Athletes at Cross Internacional de Atapuerca (© Ricardo Ordonez)
The cross-country season is in full swing and after the World Athletics Cross Country Tour kicked off with Silver and Bronze level meetings in Lidingö and Dublin, attention now turns to the first Gold event of the series.
The 2023-2024 Cross Country Tour calendar is the biggest yet, as it features 25 fixtures from September to March – 15 Gold level, eight Silver and two Bronze. The season launched at the TCS Lidingöloppet in Sweden (Silver) on 23 September and continued at the Autumn Open International in Ireland (Bronze) on 15 October. The NI & Ulster and Bobby Rea International Cross Country in Belfast will welcome athletes for the second Silver meeting of the series on 21 October, the day before the first Gold level competition at the Cross Internacional Zornotza in Amorebieta-Etxano, Spain.
The Cross Country Tour once again features some of the most prestigious international cross-country races in the world and will form a key part in the preparation of many athletes who will be targeting the World Athletics Cross Country Championships in Belgrade on 30 March.
After the action in Amorebieta-Etxano, the Gold series remains in Spain before stops in the UK, USA, Italy, Belgium, Botswana, Kenya and Portugal.
2023-2024 World Cross Country Tour Gold calendar
22 Oct – Cross Internacional Zornotza, Amorebieta-Etxano (ESP)
29 Oct – Cross Internacional de Atapuerca, Atapuerca (ESP)
11 Nov – Cardiff Cross Challenge, Cardiff (GBR)
12 Nov – XLI Cross Internacional de Italica, Seville (ESP)
19 Nov – Cross Internacional de Soria (ESP)
26 Nov – Cross Internacional de La Constitucion Alcobendas, Alcobendas (ESP)
30 Nov – Cross Champs, Austin, TX (USA)
17 Dec – Cross Internacional de Venta de Banos, Venta de Banos (ESP)
6 Jan – Campaccio International Cross Country, San Giorgio su Legnano (ITA)
7 Jan – Elgoibar Juan Muguerza International Cross Country, Elgoibar (ESP)
21 Jan – Cross Cup de Hannut, Hannut (BEL)
27 Jan – Botswana International Cross Country, Gaborone (BOT)
28 Jan – Cinque Mulini, San Vittore Olona (ITA)
3 Feb – Sirikwa Classic Cross Country, Eldoret (KEN)
25 Feb – Cross Internacional das Amendoeiras em Flor, Albufeira (POR)
Full Cross Country Tour calendar (including Gold, Silver and Bronze meetings)
The World Athletics Cross Country Tour and the cross country rankings also form part of the qualification pathway for the 10,000m at global championships. The top eight men and top eight women in the cross country rankings, who are not already qualified via entry standard or world 10,000m ranking, will be automatically qualified for the Olympic Games in Paris.
