The IAAF World Cross Challenge was an annual global series of cross country running competitions organized by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). Athletes accumulated points in the series' cross country meets during the season, which typically began in December and finished in March prior to the annual IAAF World Cross Country Championships. The series was based upon the IAAF Grand Prix track and field circuit and the IAAF hoped to similarly boost the sport of cross country running. The last series was held in 1999–2000, after which point it was replaced by the IAAF Cross Country Permit Meetings series which featured similar races but did not have a point scoring format.

Editions

IAAF World Cross Challenge editions
Ed.YearStart dateEnd dateMeetsRef.
11990–91
21991–92
31992–93
41993–94
51994–95
61995–96
71996–9722 December 199623 March 199712
81997–9821 December 199721 March 199812
91998–9920 December 199828 March 19997
101999–200019 December 199919 March 20007

Meetings

IAAF World Cross Challenge meetings
#MeetingCityCountry1990–911991–921992–931993–941994–951995–961996–971997–981998–991999–2000
1Lotto Cross Cup BrusselsBrusselsBelgiumXXXX
2Great North Cross CountryDurhamUnited KingdomXXXX
3Cross Internacional de ItálicaSevilleSpainXXXX
4Almond Blossom Cross CountryVilamouraPortugalXXXX
5Nairobi International Cross CountryNairobiKenyaXXX
6Chiba International Cross CountryChibaJapanXXXX
7IAAF World Cross Country ChampionshipsVariousVariousXXXX
8Belfast International Cross CountryBelfastNorthern IrelandXX
9Cross ZornotzaAmorebieta-EtxanoSpainXX
10Cross AuchanTourcoingFranceXX
11EurocrossDiekirchLuxembourgXX
12Cinque MuliniSan Vittore OlonaItalyXX
13Mombasa International Cross CountryMombasaKenyaX

Results

Men

SeasonGoldSilverBronze
1990-91Ondoro Osoro Kenya115Addis Abebe Ethiopia113Richard Chelimo Kenya107
1991-92Fita Bayissa Ethiopia138Ondoro Osoro Kenya97Dominic Kirui Kenya88
1992-93Ismael Kirui Kenya116Fita Bayissa Ethiopia110Dominic Kirui Kenya103
1993-94Haile Gebrselassie Ethiopia107William Sigei Kenya97Ismael Kirui Kenya91
1994-95Ismael Kirui Kenya135Paulo Guerra Portugal130Salah Hissou Morocco117
1995-96Paul Tergat Kenya125James Kariuki Kenya97Joseph Kimani Kenya64
1996-97Paul Tergat Kenya113Bernard Barmasai Kenya102Jon Brown Great Britain83
1997-98Paul Tergat Kenya139Tom Nyariki Kenya119Paul Koech Kenya113
1998-99Paul Koech Kenya118Paul Tergat Kenya97Mohammed Mourhit Belgium85
1999-00Paul Tergat Kenya107Patrick Ivuti Kenya104Assefa Mezgebu Ethiopia102

Women

SeasonGoldSilverBronze
1990-91Susan Sirma Kenya125Jane Ngotho Kenya123Derartu Tulu Ethiopia88
1991-92Catherina McKiernan Ireland141Albertina Dias Portugal123Luchia Yishak Ethiopia122
1992-93Catherina McKiernan Ireland141Albertina Dias Portugal138Esther Kiplagat Kenya98
1993-94Catherina McKiernan Ireland141Albertina Dias Portugal123Margareta Keszeg Romania97
1994-95Catherina McKiernan Ireland135Rose Cheruiyot Kenya126Catherine Kirui Kenya100
1995-96Rose Cheruiyot Kenya138Gabriela Szabo Romania109Gete Wami Ethiopia104
1996-97Gete Wami Ethiopia132Elena Fidatov Romania118Paula Radcliffe Great Britain99
1997-98Merima Denboba Ethiopia120Paula Radcliffe Great Britain104Jackline Maranga Kenya98
1998-99Gete Wami Ethiopia144Merima Denboba Ethiopia79Paula Radcliffe Great Britain72
1999-00Lydia Cheromei Kenya122Gete Wami Ethiopia119Ayelech Worku Ethiopia94

See also