The short race for men and women that was run between 1998 and 2006 was scrapped and the World Cross Country Championships went back to one-day format.

Instead, successful Kenyan runners typically represent Kalenjin tribes who reside in The Rift Valley Kenya, approximately 700-800 kilometres from Mombasa.

Other applicants for the event were Miami in the United States and Madrid in Spain, both withdrew their candidature before final vote.

This kind of weather may affect competitors who hail from distant latitudes, but also Kenyan and Ethiopian runners, who often come from cooler highland areas.

One victim was Pauline Korikwiang, Kenyan runner who was attempting to defend her junior women's title but fainted one kilometer before the finishing line.

Kenenisa Bekele of Ethiopia, who has won five consecutive long and short course races, promised to quit cross country running after the 2006 World Championships.

[7] A pre-race favourite, Bekele did not finish the race and thus failed to win historical sixth consecutive title.