IAAF World Cross Country Championships
IAAF World Cross Country Championships is the most important competition in international cross country running. Held annually and organised by International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), it was inaugurated in 1973, when it replaced the International Cross Country Championships. It was an annual competition until 2011, when the IAAF changed it to a biennial event.[1]
History
Traditionally, the World Cross Country Championships consisted of four races: one each for men (12 km) and for women (8 km); and one each for junior men (8 km) and for junior women (6 km). Scoring was done for individuals and for national teams. In the team competition, the finishing positions of the top six scorers from a team of up to nine are summed for the men and women, respectively, and the lowest score wins. For the junior races, the top three from a team of up to four are scored.
The year 1998 saw the introduction of two new events at the World Cross Country Championships, a short race for men and a short race for women. The last time these 4 km races were held was 2006, and there are no public plans to bring them back.
In an incredible show of dominance, the senior men's team race has been won by Ethiopia or Kenya every year since 1981 in both the short and long races. These nations have enjoyed a similar strangle-hold on the junior men's races since 1982. In the senior men's 12 km race, Kenya won the world championships for an astounding 18 years in a row, from 1986 through 2003, a record of unequaled international success. Likewise on the women's side, only one other nation has won the long team race since 1991: Portugal, in 1994. These African nations were not quite so dominant in the short races, but they have won every women's junior race since its introduction in 1989.
Several athletes have won two or more individual titles: Craig Virgin, who is the only American to ever win at World Cross Country Championships, which he did twice; Carlos Lopes, the first man to win three times (although Jack Holden won the International Cross Country Championships four times between 1933 and 1939, Gaston Roelants between 1962 and 1972); John Ngugi, the first man to win five times; Paul Tergat, the first man to win five times in a row; Kenenisa Bekele, the only man to win both the short and long courses in the same year, which he did five years in a row, and whose win in 2008 gave him six long course championships, the most of anyone in history; Sonia O'Sullivan, first athlete ever to win both the long and short course double in the same year; Grete Waitz, the first woman to win five times (although Doris Brown Heritage won the International Cross Country Championships five times between 1967 and 1971); Lynn Jennings, who won three times; Derartu Tulu, who won three times; Tirunesh Dibaba, who won three times in the long course and once in the short course; Gete Wami, who won twice at the long course and once at the short; and Edith Masai, who won the short race three times. Tirunesh Dibaba was also once the junior women's champion.
Many consider the World Cross Country Championships to be the most difficult races to win, even more difficult than the Olympic Games. At most major championships, the world's best distance runners are separated into a few races, i.e. 3000 m Steeplechase, 5000 m, and 10,000 m. However, in the absence of the short course races, the World Cross Country Championships pit all runners against one another in only one race. Thus, the competition is quite fierce. It's no wonder, then, that several Olympic Champions have gotten their start as World Cross Country Champions: Carlos Lopes, marathon, 1984; John Ngugi, 5000 m, 1988; Khalid Skah, 10,000 m, 1992; and Kenenisa Bekele, 10,000 m, 2004 and 2008. Numerous other champions have medalled at the Olympic Games or the World Championships, or have set World Records.
Editions
| Edition | Year | City | Country | Date | Venue | No. of Countries | No. of Athletes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 1973 | Waregem | Belgium | March 17 | Hippodroom Waregem | 21 | 286 |
| 2nd | 1974 | Monza | Italy | March 16 | Mirabello Racecourse | 23 | 269 |
| 3rd | 1975 | Rabat | Morocco | March 16 | Souissi Racecourse | 26 | 316 |
| 4th | 1976 | Chepstow | United Kingdom | February 28 | Chepstow Racecourse | 21 | 306 |
| 5th | 1977 | Düsseldorf | West Germany | March 20 | Galopprennbahn Düsseldorf-Grafenberg | 22 | 345 |
| 6th | 1978 | Glasgow | United Kingdom | March 25 | Bellahouston Park | 27 | 358 |
| 7th | 1979 | Limerick | Ireland | March 25 | Greenpark Racecourse | 27 | 383 |
| 8th | 1980 | Paris | France | March 9 | Hippodrome de Longchamp | 28 | 381 |
| 9th | 1981 | Madrid | Spain | March 28 | Hippodromo de la Zarzuela | 39 | 460 |
| 10th | 1982 | Rome | Italy | March 21 | Ippodromo delle Capannelle | 33 | 382 |
| 11th | 1983 | Gateshead | United Kingdom | March 20 | Riverside Park | 35 | 431 |
| 12th | 1984 | East Rutherford | United States | March 25 | Meadowlands Racetrack | 40 | 443 |
| 13th | 1985 | Lisbon | Portugal | March 24 | Sports Complex of Jamor | 50 | 570 |
| 14th | 1986 | Colombier | Switzerland | March 23 | Planeyse Colombier | 57 | 670 |
| 15th | 1987 | Warsaw | Poland | March 22 | Służewiec Racecourse | 47 | 576 |
| 16th | 1988 | Auckland | New Zealand | March 26 | Ellerslie Racecourse | 41 | 441 |
| 17th | 1989 | Stavanger | Norway | March 19 | Scanvest Ring | 41 | 568 |
| 18th | 1990 | Aix-les-Bains | France | March 25 | Hippodrome de Marlioz | 59 | 617 |
| 19th | 1991 | Antwerpen | Belgium | March 24 | Linkeroever Racecourse | 51 | 633 |
| 20th | 1992 | Boston | United States | March 21 | Franklin Park | 53 | 580 |
| 21st | 1993 | Amorebieta | Spain | March 28 | Jaureguibarría Course | 54 | 653 |
| 22nd | 1994 | Budapest | Hungary | March 26 | Kincsem Park | 60 | 760 |
| 23rd | 1995 | Durham | United Kingdom | March 25 | University of Durham | 58 | 619 |
| 24th | 1996 | Stellenbosch | South Africa | March 23 | Danie Craven Stadium | 65 | 669 |
| 25th | 1997 | Torino | Italy | March 23 | Parco del Valentino | 72 | 725 |
| 26th | 1998 | Marrakech | Morocco | March 21/22 | Menara district | 66 | 707 |
| 27th | 1999 | Belfast | United Kingdom | March 27/28 | Barnett Demesne | 66 | 759 |
| 28th | 2000 | Vilamoura | Portugal | March 18/19 | Sporting Complex of Vilamoura | 76 | 805 |
| 29th | 2001 | Oostende | Belgium | March 24/25 | Hippodrome Wellington | 67 | 790 |
| 30th | 2002 | Dublin | Ireland | March 23/24 | Leopardstown Racecourse | 59 | 664 |
| 31st | 2003 | Lausanne | Switzerland | March 29/30 | L'Institut Équestre National d'Avenches | 65 | 605 |
| 32nd | 2004 | Brussels | Belgium | March 20/21 | Ossegem Park | 72 | 673 |
| 33rd | 2005 | Saint-Galmier | France | March 19/20 | Hippodrome Joseph Desjoyaux | 72 | 695 |
| 34th | 2006 | Fukuoka | Japan | April 1/2 | Umi-no-nakamichi Seaside Park | 59 | 574 |
| 35th | 2007 | Mombasa | Kenya | March 24 | Mombasa Golf Course | 63 | 470 |
| 36th | 2008 | Edinburgh | United Kingdom | March 30 | Holyrood Park | 23 | 448 |
| 37th | 2009 | Amman | Jordan | March 28 | Al Bisharat Golf Course | 57 | 459 |
| 38th | 2010 | Bydgoszcz | Poland | March 28 | Myślęcinek Park | 59 | 437 |
| 39th | 2011 | Punta Umbría | Spain | March 20 | Polideportivo Antonio Gil Hernández | 51 | 423 |
| 40th | 2013 | Bydgoszcz | Poland | March 24 | Myślęcinek Park | 41 | 398 |
| 41st | 2015 | Guiyang | China | March 28 | Guiyang horse racing circuit | 51 | 410 |
| 42nd | 2017 | Kampala | Uganda | March |
Medals
Senior Men's Individual Medals
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Senior Men's Team Medals
Senior Women's Individual Medals
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Senior Women's Team Medals
Men's Short Race Individual Medals
| Year | Gold | Silver | Bronze | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 (4 km) | John Kibowen Kenya | 10:43 | Daniel Komen Kenya | 10:46 | Paul Kosgei Kenya | 10:50 |
| 1999 (4.236 km) | Benjamin Limo Kenya | 12:28 | Paul Kosgei Kenya | 12:31 | Haylu Mekonnen Ethiopia | 12:35 |
| 2000 (4.18 km) | John Kibowen Kenya | 11:11 | Sammy Kipketer Kenya | 11:12 | Paul Kosgei Kenya | 11:15 |
| 2001 (4.1 km) | Enock Koech Kenya | 12:40 | Kenenisa Bekele Ethiopia | 12:42 | Benjamin Limo Kenya | 12:43 |
| 2002 (4.208 km) | Kenenisa Bekele Ethiopia | 12:11 | Luke Kipkosgei Kenya | 12:18 | Haylu Mekonnen Ethiopia | 12:20 |
| 2003 (4.03 km) | Kenenisa Bekele Ethiopia | 11:01 | John Kibowen Kenya | 11:04 | Benjamin Limo Kenya | 11:06 |
| 2004 (4 km) | Kenenisa Bekele Ethiopia | 11:31 | Gebre-egziabher Gebremariam Ethiopia | 11:36 | Maregu Zewdie Ethiopia | 11:42 |
| 2005 (4.196 km) | Kenenisa Bekele Ethiopia | 11:33 | Abraham Chebii Kenya | 11:38 | Isaac Songok Kenya | 11:39 |
| 2006 (4 km) | Kenenisa Bekele Ethiopia | 10:54 | Isaac Songok Kenya | 10:55 | Adil Kaouch Morocco | 10:57 |
Men's Short Race Team Medals
| Year | Gold | Silver | Bronze | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Kenya | 10 | Morocco | 42 | Ethiopia | 60 |
| 1999 | Kenya | 14 | Morocco | 45 | Ethiopia | 55 |
| 2000 | Kenya | 10 | Ethiopia | 46 | Morocco | 68 |
| 2001 | Kenya | 13 | Morocco | 48 | Ethiopia | 51 |
| 2002 | Kenya | 20 | Ethiopia | 32 |  Spain | 57 |
| 2003 | Kenya | 14 | Ethiopia | 31 | Morocco | 44 |
| 2004 | Ethiopia | 17 |  Qatar | 39 | Kenya | 52 |
| 2005 | Ethiopia | 23 | Kenya | 31 | Qatar | 32 |
| 2006 | Kenya | 21 | Ethiopia | 48 | Morocco | 53 |
Women's Short Race Individual Medals
| Year | Gold | Silver | Bronze | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 (4 km) | Sonia O'Sullivan Ireland | 12:20 | Zahra Ouaziz Morocco | 12:34 | Kutre Dulecha Ethiopia | 12:37 |
| 1999 (4.236 km) | Jackline Maranga Kenya | 15:09 | Yamna Belkacem France | 15:16 | Annemari Sandell Finland | 15:17 |
| 2000 (4.18 km) | Kutre Dulecha Ethiopia | 13:00 | Zahra Ouaziz Morocco | 13:00 | Margaret Ngotho Kenya | 13:00 |
| 2001 (4.1 km) | Gete Wami Ethiopia | 14:46 | Paula Radcliffe United Kingdom | 14:47 | Edith Masai Kenya | 14:57 |
| 2002 (4.208 km) | Edith Masai Kenya | 13:30 | Worknesh Kidane Ethiopia | 13:36 | Isabella Ochichi Kenya | 13:39 |
| 2003 (4.03 km) | Edith Masai Kenya | 12:43 | Worknesh Kidane Ethiopia | 12:44 | Jane Wanjiku Kenya | 12:46 |
| 2004 (4 km) | Edith Masai Kenya | 13:07 | Tirunesh Dibaba Ethiopia | 13:09 | Teyiba Erkesso Ethiopia | 13:11 |
| 2005 (4.196 km) | Tirunesh Dibaba Ethiopia | 13:15 | Worknesh Kidane Ethiopia | 13:16 | Isabella Ochichi Kenya | 13:21 |
| 2006 (4 km) | Gelete Burka Ethiopia | 12:51 | Prisca Ngetich Kenya | 12:53 | Meselech Melkamu Ethiopia | 12:54 |
Women's Short Race Team Medals
| Year | Gold | Silver | Bronze | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Morocco | 57 | Ethiopia | 58 |  United States | 68 |
| 1999 | France | 40 | Ethiopia | 48 | Morocco | 69 |
| 2000 |  Portugal | 46 | Ethiopia | 55 | France | 57 |
| 2001 | Ethiopia | 26 | Kenya | 32 |  Romania | 78 |
| 2002 | Ethiopia | 32 | Kenya | 34 | Ireland | 85 |
| 2003 | Kenya | 18 | Ethiopia | 24 |  Russia | 76 |
| 2004 | Ethiopia | 19 | Kenya | 21 |  Canada | 87 |
| 2005 | Ethiopia | 18 | Kenya | 19 | United States | 67 |
| 2006 | Ethiopia | 25 | Kenya | 26 |  Australia | 69 |
Junior Men's Individual Medals
Junior Men's Team Medals
Junior Women's Individual Medals
Junior Women's Team Medals
| Year | Gold | Silver | Bronze | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Kenya | 40 |  Soviet Union | 68 | Portugal | 84 |
| 1990 | Kenya | 20 |  Japan | 44 |  China | 68 |
| 1991 | Kenya | 18 | .svg.png){kind=small} Ethiopia | 40 | Japan | 43 |
| 1992 | .svg.png){kind=small} Ethiopia | 55 | Romania | 59 | Kenya | 59 |
| 1993 | Kenya | 10 | Japan | 41 | Ethiopia | 61 |
| 1994 | Kenya | 11 | Ethiopia | 46 | Japan | 60 |
| 1995 | Kenya | 18 | Ethiopia | 31 | Japan | 56 |
| 1996 | Kenya | 21 | .svg.png){kind=small} Ethiopia | 26 | Japan | 70 |
| 1997 | Kenya | 15 | Japan | 38 | Ethiopia | 39 |
| 1998 | Ethiopia | 16 | Kenya | 20 | Japan | 66 |
| 1999 | Ethiopia | 20 | Kenya | 31 | Japan | 46 |
| 2000 | Kenya | 12 | Ethiopia | 24 | Japan | 78 |
| 2001 | Ethiopia | 16 | Kenya | 20 | Japan | 59 |
| 2002 | Kenya | 13 | Ethiopia | 24 | Japan | 63 |
| 2003 | Ethiopia | 14 | Kenya | 22 | Morocco | 78 |
| 2004 | Ethiopia | 10 | Kenya | 36 | Japan | 67 |
| 2005 | Kenya | 16 | Ethiopia | 22 | Japan | 56 |
| 2006 | Kenya | 10 | Ethiopia | 29 | Japan | 58 |
| 2007 | Kenya | 13 |  Eritrea | 33 | Ethiopia | 36 |
| 2008 | Ethiopia | 16 | Kenya | 20 | Japan | 57 |
| 2009 | Ethiopia | 18 | Kenya | 18 | Japan | 76 |
| 2010 | Kenya | 10 | Ethiopia | 30 |  Uganda | 81 |
| 2011 | Ethiopia | 17 | Kenya | 19 | Japan | 75 |
| 2013 | Kenya | 14 | Ethiopia | 23 | United Kingdom | 81 |
| 2015 | Ethiopia | 11 | Kenya | 33 |  Bahrain | 52 |
See also
References
- ↑ 47th IAAF Congress – Day 1. IAAF (2009-08-12). Retrieved on 2009-08-14.
External links
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to IAAF competitions. |
- International Association of Athletics Federations
- IAAF World Cross Country Championships all-time results
- World Cross Country Championships results 1973-2005
- International Cross Country Championships 1903-1972
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