Ahead of this year’s World Cross Country Championships, enjoy these quick history highlights of the World Cross Country.
1. In 1903, Scotland hosted the first International Cross Country Championships, and the the first World Cross Country Championships, held under the IAAF flag was in 1973.
2. 1971, USA’s Doris Brown won her fifth consecutive title.
3. Also in 1979, Ireland’s John Treacy became the first man to defend a World Cross Country title.
4. The first World Cross Country Championships on U.S soil was in 1984.
5. 1984, was also the last championships that Africans failed to win a medal in the senior men’s race.
6. 1990, in her fifth attempt, USA’s Lynn Jennings won her first title.
7. Catherina McKiernan of Ireland won four straight silver medals, from 1992 to 1995.
8. Prize money was only introduced in 1997.
9. 2001, Great Britian’s Paula Radcliffe won the long-course title, making her the first to win both the junior (1992) and senior long title.
10. Kenyan women have won the last five world championships.