Until 1973 there was not official World Champions in Cross Country. However, the winner of the "International Cross of Nations" was considered as such. This race began in 1967 for women. In 1973, the International Association (IAAF) organized the first officially declared World Championships. Since 2011, it is held every two years. Women's race is about 8 km long. A short race (about 4 km) was also held between 1998 and 2005.
Ed. |
Site |
Year |
Gold |
Silver |
Bronze |
XLIV |
Bathurst, AUS |
2023 |
Beatrice Chebet, KEN |
Tsigie Gebreselama, ETH |
Agnes Jebet Ngetich, KEN |
2021 POSTPONED DUE TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC |
XLIII |
Aarhus, DEN |
2019 |
Hellen Obiri, KEN |
Dera Dida, ETH |
Letesenbet Gidey, ETH |
XLII |
Kampala, UGA |
2017 |
Irene Chepet Cheptai, KEN |
Alice Aprot Nawowuna, KEN |
Lilian Kasait Rengeruk, KEN |
XLI |
Guiyang, CHN |
2015 |
Agnes Jebet Tirop, KEN |
Senbere Teferi, ETH |
Netsanet Gudeta, ETH |
XL |
Bydgoszcz, POL |
2013 |
Emily Chebet, KEN |
Hiwot Ayalew, ETH |
Belaynesh Oljira, ETH |
XXXIX |
Punta Umbría, ESP |
2011 |
Vivian Jepkemoi Cheruiyot, KEN |
Linet Chepkwemoi Masai, KEN |
Shalane Flanagan, USA |
XXXVIII |
Bydgoszcz, POL |
2010 |
Emily Chebet, KEN |
Linet Chepkwemoi Masai, KEN |
Meselech Melkamu, ETH |
XXXVII |
Amman, JOR |
2009 |
Florence Kiplagat, KEN |
Linet Chepkwemoi Masai, KEN |
Meselech Melkamu, ETH |
XXXVI |
Edinburgh, GBR |
2008 |
Tirunesh Dibaba, ETH |
Mestawet Tufa, ETH |
Linet Chepkwemoi Masai, KEN |
XXXV |
Mombasa, KEN |
2007 |
Lornah Kiplagat, NED |
Tirunesh Dibaba, ETH |
Meselech Melkamu, ETH |
XXXIV |
Fukuoka, JPN |
2006 |
Tirunesh Dibaba, ETH |
Lornah Kiplagat, NED |
Meselech Melkamu, ETH |
XXXIII |
St. Etienne, FRA |
2005 |
Tirunesh Dibaba, ETH |
Alice Timbilili, KEN |
Werknesh Kidane, ETH |
XXXII |
Brussels, BEL |
2004 |
Benita Johnson, AUS |
Ejegayehu Dibaba, ETH |
Werknesh Kidane, ETH |
XXXI |
Lausanne, SUI |
2003 |
Werknesh Kidane, ETH |
Deena Drossin, USA |
Merima Denboba, ETH |
XXX |
Dublin, IRL |
2002 |
Paula Radcliffe, GBR |
Deena Drossin, USA |
Colleen de Reuck, USA |
XXIX |
Ostende, BEL |
2001 |
Paula Radcliffe, GBR |
Gete Wami, ETH |
Lydia Cheromei, KEN |
XXVIII |
Vilamoura, POR |
2000 |
Derartu Tulu, ETH |
Gete Wami, ETH |
Susan Chepkemei, KEN |
XXVII |
Belfast, NI |
1999 |
Gete Wami, ETH |
Merima Denboba, ETH |
Paula Radcliffe, GBR |
XXVI |
Marrakech, MAR |
1998 |
Sonia O'Sullivan, IRL |
Paula Radcliffe, GBR |
Gete Wami, ETH |
XXV |
Turin, ITA |
1997 |
Derartu Tulu, ETH |
Paula Radcliffe, GBR |
Gete Wami, ETH |
XXIV |
Cape Town, RSA |
1996 |
Gete Wami, ETH |
Rose Cheruiyot, KEN |
Naomi Mugo, KEN |
XXIII |
Durham, Eng |
1995 |
Derartu Tulu, ETH |
Catherina McKiernan, IRL |
Sally Barsosio, KEN |
XXII |
Budapest, HUN |
1994 |
Hellen Chepngeno, KEN |
Catherina McKiernan, IRL |
Conceição Ferreira, POR |
XXI |
Amorebieta, ESP |
1993 |
Albertina Dias, POR |
Catherina McKiernan, IRL |
Lynn Jennings, USA |
XX |
Boston, USA |
1992 |
Lynn Jennings, USA |
Catherina McKiernan, IRL |
Albertina Dias, POR |
XIX |
Antwerp, BEL |
1991 |
Lynn Jennings, USA |
Derartu Tulu, ETH |
Liz McColgan, GBR |
XVIII |
Aix-les-Bains, FRA |
1990 |
Lynn Jennings, USA |
Albertina Dias, POR |
Yelena Romanova, URS |
XVII |
Stavanger, NOR |
1989 |
Annette Sergent, FRA |
Nadezhda Stepanova, URS |
Lynn Williams, CAN |
XVI |
Auckland, NZL |
1988 |
Ingrid Kristiansen, NOR |
Angela Tooby, GBR |
Annette Sergent, FRA |
XV |
Warsaw, POL |
1987 |
Annette Sergent, FRA |
Liz Lynch, Sco |
Ingrid Kristiansen, NOR |
XIV |
Neuchatel, SUI |
1986 |
Zola Budd, Eng |
Lynn Jennings, USA |
Annette Sergent, FRA |
XIII |
Lisboa, POR |
1985 |
Zola Budd, Eng |
Cathy Branta, USA |
Ingrid Kristiansen, NOR |
XII |
New York, USA |
1984 |
Maricica Puica, ROM |
Galina Zakharova, URS |
Grete Waitz, NOR |
XI |
Gateshead, Eng |
1983 |
Grete Waitz, NOR |
Alison Wiley, CAN |
Tatyana Pozdnyakova, URS |
X |
Roma, ITA |
1982 |
Maricica Puica, ROM |
Fita Lovin, ROM |
Grete Waitz, NOR |
IX |
Madrid, ESP |
1981 |
Grete Waitz, NOR |
Jan Merrill, USA |
Yelena Sipatova, URS |
VIII |
Paris, FRA |
1980 |
Grete Waitz, NOR |
Irina Bondarchuk, URS |
Yelena Sipatova, URS |
VII |
Limerick, IRL |
1979 |
Grete Waitz, NOR |
Raisa Smekhnova, URS |
Ellison Goodall, USA |
VI |
Glasgow, Sco |
1978 |
Grete Waitz, NOR |
Natalia Marasescu, ROM |
Maricica Puica, ROM |
V |
Düsseldorf, FRG |
1977 |
Carmen Valero, ESP |
Lyudmila Bragina, URS |
Giana Romanova, URS |
IV |
Chepstow, Wal |
1976 |
Carmen Valero, ESP |
Tatyana Kazankina, URS |
Gabriela Dorio, ITA |
III |
Rabat, MAR |
1975 |
Julie Brown, USA |
Bronislawa Ludwichovska, POL |
Carmen Valero, ESP |
II |
Monza, ITA |
1974 |
Paola Pigni, ITA |
Nina Holmen, FIN |
Rita Ridley, Eng |
I |
Waregen, BEL |
1973 |
Paola Cacchi, ITA |
Joyce Smith, Eng |
Josée Van Santberghe, BEL |
The team competition is won by the country with the fewest points. Every runner adds to her country total the same number of points as her place in the finish line (the winner 1 point, the second 2 points...). Though a country can compete with 6 athletes, only the first four runners of each country count. In 2017 Kenya qualified runners in the first six positions, achieving the best possible score in the team competition.
Ed. |
Site |
Year |
Gold |
Silver |
Bronze |
XLIV |
Bathurst, AUS |
2023 |
Kenya -16 |
Ethiopia -25 |
Uganda -41 |
Beatrice Chebet, Agnes Jebet Ngetich, Grace Loibach Nawowuna, Edinah Jebitok (1+3+4+8 = 16) |
2021 POSTPONED DUE TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC |
XLIII |
Aarhus, DEN |
2019 |
Ethiopia -21 |
Kenya -25 |
Uganda -36 |
Dera Dida, Letesenbet Gidey, Tsehay Gemechu, Zenebu Fikadu (2+3+6+10 = 21) |
XLII |
Kampala, UGA |
2017 |
Kenya -10 |
Ethiopia -45 |
Bahrain -59 |
Irene Cheptai, Alice Nawowuna, Lilian Rengeruk, Hyvin Jepkemoi (1+2+3+4 = 10) |
XLI |
Guiyang, CHN |
2015 |
Ethiopia -17 |
Kenya -19 |
Uganda -101 |
Senbere Teferi, Netsanet Gudeta, Alemitu Heroye, Mamitu Daska (2+3+4+8 = 17) |
XL |
Bydgoszcz, POL |
2013 |
Kenya -19 |
Ethiopia -68 |
Bahrain -73 |
Emily Chebet, Margaret Wangari Muriuki, Janet Kisa, Viola Kibiwot (1+5+6+7 = 19) |
XXXIX |
Punta Umbría, ESP |
2011 |
Kenya -15 |
Ethiopia -29 |
United States -57 |
Vivian Jepkemoi Cheruiyot, Linet Chepkwemoi Masai, Priscah Jepleting Cherono, Pauline Korikwiang (1+2+5+7 = 15) |
XXXVIII |
Bydgoszcz, POL |
2010 |
Kenya -14 |
Ethiopia -22 |
United States -76 |
Emily Chebet, Linet Chepkwemoi Masai, Lineth Chepkurui, Margaret Wangari Muriuki (1+2+5+6 = 14) |
XXXVII |
Amman, JOR |
2009 |
Kenya -14 |
Ethiopia -28 |
Portugal -72 |
Florence Jebet Kiplagat, Linet Chepkwemoi Masai, Lineth Chepkurui, Ann Karindi Mwangi (1+2+4+7 = 14) |
XXXVI |
Edinburgh, GBR |
2008 |
Ethiopia |
Kenya |
Australia |
Tirunesh Dibaba, Mestawet Tufa, Gelete Burka, Meselech Melkamu (1+2+6+9 = 18) |
XXXV |
Mombasa, KEN |
2007 |
Ethiopia |
Kenya |
Morocco |
Tirunesh Dibaba, Meselech Melkamu, Gelete Burka, Ayalew Yimer Wude (2+3+4+10 = 19) |
XXXIV |
Fukuoka, JPN |
2006 |
Ethiopia |
Kenya |
Japan |
Tirunesh Dibaba, Meselech Melkamu, Ayalew Yimer Wude, Mestawet Tufa (1+3+5+7 =
16) |
XXXIII |
St. Etienne, FRA |
2005 |
Ethiopia |
Kenya |
Portugal |
XXXII |
Brussels, BEL |
2004 |
Ethiopia |
Kenya |
Great Britain |
XXXI |
Lausanne, SUI |
2003 |
Ethiopia |
Kenya |
United States |
XXX |
Dublin, IRL |
2002 |
Ethiopia |
United States |
Kenya |
XXIX |
Ostende, BEL |
2001 |
Kenya |
Ethiopia |
France |
XXVIII |
Vilamoura, POR |
2000 |
Ethiopia |
Kenya |
United States |
XXVII |
Belfast, NI |
1999 |
Ethiopia |
Kenya |
Portugal |
XXVI |
Marrakech, MAR |
1998 |
Kenya |
Ethiopia |
Great Britain |
XXV |
Turin, ITA |
1997 |
Ethiopia |
Kenya |
Ireland |
XXIV |
Cape Town, RSA |
1996 |
Kenya |
Ethiopia |
Romania |
XXIII |
Durham, Eng |
1995 |
Kenya |
Ethiopia |
Kenya |
XXII |
Budapest, HUN |
1994 |
Portugal |
Ethiopia |
Kenya |
XXI |
Amorebieta, ESP |
1993 |
Kenya |
Japan |
France |
XX |
Boston, USA |
1992 |
Kenya |
United States |
Ethiopia |
XIX |
Antwerp, BEL |
1991 |
Kenya |
Ethiopia |
Soviet Union |
XVIII |
Aix-les-Bains, FRA |
1990 |
Soviet Union |
Ethiopia |
Portugal |
XVII |
Stavanger, NOR |
1989 |
Soviet Union |
France |
United States |
XVI |
Auckland, NZL |
1988 |
Soviet Union |
Great Britain |
France |
XV |
Warsaw, POL |
1987 |
United States |
France |
Soviet Union |
XIV |
Neuchatel, SUI |
1986 |
England |
New Zealand |
France |
XIII |
Lisboa, POR |
1985 |
United States |
Soviet Union |
Romania |
XII |
New York, USA |
1984 |
United States |
England |
New Zealand |
XI |
Gateshead, Eng |
1983 |
United States |
Soviet Union |
Canada |
X |
Roma, ITA |
1982 |
Soviet Union |
Italy |
England |
IX |
Madrid, ESP |
1981 |
Soviet Union |
United States |
Italy |
VIII |
Paris, FRA |
1980 |
Soviet Union |
England |
United States |
VII |
Limerick, IRL |
1979 |
United States |
Soviet Union |
England |
VI |
Glasgow, Sco |
1978 |
Romania |
United States |
England |
V |
Düsseldorf, FRG |
1977 |
Soviet Union |
United States |
New Zealand |
IV |
Chepstow, Wal |
1976 |
Soviet Union |
Italy |
United States |
III |
Rabat, MAR |
1975 |
United States |
New Zealand |
Poland |
II |
Monza, ITA |
1974 |
England |
Italy |
Finland |
I |
Waregen, BEL |
1973 |
England |
Finland |
United States |
* Doris Brown won the title when it was called "Cross of Nations".