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Superlatives |
Most IAAF World titles (Men):
5 John Ngugi KEN 1986-89, 92
5 Paul Tergat KEN 1995-1999
Team: Kenya 15, 1986-2000Most IAAF World titles
(Women):
5 Grete Waitz NOR 1978-81, 83
Team: USSR 8, 1976-77, 80-82, 88-90
Youngest IAAF World champions: Bekele Debele ETH 1983 (20)
& Zola Budd GBR1985 (18)
Oldest: Carlos Lopes POR 1985 (38) & Maricica Puica ROM 1984 (33)
Biggest winning margin: (men) 28 sec Ngugi 1989; (women) 40
sec Waitz 1980 |
| Three all time greats (men) |
| Gaston Roelants (BEL):
Best known as a steeplechaser (1964 Olympic champion and first to break 8:30) and as a
world record breaker for the one hour run, the Belgian was also a legendary cross country
runner, winning what was then known as the International Championship four times. |
John Ngugi (KEN): The first man to win five world cross country titles, four in
succession from 1986 to 1989 and then again in 1992. He was also a fearsome track runner,
front-running to victory in the 1988 Olympic 5000m. |
 Paul Tergat (KEN): Has a strong claim to
being considered the greatest cross country runner of all as he won the world 12km title
five consecutive years (1995-1999) before placing a close third in 2000. Holds world best
for half marathon (59:06 in 2000) and a former world 10,000m record holder. |
| Three all time greats (women) |
| Doris Brown (USA):
The women's International Cross Country Championship, forerunner of the IAAF World
Championship, began in 1967 and Doris Brown was victorious for five years running from
then to 1971, the year in which she set an unofficial world record for 3000m. |
 Grete Waitz (NOR): She beat
John Ngugi and Paul Tergat to the distinction of claiming five world cross country titles
although best known for her marathon exploits, which included the inaugural world title in
1983 and no fewer than nine wins in New York. |
 Derartu Tulu (ETH): After making history by
becoming the first black African woman to win an Olympic title (10,000m in 1992) she made
her mark in cross country by taking the world title in 1995 and 1997 and, in a stunning
comeback to top form, again in 2000. |
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