2003 IAAF World Cross Country Championships

The 2003 IAAF World Cross Country Championships took place on March 29/30, 2003. The races were held at the L'Institut Équestre National in Avenches near Lausanne, Switzerland. Reports of the event were given in The New York Times,^[1][2] in the Herald,^[3] and for the IAAF.^{[4][5][6][7][8][9]}

2003 IAAF World Cross Country Championships
Organisers	IAAF
Edition	31st
Date	March 29/30
Host city	Lausanne, Vaud, Switzerland
Venue	L'Institut Équestre National d'Avenches
Events	6
Distances	12.355 km – Senior men 4.03 km – Men's short 7.92 km – Junior men 7.92 km – Senior women 4.03 km – Women's short 6.215 – Junior women
Participation	605 athletes from 65 nations
← 2002 Dublin 2004 Bruxelles →

Complete results for senior men,^[10][11][12] for senior men's teams,^[10][13][14] for men's short race,^[15][16][17] for men's short race teams,^[15][18][19] for junior men,^[20][21][22] for junior men's teams,^[20][23][24] senior women,^[25][26][27] for senior women's teams,^[25][28][29] for women's short race,^[30][31][32] for women's short race teams,^[30][33][34] for junior women,^[35][36][37] for junior women's teams,^[35][38][39] medallists,^[40] and the results of British athletes who took part^[41] were published.

Doping

There were several doping positives at the championships.^[42]

Positives at the 2003 IAAF World Cross Country Championships

• Pamela Chepchumba  Kenya – 2-year ban (EPO)
• Alberto García Fernandez  Spain – 2-year ban (EPO)
• Soumiya Labani  Morocco – 2-year ban
• Asmae Leghzaoui  Morocco – 2-year ban (EPO)

Medallists

Event	Gold		Silver		Bronze
Individual
Senior men (12.355 km)	Kenenisa Bekele  Ethiopia	35:56	Patrick Ivuti  Kenya	36:09	Gebre-egziabher Gebremariam  Ethiopia	36:17
Men's short (4.03 km)	Kenenisa Bekele  Ethiopia	11:01	John Kibowen  Kenya	11:04	Benjamin Limo  Kenya	11:06
Junior men (7.92 km)	Eliud Kipchoge  Kenya	22:47	Boniface Kiprop  Uganda	22:49	Solomon Bushendich  Kenya	22:51
Senior women (7.92 km)	Worknesh Kidane  Ethiopia	25:53	Deena Drossin  United States	26:02	Merima Denboba  Ethiopia	26:28
Women's short (4.03 km)	Edith Masai  Kenya	12:43	Worknesh Kidane  Ethiopia	12:44	Jane Wanjiku  Kenya	12:46
Junior women (6.215)	Tirunesh Dibaba  Ethiopia	20:21	Peninah Chepchumba  Kenya	20:22	Gelete Burka  Ethiopia	20:28
Team
Senior men	Kenya	17	Ethiopia	23	Morocco	51
Men's short	Kenya	14	Ethiopia	31	Morocco	44
Junior men	Kenya	15	Ethiopia	28	Uganda	48
Senior women	Ethiopia	17	Kenya	30	United States	36
Women's short	Kenya	18	Ethiopia	24	Russia	76
Junior women	Ethiopia	14	Kenya	22	Morocco	78

Race results

Senior men's race (12.355 km)

Main article: 2003 IAAF World Cross Country Championships – Senior men's race

Individual race

Rank	Athlete	Country	Time
	Kenenisa Bekele	Ethiopia	35:56
	Patrick Ivuti	Kenya	36:09
	Gebre-egziabher Gebremariam	Ethiopia	36:17
4	Richard Limo	Kenya	36:39
5	Paul Koech	Kenya	36:42
6	John Cheruiyot Korir	Kenya	36:50
7	Sileshi Sihine	Ethiopia	37:03
8	Hicham Chatt	Morocco	37:07
9	Zersenay Tadesse	Eritrea	37:10
10	Khalid El Amri	Morocco	37:12
11	Meb Keflezighi	United States	37:16
12	Abraham Cherono	Kenya	37:17
Full results

Teams

Rank	Team	Points
	Kenya Patrick Ivuti 2 Richard Limo 4 Paul Koech 5 John Cheruiyot Korir 6 (Abraham Cherono) (n/s) (Sammy Kipketer) (n/s)	17
	Ethiopia Kenenisa Bekele 1 Gebre-egziabher Gebremariam 3 Sileshi Sihine 7 Ketema Nigusse 12 (Dejene Berhanu) (n/s) (Yibeltal Admassu) (n/s)	23
	Morocco Hicham Chatt 8 Khalid El Amri 10 Abderrahim Goumri 13 Jaouad Gharib 20 (Saïd El Wardi) (n/s) (Ahmed El Hamzaoui) (n/s)	51
4	Spain	68
5	Portugal	85
6	Tanzania	101
7	United States	112
8	Eritrea	134
Full results

• Note: Athletes in parentheses did not score for the team result (n/s: nonscorer)

Men's short race (4.03 km)

Main article: 2003 IAAF World Cross Country Championships – Men's short race

Individual race

Rank	Athlete	Country	Time
	Kenenisa Bekele	Ethiopia	11:01
	John Kibowen	Kenya	11:04
	Benjamin Limo	Kenya	11:06
4	Mike Kipyego	Kenya	11:18
5	Thomas Kiplitany	Kenya	11:20
6	Khalid El Amri	Morocco	11:22
7	Meba Tadesse	Ethiopia	11:24
8	David Kilel	Kenya	11:25
9	Smail Sghir	France	11:27
10	Abderrahim Goumri	Morocco	11:28
11	Yousef El Nasri	Spain	11:28
12	Tessema Absher	Ethiopia	11:29
Full results

Teams

Rank	Team	Points
	Kenya John Kibowen 2 Benjamin Limo 3 Mike Kipyego 4 Thomas Kiplitany 5 (David Kilel) (n/s) (Evans Kipchumba) (n/s)	14
	Ethiopia Kenenisa Bekele 1 Meba Tadesse 7 Tessema Absher 11 Abiyote Endale 12 (Ketema Nigussie) (n/s) (Dehe Woyesha) (n/s)	31
	Morocco Khalid El Amri 6 Abderrahim Goumri 9 Ahmed Baday 14 Abdelkader Hachlaf 15 (Saïd El Wardi) (n/s) (Salah Hissou) (n/s)	44
4	France	78
5	Algeria	93
6	Spain	110
7	Switzerland	138
8	United Kingdom	148
Full results

• Note: Athletes in parentheses did not score for the team result (n/s: nonscorer)

Junior men's race (7.92 km)

Main article: 2003 IAAF World Cross Country Championships – Junior men's race

Individual race

Rank	Athlete	Country	Time
	Eliud Kipchoge	Kenya	22:47
	Boniface Kiprop	Uganda	22:49
	Solomon Bushendich	Kenya	22:51
4	Augustine Choge	Kenya	22:55
5	Girma Assefa	Ethiopia	22:58
6	Getachew Dinku	Ethiopia	23:10
7	Moses Mosop	Kenya	23:17
8	Tessema Absher	Ethiopia	23:22
9	Solomon Molla	Ethiopia	23:27
10	Barnabas Kosgei	Kenya	23:45
11	Dehe Woyesha	Ethiopia	24:03
12	Kipkorir Chepkwony	Kenya	24:06
Full results

Teams

Rank	Team	Points
	Kenya Eliud Kipchoge 1 Solomon Bushendich 3 Augustine Choge 4 Moses Mosop 7 (Barnabas Kosgei) (n/s) (Kipkorir Chepkwony) (n/s)	15
	Ethiopia Girma Assefa 5 Getachew Dinku 6 Tessema Absher 8 Solomon Molla 9 (Dehe Woyesha) (n/s) (Tesfaye Mengistu) (n/s)	28
	Uganda Boniface Kiprop 2 James Kibet 10 Moses Kipsiro 14 Isaac Kiprop 22 (Martin Kiplimo) (n/s)	48
4	Morocco	63
5	Eritrea	72
6	Algeria	103
7	Russia	108
8	United States	121
Full results

• Note: Athletes in parentheses did not score for the team result (n/s: nonscorer)

Senior women's race (7.92 km)

Main article: 2003 IAAF World Cross Country Championships – Senior women's race

Individual race

Rank	Athlete	Country	Time
	Worknesh Kidane	Ethiopia	25:53
	Deena Drossin	United States	26:02
	Merima Denboba	Ethiopia	26:28
4	Eyerusalem Kuma	Ethiopia	26:30
5	Magdaline Chemjor	Kenya	26:33
6	Elizabeth Rumokol	Kenya	26:37
7	Colleen de Reuck	United States	26:49
8	Caroline Kilel	Kenya	26:55
9	Tereza Yohanes	Ethiopia	27:06
10	Asha Gigi	Ethiopia	27:12
11	Anália Rosa	Portugal	27:19
12	Jepkorir Ayabei	Kenya	27:27
Full results

Teams

Rank	Team	Points
	Ethiopia Worknesh Kidane 1 Merima Denboba 3 Eyerusalem Kuma 4 Tereza Yohanes 9 (Asha Gigi) (n/s) (Bizunesh Deba) (n/s)	17
	Kenya Magdaline Chemjor 5 Elizabeth Rumokol 6 Caroline Kilel 8 Jepkorir Ayabei 11 (Alice Timbilil) (n/s)	30
	United States Deena Drossin 2 Colleen de Reuck 7 Katie McGregor 13 Elva Dryer 14 (Milena Glusac) (n/s) (Sara Wells) (n/s)	36
4	Spain	63
5	Portugal	64
6	Canada	90
Full results

• Note: Athletes in parentheses did not score for the team result (n/s: nonscorer)

Women's short race (4.03 km)

Main article: 2003 IAAF World Cross Country Championships – Women's short race

Individual race

Rank	Athlete	Country	Time
	Edith Masai	Kenya	12:43
	Worknesh Kidane	Ethiopia	12:44
	Jane Wanjiku	Kenya	12:46
4	Isabella Ochichi	Kenya	12:48
5	Benita Johnson	Australia	12:48
6	Merima Denboba	Ethiopia	12:52
7	Tirunesh Dibaba	Ethiopia	12:54
8	Alla Zhilyayeva	Russia	12:56
9	Ejagayehu Dibaba	Ethiopia	12:59
10	Eyerusalem Kuma	Ethiopia	12:59
11	Prisca Ngetich	Kenya	13:04
12	Émilie Mondor	Canada	13:07
Full results

Teams

Rank	Team	Points
	Kenya Edith Masai 1 Jane Wanjiku 3 Isabella Ochichi 4 Prisca Ngetich 10 (Viola Kibiwott) (n/s)	18
	Ethiopia Worknesh Kidane 2 Merima Denboba 6 Tirunesh Dibaba 7 Ejagayehu Dibaba 9 (Eyerusalem Kuma) (n/s) (Bezunesh Bekele) (n/s)	24
	Russia Alla Zhilyayeva 8 Olga Romanova 13 Anastasiya Zubova 26 Viktoriya Klimina 29 (Mariya Pantyukhova) (n/s) (Yekaterina Priladnykh) (n/s)	76
4	Morocco	84
5	Australia	94
6	Portugal	100
7	United Kingdom	109
8	Spain	127
Full results

• Note: Athletes in parentheses did not score for the team result (n/s: nonscorer)

Junior women's race (6.215)

Main article: 2003 IAAF World Cross Country Championships – Junior women's race

Individual race

Rank	Athlete	Country	Time
	Tirunesh Dibaba	Ethiopia	20:21
	Peninah Chepchumba	Kenya	20:22
	Gelete Burka	Ethiopia	20:28
4	Meselech Melkamu	Ethiopia	20:33
5	Emily Chebet	Kenya	20:39
6	Sentayehu Ejigu	Ethiopia	20:56
7	Gladys Chemweno	Kenya	21:09
8	Anesie Kwizera	Burundi	21:13
9	Chemutai Rionotukei	Kenya	21:33
10	Valentine Koech	Kenya	21:34
11	Sharon Kipsang	Kenya	21:40
12	Aziza Aliyu	Ethiopia	21:49
Full results

Teams

Rank	Team	Points
	Ethiopia Tirunesh Dibaba 1 Gelete Burka 3 Meselech Melkamu 4 Sentayehu Ejigu 6 (Aziza Aliyu) (n/s) (Belaynesh Fekadu) (n/s)	14
	Kenya Peninah Chepchumba 2 Emily Chebet 5 Gladys Chemweno 7 Chemutai Rionotukei 8 (Valentine Koech) (n/s) (Sharon Kipsang) (n/s)	22
	Morocco Mariem Alaoui Selsouli 9 Siham Hilali 11 Najat El Fiddi 13 Loubna Jao 45 (Laila Klilech) (n/s) (Fatna Chtoina) (n/s)	78
4	United States	82
5	United Kingdom	82
6	China	91
7	Tunisia	94
8	France	147
Full results

• Note: Athletes in parentheses did not score for the team result (n/s: nonscorer)

Medal table (unofficial)

Rank	Nation	Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total
1	Ethiopia	6	5	3	14
	Kenya	6	5	3	14
3	Uganda	0	1	1	2
	United States	0	1	1	2
5	Morocco	0	0	3	3
6	Russia	0	0	1	1
Totals (6 entries)		12	12	12	36

• Note: Totals include both individual and team medals, with medals in the team competition counting as one medal.

Participation

According to an unofficial count, 605 athletes from 65 countries participated. This is in agreement with the official numbers as published.^[41] The announced athletes from the  Democratic Republic of the Congo, from  Guinea,  Lebanon, and  Sierra Leone did not show.^{[16][17][36][37]}

•  Algeria (20)
•  Andorra (2)
•  Argentina (1)
•  Australia (8)
•  Azerbaijan (1)
•  Bahrain (3)
•  Belarus (12)
•  Belgium (24)
•  Bolivia (1)
•  Botswana (4)
•  Brazil (2)
•  Burundi (8)
•  Canada (33)
•  Central African Republic (1)
•  Chile (2)
•  China (9)
•  Croatia (3)
•  Denmark (1)
•  Egypt (12)
•  Eritrea (16)
•  Ethiopia (28)
•  France (22)
•  Gibraltar (2)
•  Guatemala (2)
•  Hong Kong (1)
•  Iran (4)
•  Iceland (2)
•  Ireland (14)
•  Italy (18)
•  Japan (2)
•  Kazakhstan (2)
•  Kenya (35)
•  Kyrgyzstan (4)
•  Libya (1)
•  Malawi (3)
•  Morocco (31)
•  Netherlands (1)
•  New Zealand (12)
•  Peru (1)
•  Poland (1)
•  Portugal (24)
•  Romania (4)
•  Russia (12)
•  Rwanda (7)
•  Senegal (1)
•  Seychelles (2)
•  Slovenia (2)
•  South Africa (8)
•  Spain (36)
•  Sudan (5)
•   Switzerland (23)
•  Tajikistan (5)
•  Tanzania (6)
•  Tunisia (12)
•  Turkey (10)
•  Turkmenistan (6)
•  Uganda (7)
•  Ukraine (3)
•  United Kingdom (29)
•  United States (35)
•  U.S. Virgin Islands (2)
•  Uzbekistan (12)
•  Venezuela (1)
•  Yugoslavia (1)
•  Zimbabwe (3)

See also

• 2003 IAAF World Cross Country Championships – Senior men's race
• 2003 IAAF World Cross Country Championships – Men's short race
• 2003 IAAF World Cross Country Championships – Junior men's race
• 2003 IAAF World Cross Country Championships – Senior women's race
• 2003 IAAF World Cross Country Championships – Women's short race
• 2003 IAAF World Cross Country Championships – Junior women's race
• 2003 in athletics (track and field)