Moh Ahmed secures spot for cross-country worlds after winning 1st Canadian title

Moh Ahmed, who has earned seven Canadian senior track titles in 18 years, won his first title on the grass on Saturday.

In his long-awaited return to national cross-country skiing, Ahmed took control men's 10 kilometer open race finished about two kilometers away on a partially snow-covered course and won in 29 minutes, 30.4 seconds at Fanshawe Golf Course in London, Ontario.

“I've been slipping and sliding there, so you never know [if you’ll maintain a lead]. That’s what separates cross country from track and field: the elements beat you,” Ahmed told Athletics Canada after his first race in the event after finishing second in 2012 at Jericho Beach Park in Vancouver.

Ahmed and eight others in the top 10 are eligible to be selected by Athletics Canada to compete at the World Athletics Championships on Jan. 10 in Tallahassee, Florida.

Andy Wacker, one of Saturday's early leaders, was seventh but was ineligible because he is American.

Saturday was the 34-year-old Ahmed's first race since Sept. 14, when the St. Catharines, Ont., native pulled out of the 10,000-meter final at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo early due to a worsening left calf sprain.

It was also the first time he completed the race since August 30, 2024. in Rome.

“I was determined and adamant about finishing,” he said. “I didn't know how my calf would hold up [in the minus-5 C temperature] but I think he's in good shape.

“I didn’t want to underestimate anyone. [pre-race] Darling, I'm not comfortable. You never know. People can have [career-best] day.”

Xavier Péras-Phaneuf of Quebec, who was second at the national under-20 men's cross-country competition in London last year, finished behind Ahmed in 29:46.1.

Santiago Gaitan of Welland, Ont., finished third (29:48.2). On October 4, the 24-year-old athlete ran the St. George's Half Marathon. in Utah in one hour and 55 seconds, the second fastest time ever by a Canadian man. behind Cam Levins (1:00:18).

Philippe Morneau Cartier of La Pocatière, Que., who just won his third straight U Sports cross-country title, was sixth (29:56.3).

On a course designed for runners with hilly uphill/downhill terrain and technical elements such as hay bale jumping, Wacker led the field of 123 athletes by 4.7 seconds after the first lap of the two-kilometre circuit course, extended his lead to 6.7 seconds over four kilometres, but soon saw his lead shrink on the third lap.

Ahmed, who was wearing a dark hat, gloves, shorts and a long-sleeved top – the latter under a white, orange and yellow jersey – soon ran up to Wacker's outside shoulder and took the lead for good.

“A lot of the guys looked really, really good,” said Ahmed, who practiced the course Friday. “These guys are young, smart and cross country. [for years] and got used to the elements.”

Canadian runner Kate Van Buskirk, the 2021 Olympic 5,000-meter champion, praised Ahmed for his smart run.

“Moss, I think, used the first half to get a feel for the field, a feel for himself, and now he's coming out to the start and showing why he's the greatest ever in Canadian distance running. What a brilliant performance,” Van Buskirk, an Athletics Canada TV analyst, said on Saturday's broadcast.

At his best, Ahmed completed the 5000m in 12 minutes 47.20 seconds, was the fastest runner over the distance in North America and Canada's first Olympic medalist in the 5000m at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. 28:22 more than 10 km on the road.

But the 2025 season was riddled with injuries, from Achilles tendon problems to adductor issues to back spasms to hamstring issues.

McCabe dominates after injury

Meanwhile, Vancouver's Ceili McCabe's summer season was cut short due to injury, but she returned to captain the women's 10K open and capture her second national title in three years after winning at Terry Fox Stadium in Ottawa in 2023.

The 24-year-old's time of 32:57 was almost a minute faster than Chloe Thomas of Hamilton (33:53.4) and Florence Caron of La Malbaie, Quebec. (33:55.6).

World cross-country skiing competitions will return to Tallahassee after more than 30 years and will attract hundreds of athletes from more than 60 countries. The race will be held at Apalachee Regional Park, which has hosted more than 75 national, state and local championships since 2012.

The course features hills, forests and unique challenges such as sand, water, mud, roller coaster elements and wildlife-inspired obstacles.