I have seen of the course, it will be really fast," said Kenya’s Paul Tergat, who will be trying to win his fourth consecutive title. Tergat joined a number of other star athletes at the Official Press Conference earlier today including 5000 metres World Champion Daniel Komen, former 5000 metres World Champion Sonia O’Sullivan, Morocco’s former 10,000 metres world record holder Salah Hissou and two members of a strong Spanish team, Julia Vaquero and Reyes Estevez, winner of the 1500 metres bronze medal in Athens last year. The presence of athletes like Komen and Estevez, not normally cross country specialists, can be explained by the IAAF’s decision to introduce "short course" races of 4 kilometres for the first time in 1998.
As IAAF President Primo Nebiolo explained: "We changed the format to attract great middle distance runners who would not normally take part. As you can see from the entries this decision was a good one and appeals both to the athletes and fans."

There was some debate about another change in the rules, limiting teams to six with four to score, as compared with the previous system of nine and six to score. Some argued that this was designed to undermine the Kenyans, who have dominated the World Cross Country Championships for a decade. Tergat himself commented: "Obviously, Kenya had more possibilities before to win because few other teams had the strength to have six good runners in the race, while there are many who can find four good people. But I am confident that Kenya can do well whatever the rules."

Sadly, one of Morroco’s great hopes, Salah Hissou, has been forced to withdraw because of injury. Hissou had a memorable duel with Tergat in Turin last season and was expected to challenge for gold on his home soil. But, on the advice of his doctor, Hissou has pulled out. "He can run, but not well enough to challenge for the podium," said his coach Abdel Abdelkader.

The IAAF used the occasion to launch two major initiatives - The IAAF Golden League and the Year of Women in Athletics.

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