# IAAF World Cross Challenge

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. | Year | Start date | End date | Meets |
| 1 | 1990–91 | | | |
| 2 | 1991–92 | | | |
| 3 | 1992–93 | | | |
| 4 | 1993–94 | | | |
| 5 | 1994–95 | | | |
| 6 | 1995–96 | | | |
| 7 | 1996–97 | 22 December 1996 | 23 March 1997 | 12 |
| 8 | 1997–98 | 21 December 1997 | 21 March 1998 | 12 |
| 9 | 1998–99 | 20 December 1998 | 28 March 1999 | 7 |
| 10 | 1999–2000 | 19 December 1999 | 19 March 2000 | 7 |

## Meetings

IAAF World Cross Challenge meetings :
| # | Meeting | City | Country | 1996–97 | 1997–98 | 1998–99 | 1999–2000 |
| 1 | Lotto Cross Cup Brussels | Brussels | Belgium | X | X | X | X |
| 2 | Great North Cross Country | Durham | United Kingdom | X | X | X | X |
| 3 | Cross Internacional de Itálica | Seville | Spain | X | X | X | X |
| 4 | Almond Blossom Cross Country | Vilamoura | Portugal | X | X | X | X |
| 5 | Nairobi International Cross Country | Nairobi | Kenya | X | | X | X |
| 6 | Chiba International Cross Country | Chiba | Japan | X | X | X | X |
| 7 | IAAF World Cross Country Championships | Various | Various | X | X | X | X |
| 8 | Belfast International Cross Country | Belfast | Northern Ireland | X | X | | |
| 9 | Cross Zornotza | Amorebieta-Etxano | Spain | X | X | | |
| 10 | Cross Auchan | Tourcoing | France | X | X | | |
| 11 | Eurocross | Diekirch | Luxembourg | X | X | | |
| 12 | Cinque Mulini | San Vittore Olona | Italy | X | X | | |
| 13 | Mombasa International Cross Country | Mombasa | Kenya | | X | | |

## Results
### Men

| Season | Gold | Gold | Silver | Silver | Bronze | Bronze |
| 1990-91 | Ondoro Osoro Kenya | 115 | Addis Abebe Ethiopia | 113 | Richard Chelimo Kenya | 107 |
| 1991-92 | Fita Bayissa Ethiopia | 138 | Ondoro Osoro Kenya | 97 | Dominic Kirui Kenya | 88 |
| 1992-93 | Ismael Kirui Kenya | 116 | Fita Bayissa Ethiopia | 110 | Dominic Kirui Kenya | 103 |
| 1993-94 | Haile Gebrselassie Ethiopia | 107 | William Sigei Kenya | 97 | Ismael Kirui Kenya | 91 |
| 1994-95 | Ismael Kirui Kenya | 135 | Paulo Guerra Portugal | 130 | Salah Hissou Morocco | 117 |
| 1995-96 | Paul Tergat Kenya | 125 | James Kariuki Kenya | 97 | Joseph Kimani Kenya | 64 |
| 1996-97 | Paul Tergat Kenya | 113 | Bernard Barmasai Kenya | 102 | Jon Brown Great Britain | 83 |
| 1997-98 | Paul Tergat Kenya | 139 | Tom Nyariki Kenya | 119 | Paul Koech Kenya | 113 |
| 1998-99 | Paul Koech Kenya | 118 | Paul Tergat Kenya | 97 | Mohammed Mourhit Belgium | 85 |
| 1999-00 | Paul Tergat Kenya | 107 | Patrick Ivuti Kenya | 104 | Assefa Mezgebu Ethiopia | 102 |

### Women

| Season | Gold | Gold | Silver | Silver | Bronze | Bronze |
| 1990-91 | Susan Sirma Kenya | 125 | Jane Ngotho Kenya | 123 | Derartu Tulu Ethiopia | 88 |
| 1991-92 | Catherina McKiernan Ireland | 141 | Albertina Dias Portugal | 123 | Luchia Yishak Ethiopia | 122 |
| 1992-93 | Catherina McKiernan Ireland | 141 | Albertina Dias Portugal | 138 | Esther Kiplagat Kenya | 98 |
| 1993-94 | Catherina McKiernan Ireland | 141 | Albertina Dias Portugal | 123 | Margareta Keszeg Romania | 97 |
| 1994-95 | Catherina McKiernan Ireland | 135 | Rose Cheruiyot Kenya | 126 | Catherine Kirui Kenya | 100 |
| 1995-96 | Rose Cheruiyot Kenya | 138 | Gabriela Szabo Romania | 109 | Gete Wami Ethiopia | 104 |
| 1996-97 | Gete Wami Ethiopia | 132 | Elena Fidatov Romania | 118 | Paula Radcliffe Great Britain | 99 |
| 1997-98 | Merima Denboba Ethiopia | 120 | Paula Radcliffe Great Britain | 104 | Jackline Maranga Kenya | 98 |
| 1998-99 | Gete Wami Ethiopia | 144 | Merima Denboba Ethiopia | 79 | Paula Radcliffe Great Britain | 72 |
| 1999-00 | Lydia Cheromei Kenya | 122 | Gete Wami Ethiopia | 119 | Ayelech Worku Ethiopia | 94 |