Africa Continental

African Cross Country Championships

first edition, Nairobi: 1985
editions held: 7
medal nations: 8
next · Mbabane: 2027

African Cross Champs had been organised as a trial-basis event in 1986, mostly attracted by Kenyans and eight other neighbours. After that event, the CAA (Confederation of African Athletics) has not considered rejuvenating the championships until 2011. Following the decision by IAAF's biennial format applied in World Champs in 2011, CAA filled up to the empty season with a continental meet.

Kenya is the most successful country by distant as they did not lose gold medal in seniors level at the champs until 2018. However, Ethiopians snatched away from them mixed team relay title in Algiers. Uganda, Eritrea and Morocco have been on the podium more occasionally, but yet to manage to take any gold in the first six editions.

2020 edition was originally scheduled in Lome, Togo but its been postponed to 2021 before cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic.

CHAMPIONSHIP PARTICIPATION FIGURES

(Numbers in bracket: Senior M + Senior W + U20 M + U20 W + Mixed)

- / 1985 Nairobi (KEN): 72 athletes (34+18+20) athletes from 8 countries (Unofficial edition)

I / 2011 Cape Town (RSA): 128 athletes (39+27+34+28) athletes from 16 countries

II / 2012 Cape Town (RSA): 160 athletes from 21 countries

III / 2014 Kampala (UGA): ?? athletes from 26 countries

IV / 2016 Yaouende (CMR): 152 athletes (45+31+43+33) from 18 countries

V / 2018 Chlef (ALG): 153 athletes (46+27+43+37) from 18 countries

VI / 2024 Hammamet (TUN): 116 athletes (36+18+29+17+16) from 9 countries

(Top photo by Fédération Tunisienne d'Athlétisme)

Editions

Scroll for all 8 · newest first

All-time medal table

8 nations

#	Nation				Total
1	Kenya KEN	50	24	18	92
2	Ethiopia ETH	6	17	10	33
3	Uganda UGA	0	5	9	14
4	Eritrea ERI	0	4	5	9
5	Morocco MAR	0	3	8	11
6	Republic of South Africa RSA	0	1	5	6
7	Tanzania TAN	0	1	1	2
8	Djibouti DJI	0	1	0	1

Most golds

1 Miriam Cherop U20 race, U20 team, Mixed relay · 2016–24 Gold 4 Silver 0 Bronze 0
2 Japhet Korir U20 race, U20 team · 2011–12 Gold 3 Silver 1 Bronze 0
3 Alice Aprot Nawowuna Senior race, Senior team · 2014–16 Gold 3 Silver 0 Bronze 1
4 Faith Kipyegon Senior race, Senior team, U20 race · 2012–14 Gold 3 Silver 0 Bronze 0
5 Winfred Mbithe U20 race, U20 team, Mixed relay · 2016–24 Gold 2 Silver 1 Bronze 1
6 Cornelius Kangogo Senior race, Senior team, U20 team · 2012–14 Gold 2 Silver 1 Bronze 0
7 Andrew Lorot U20 race, U20 team · 2014–16 Gold 2 Silver 1 Bronze 0
8 Agnes Tirop U20 race, U20 team · 2012–14 Gold 2 Silver 1 Bronze 0
9 Paul Kipkoech Senior race, Senior team · 1985 Gold 2 Silver 0 Bronze 0
10 Leonard Barsoton Senior race, Senior team · 2014 Gold 2 Silver 0 Bronze 0

Programme · all time

9 events contested since 1985

From 6 events in Nairobi to 9 in Hammamet.

Men 4

Women 4

Mixed 1

Mixed relay