Bathurst gets cross-country world champs

Fast feet, not fast cars, will be a change of pace for Bathurst with the NSW town to host the 2021 IAAF world cross country championships.

Bathurst, made famous for the annual Supercars endurance race at the Mount Panorama circuit, will be the first Australian location to host the biennial championships.

Over 700 competitors from 60 nations are expected to take part in the championships which will be held on March 20, 2021.

Current Australian 10,000m record holder Ben St Lawrence said the news was exciting for all long-distance runners in the country.

"I've been all over the world competing for Australia, so having this event at home will be brilliant," St Lawrence said.

This year's championships will be held in Aarhus, Denmark on March 30 with Australia sending a 24-strong team to take part.