In its early years, the women's race was held over distances around 1 to 1.5 kilometres. From 1955–57 two women's races were briefly held over distances of 800 metres and 1500 metres. The distance of the women's race increased to 1.8 km in 1968, eventually reached 4 km five years later (matching the distance contested at the 1973 IAAF World Cross Country Championships). Two women's races over 2 km and 4 km were held from 1974–76, then merged into a single 3 km from 1977–78, then returned to a longer two-race format again from 1979–81. A single 4 km women's race was held from 1982 to 1988. From 1989 to 1993 dual races typically around 3 km and 6 km were held. From 1994 to 2008 the single women's race format returned, usually around 4 km in distance. From 2009 to 2014, international standard women's long and short courses were held over 8 km and 4 km. Only a single 5 km race was held from 2015–18, then the international long and short format restored in 2019.