| Year | Men's long course | Men's short course |
| IAAF World Cross Country Championships 2009 |
Gebre-egziabher Gebremariam (ETH) |
| IAAF World Cross Country Championships 2008 |
Kenenisa Bekele (ETH) |
| IAAF World Cross Country Championships 2007 |
Zersenay Tadese (ERI) |
| IAAF World Cross Country Championships 2006 |
Kenenisa Bekele (ETH) |
Kenenisa Bekele (ETH) |
| IAAF World Cross Country Championships 2005 |
Kenenisa Bekele (ETH) |
Kenenisa Bekele (ETH) |
| IAAF World Cross Country Championships 2004 |
Kenenisa Bekele (ETH) |
Kenenisa Bekele (ETH) |
| IAAF World Cross Country Championships 2003 |
Kenenisa Bekele (ETH) |
Kenenisa Bekele (ETH) |
| IAAF World Cross Country Championships 2002 |
Kenenisa Bekele (ETH) |
Kenenisa Bekele (ETH) |
| IAAF World Cross Country Championships 2001 |
Mohammed Mourhit (BEL) |
Enock Koech (KEN) |
| IAAF World Cross Country Championships 2000 |
Mohammed Mourhit (BEL) |
John Kibowen (KEN) |
| IAAF World Cross Country Championships 1999 |
Paul Tergat (KEN) |
Benjamin Limo (KEN) |
| IAAF World Cross Country Championships 1998 |
Paul Tergat (KEN) |
John Kibowen (KEN) |
| IAAF World Cross Country Championships 1997 |
Paul Tergat (KEN) |
| IAAF World Cross Country Championships 1996 |
Paul Tergat (KEN) |
| IAAF World Cross Country Championships 1995 |
Paul Tergat (KEN) |
| IAAF World Cross Country Championships 1994 |
William Sigei (KEN) |
| IAAF World Cross Country Championships 1993 |
William Sigei (KEN) |
| IAAF World Cross Country Championships 1992 |
John Ngugi (KEN) |
| IAAF World Cross Country Championships 1991 |
Khalid Skah (MAR) |
| IAAF World Cross Country Championships 1990 |
Khalid Skah (MAR) |
| IAAF World Cross Country Championships 1989 |
John Ngugi (KEN) |
| IAAF World Cross Country Championships 1988 |
John Ngugi (KEN) |
| IAAF World Cross Country Championships 1987 |
John Ngugi (KEN) |
| IAAF World Cross Country Championships 1986 |
John Ngugi (KEN) |
| IAAF World Cross Country Championships 1985 |
Carlos Lopves (POR) |
| IAAF World Cross Country Championships 1984 |
Carlos Lopes (POR) |
| IAAF World Cross Country Championships 1983 |
Bekele Debele (ETH) |
| IAAF World Cross Country Championships 1982 |
Mohamed Kedir (ETH) |
| IAAF World Cross Country Championships 1981 |
Craig Virgin (USA) |
| IAAF World Cross Country Championships 1980 |
Craig Virgin (USA) |
| IAAF World Cross Country Championships 1979 |
John Treacy (IRL) |
| IAAF World Cross Country Championships 1978 |
John Treacy (IRL) |
| IAAF World Cross Country Championships 1977 |
Léon Schots (BEL) |
| IAAF World Cross Country Championships 1976 |
Carlos Lopes (POR) |
| IAAF World Cross Country Championships 1975 |
Ian Stewart (SCO) |
| IAAF World Cross Country Championships 1974 |
Erik De Beck (BEL) |
| IAAF World Cross Country Championships 1973 |
Pekka Päivärinta (FIN) |
| Year | Women's long course | Women's short course |
| IAAF World Cross Country Championships 2009 |
Florence Kiplagat (KEN) |
| IAAF World Cross Country Championships 2008 |
Tirunesh Dibaba (ETH) |
| IAAF World Cross Country Championships 2007 |
Lornah Kiplagat (NED) |
| IAAF World Cross Country Championships 2006 |
Tirunesh Dibaba (ETH) |
Gelete Burka (ETH) |
| IAAF World Cross Country Championships 2005 |
Tirunesh Dibaba (ETH) |
Tirunesh Dibaba (ETH) |
| IAAF World Cross Country Championships 2004 |
Benita Johnson (AUS) |
Edith Masai (KEN) |
| IAAF World Cross Country Championships 2003 |
Werknesh Kidane (ETH) |
Edith Masai (KEN) |
| IAAF World Cross Country Championships 2002 |
Paula Radcliffe (GBR) |
Edith Masai (KEN) |
| IAAF World Cross Country Championships 2001 |
Paula Radcliffe (GBR) |
Gete Wami (ETH) |
| IAAF World Cross Country Championships 2000 |
Derartu Tulu (ETH) |
Kutre Dulecha (ETH) |
| IAAF World Cross Country Championships 1999 |
Gete Wami (ETH) |
Jackline Maranga (KEN) |
| IAAF World Cross Country Championships 1998 |
Sonia O'Sullivan (IRL) |
Sonia O'Sullivan (IRL) |
| IAAF World Cross Country Championships 1997 |
Derartu Tulu (ETH) |
| IAAF World Cross Country Championships 1996 |
Gete Wami (ETH) |
| IAAF World Cross Country Championships 1995 |
Derartu Tulu (ETH) |
| IAAF World Cross Country Championships 1994 |
Hellen Chepngeno (KEN) |
| IAAF World Cross Country Championships 1993 |
Albertina Dias (POR) |
| IAAF World Cross Country Championships 1992 |
Lynn Jennings (USA) |
| IAAF World Cross Country Championships 1991 |
Lynn Jennings (USA) |
| IAAF World Cross Country Championships 1990 |
Lynn Jennings (USA) |
| IAAF World Cross Country Championships 1989 |
Annette Sergent (FRA) |
| IAAF World Cross Country Championships 1988 |
Ingrid Kristiansen (NOR) |
| IAAF World Cross Country Championships 1987 |
Annette Sergent (FRA) |
| IAAF World Cross Country Championships 1986 |
Zola Budd (ENG) |
| IAAF World Cross Country Championships 1985 |
Zola Budd (ENG) |
| IAAF World Cross Country Championships 1984 |
Maricica Puica (ROU) |
| IAAF World Cross Country Championships 1983 |
Grete Waitz (NOR) |
| IAAF World Cross Country Championships 1982 |
Maricica Puica (ROU) |
| IAAF World Cross Country Championships 1981 |
Grete Waitz (NOR) |
| IAAF World Cross Country Championships 1980 |
Grete Waitz (NOR) |
| IAAF World Cross Country Championships 1979 |
Grete Waitz (NOR) |
| IAAF World Cross Country Championships 1978 |
Grete Waitz (NOR) |
| IAAF World Cross Country Championships 1977 |
Carmen Valero (ESP) |
| IAAF World Cross Country Championships 1976 |
Carmen Valero (ESP) |
| IAAF World Cross Country Championships 1975 |
Julie Brown (USA) |
| IAAF World Cross Country Championships 1974 |
Paola Pigni (ITA) |
| IAAF World Cross Country Championships 1973 |
Paola Pigni (ITA) |
