World Athletics Cross Country Tour
Current season, competition or edition:
Current sports event 2023–24 World Athletics Cross Country Tour
SportCross country running
Founded2021
ContinentEurope, Africa, North America
Official websiteCross Country Tour

The World Athletics Cross Country Tour is an annual series of cross country running competitions which are recognised by the World Athletics (formerly known as the IAAF). Athletes accumulate points in the series' cross country meets during the season, which typically begins in September and finishes in March, with top three performances counting towards the standings. The inaugural season was 2021–22.[1] The Tour replaced the IAAF Cross Country Permit series, which was first held in 1999.

Starting with the 2023 World Athletics Championships, the Cross Country Tour and the cross country rankings form part of the qualification pathway for the 10,000 metres event at championships and Olympics. The top eight men and top eight women in the cross country rankings, who are not already qualified via entry standard or world 10,000 m ranking, are automatically qualified.[2]

The Cross Country Tour is divided into three levels – Gold, Silver and Bronze.

Editions

Edition Season Start date End date Meets Gold Silver Bronze Ref.
1 2021–22 25 September 2021 6 March 2022 22 15 3 4 [3]
2 2022–23 24 September 2022 26 February 2023 24 17 5 2 [4]
3 2023–24 23 September 2023 16 March 2024 26 13 7 6 [5]

Gold standard meetings

# Meeting City Country 2021–22 2022–23
1 Cardiff Cross Challenge Cardiff United Kingdom 1 1
2 Cross Internacional Zornotza Amorebieta-Etxano Spain 2 3
3 Cross Internacional de Soria Soria Spain 3 4
4 Cross de Atapuerca Atapuerca Spain 4 5
5 Cross Internacional de Itálica Seville Spain 5 6
6 Cross Internacional de la Constitución Alcobendas Spain 6 7
7 Cross Champs Walnut, CA /
Austin, TX
United States 7 8
8 Cross Internacional de Venta de Baños Venta de Baños Spain 8 9
9 Campaccio San Giorgio su Legnano Italy 9 10
10 Juan Muguerza Cross-Country Elgoibar Spain 10 11
11 Cinque Mulini San Vittore Olona Italy 11 12
12 Sirikwa Cross Country Classic Eldoret Kenya 12 16
13 Cross Cup de Hannut Hannut Belgium 13 13
14 Almond Blossom Cross Country Albufeira Portugal 14 17
15 Gran Premio Cáceres Campo a Través Serradilla /
Calzadilla
Spain 15 15
16 Cross Country Bydgoszcz na Start Bydgoszcz Poland 2
17 Botswana Cross-Country Challenge Gaborone Botswana 14

The number in the table represents the order in which the meeting took place.

Winners

Men

Season First Second Third
2021–22  Rodrigue Kwizera (BDI) 3840 pts  Nibret Melak (ETH) 3780 pts  Aron Kifle (ERI) 3760 pts
2022–23  Rodrigue Kwizera (BDI)
 Thierry Ndikumwenayo (BDI)
 Yann Schrub (FRA)
3720 pts

Women

Season First Second Third
2021–22  Rahel Daniel (ERI) 3820 pts  Lucy Mawia (KEN) 3780 pts  Beatrice Chebet (KEN)
 Likina Amebaw (ETH)
3780 pts
2022–23  Rahel Daniel (ERI)
 Lucy Mawia (KEN)
3720 pts  Isabel Barreiro (ESP) 3620 pts

References