The first world cross-country championships held in the United States in more than 30 years will be without two of the sport\u2019s dominant teams.<\/p>\n
Ethiopia will not enter full men\u2019s and women\u2019s U20 teams Saturday in Tallahassee, Fla., because athletes were unable to obtain visas, according to LetsRun.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n Ethiopia\u2019s U20 men\u2019s team has medaled in every world championship since its first entry in 1982, per LetsRun.com. The country\u2019s U20 women\u2019s team has won the last five championships as part of a 27-race medal streak.<\/p>\n Four runners are required for a team score, and a team can enter up to six. One Ethiopian U20 male had his visa approved and is registered to race; Ethiopia\u2019s women\u2019s team has three U20 entrants.<\/p>\n LetsRun.com reported Amensisa Kebede, the Ethiopian Athletics Federation\u2019s general secretary, said four of the country\u2019s senior runners also were denied visas but that using substitutes who already had necessary paperwork will allow the country to field full senior teams.<\/p>\n Kebede told LetsRun.com the federation applied for visas at the U.S. Embassy in Addis Ababa on Dec. 12. Of the initial 34 visa requests, 23 were rejected, and athletes who were denied on the first try were turned down again after another request, Dec. 30.<\/p>\n Touchdown in Tallahassee \u2600\ufe0f<\/p>\n It\u2019s almost time for the #WorldCrossCountry<\/a> Championships \ud83c\udf34<\/p>\n Here\u2019s all the info you need to know including where to watch all the action live \ud83d\udc49 https:\/\/t.co\/lyZgVOyNvn<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/zbm54IUFvu<\/a><\/p>\n