- Jack Daniels
Jack Daniels is a professor of physical education and cross-country running coach at State University of New York at Cortland. He received his doctoral degree in exercise physiology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Named “The World’s Best Coach” by Runner’s World magazine, he has led Cortland runners to eight NCAA Division III National Championships, 31 individual national titles, and more than 130 All-America awards.
- Adam Goucher
Adam Goucher (born February 18 1975) is an American cross-country and track and field athlete. He primarily competes in middle distance events and is featured in "Running With The Buffaloes", a book revolving around the 1998 season of the University of Colorado cross country team. Goucher attended Doherty High School in Colorado Springs, Colorado and graduated in 1994. He won the Foot Locker National High School Cross Country Championship in 1993, …
- Meselech Melkamu
Meselech Melkamu (born 19 April 1985) is an Ethiopian long-distance runner who specializes in the 5000 metres and cross-country running.
- Catherina McKiernan
Catherina McKiernan Cornafean, County Cavan) is a long-distance runner from Ireland, who competes in the marathon, 10,000 metres and cross country. McKiernan was blighted by injury for a large part of 1999 and 2000 which stalled her progress and forced her to miss the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia but she helped commentate on the Games for Radio Telefís Éireann the state broadcaster for Ireland.
- Galen Rupp
Galen Rupp is an American cross-country and track and field athlete. He is one of the nation's top young distance runners, having set important junior national and American high school records while competing for Portland, Oregon's Central Catholic High School. In 2004 he broke Gerry Lindgren’s 40-year old U.S. junior record for 5,000 meters by almost seven seconds, running 13:37.91 for the distance. Rupp also holds the U.S. high school record for 3,000 meters at 7:49.16, …
- Sammy Kipketer
Sammy Kipketer (born 29 September 1981 in Rokocho, Keiyo District) is a Kenyan long-distance runner who specializes in the 5000 metres and cross-country running. He belongs to the Keiyo tribe, a sub tribe of Kalenjin. He was born in Rokocho, near Kaptarakwa. He is married and has 1 daughter, and he currently lives in Merewet, Uasin Gishu District. He is 1,66 metres tall, and has a weight of 52 kg. He now trains with Daniel Komen who was Kenya's foremost runner for a while.
- Gaston Roelants
Gaston Roelants (born February 5, 1937 in Opvelp, Belgium) was a top steeplechaser in the early 1960s and a great cross-country runner. At the steeplechase he won the 1962 European and 1964 Olympic titles as well as setting two world records, 8 minutes 29.6 seconds in 1963 and 8 minutes 26.4 seconds in 1965. He had been 4th in the steeplechase at the 1960 Olympics, and after a bronze at the 1966 Europeans he turned with great success to longer distances, …
- Assefa Mezgebu
Assefa Mezgebu (born June 19, 1978 in Sidamo) is a retired Ethiopian long-distance runner most known for winning a bronze medal in the 10,000 metres event at the 2000 Summer Olympics. He also specialized in cross-country running. He is the younger brother of Ayele Mezgebu.
- Joanna Hayes
Joanna Dove Hayes (born December 23, 1976) is an American runner, who won the gold medal in the Women's 100m Hurdles at the 2004 Summer Olympics at Athens. Currently coaches Track and Field and Cross-Country Running at Brentwood School in Los Angeles, California. Hayes is the daughter of Los Angeles homeless advocate Ted Hayes
- Paulo Guerra
Paulo Guerra is a Portuguese runner who specialized in the 10,000 metres and cross-country running. Since 2001 he has mainly been running half marathon.
- John Kibowen
John Kipkemboi Kibowen (born April 21, 1969 in Changach, southern Keiyo District) is a Kenyan long-distance runner who specializes in the 5000 metres and cross-country running. He won the gold medal in the short race at the 1998 and 2000 IAAF World Cross Country Championships, and finished second in 2003. He also won a bronze at the 2001 World Championships and a silver at the 2003 World Athletics Final, …
- Irina Mikitenko
Irina Mikitenko, née Volynskaya is a German long-distance runner of Kazakh origin. Her father Leonid participated in the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City and had a best time of 13:36 minutes over 5000 metres. Irina began participating in long-distance running at the age of 14. Under her maiden name, Volynskaya represented Kazakhstan in the 5000 meter run at the 1996 Olympic Games and made it to the advance race.
- John Halvorsen
John Halvorsen (born 17 August 1966) is a retired Norwegian long-distance runner who specialized in 10,000 metres and cross-country running. He represented IF Minerva. In 10,000 m he finished sixteenth at the 1988 Summer Olympics, twelfth at the 1990 European Championships and nineteenth at the 1992 Summer Olympics. At the 1987 World Championships he competed in both 10,000 m and 5000 m without reaching the finals.
- Hailu Mekonnen
Hailu Mekonnen (born 4 April 1980 in Arsi) is an Ethiopian runner who specializes in the 5000 metres and cross-country running.
- Charles Sorley
Captain Charles Hamilton Sorley was a British poet of World War I. Born in Aberdeen, Scotland, he was the son of William Ritchie Sorley. He was educated, like Siegfried Sassoon, at Marlborough College (1908–13). At Marlborough College Sorley's favourite pursuit was cross-country running in the rain, a theme evident in many of his pre-war poems, including "Rain" and "The Song of the Ungirt Runners". Before taking up a scholarship to study at University College, Oxford, …
- Mohammed Farah
Mohammed "Mo" Farah (born 23 March, 1983 in Mogadishu, Somalia) is a British international track and field athlete from London. He competes mainly over 5000 metres, but also over 3000 metres and occasionally 1500 metres, as well as also competing in cross-country running. He is also a very inspirational athlete, and has recently appeared at a local high school awards evening, giving a motivational talk, and shaking the hands of award winners, …
- Hosea Macharinyang
Hosea Mwok Macharinyang (born 12 June 1986) is a Kenyan runner who specializes in the 10,000 metres and cross-country running.
- Paul Kipkoech
Paul Kipkoech was a Kenyan long-distance runner who specialized in the 10,000 metres and cross-country running. He became world champion over 10,000 m in 1987. In 1986 he ran the 3000 metres in 7:39.38 minutes, which was the third best time in the world that season, only behind Saïd Aouita and Sydney Maree. He retired in 1988 due to illness. He died in 1995 at an Eldoret hospital aged only 32.
- Yonas Kifle
Yonas Kifle (born 5 November 1977 in Adi Billai) is an Eritrean runner who specializes in the 10,000 metres, the half marathon and cross-country running.
- Teyba Erkesso
Teyba Erkesso Wako (born 30 October 1982 in Arsi) is an Ethiopian runner who specializes in half marathon and cross-country running.
- Christoph Herle
Christoph Herle (born 19 November 1955) is a retired West German long-distance runner who specialized in the 10000 metres and cross-country running.
- Jackline Maranga
Jackline Maranga (born December 17, 1977 in Nyanturago, Kisii) is a retired Kenyan middle distance runner. She won a silver medal at the World Junior Championships at the age of 15, and also won silver medals in the two following Championships, being the only athlete to do so. She is perhaps best known for winning the 1500 metres gold at the 1998 Commonwealth Games.
- Abraham Cherono
Abraham Cherono (born 21 July 1980 in Keiyo District) is a Kenyan runner who specializes in the 3000 metres steeplechase and cross-country running. He is the older brother of Stephen Cherono, who moved to Qatar and changed his name to Saif Saaeed Shaheen. Shaheen is considered to be currently the best steeplechase runner in the world.
- Merima Denboba
Merima Denboba (born 21 August 1974 in Arsi) is a successful Ethiopian long-distance runner who specializes in the 5000 metres and cross-country running.
- Eduardo Henriques
Eduardo Henriques (born 24 March 1968 in Alenquer) is a Portuguese runner who specialized in the 3000 metres steeplechase and cross-country running. Since 1999 he has mainly been running half marathon.
- Simret Sultan
Simret Sultan (born 20 July 1984 in Mirara) is an Eritrean long-distance runner who specializes in the 5000 metres and cross-country running.
- Priscah Jepleting Ngetich
Prisca Jepleting Ngetich (born 27 June 1980) is a Kenyan runner who specializes in the 5000 metres and cross-country running.
- Ayele Mezgebu
Ayele Mezgebu (born 6 January 1973) is a retired Ethiopian long-distance runner who specialized in cross-country running. He is the older brother of Assefa Mezgebu.
- Martin Mathathi
Martin Irungu Mathathi (born 25 December 1985 in Nyahururu) is a Kenyan long-distance runner who specializes in cross-country running.
- Helena Sampaio
Helena Sampaio (born 9 October 1973 in Pedreira) is a Portuguese runner who specialized in cross-country running.
- Eyerusalem Kuma
Eyerusalem Kuma (born 7 September 1981 in Addis Ababa) is an Ethiopian runner who specializes in the 10,000 metres and cross-country running.
- Naomi Mugo
Naomi Mugo (born 2 January 1977 in Nyahururu) is a Kenyan middle distance runner who specializes in the 1500 metres and cross-country running.
- Grete Kirkeberg
Grete Kirkeberg (born 3 September 1964) is a retired Norwegian long-distance runner who specialized in marathon races and cross-country running. She was on the Norwegian team who won the silver medal at the 1994 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships, having finished 22nd in the individual race. Her highest place from the IAAF World Cross Country Championships was a fifteenth place from 1986. In the team competition there she finished sixth in 1987.
- Leila Aman
Leila Aman (born 24 November 1977 in Arsi) is an Ethiopian long-distance runner who specializes in the half marathon and cross-country running.
- Anita Håkenstad
Anita Håkenstad is a Norwegian long-distance runner who specialized in marathon races and cross-country running. She now competes in mountain running. Her highest place from the IAAF World Cross Country Championships was a 30th place from 1986. The same year she finished sixth in the 3000 metres at the inaugural World Junior Championships in Athletics. In the World Cross Country team competition her highest place was sixth in 1987.
- Tesfayohannes Mesfen
Tesfayohannes Mesfen (born 1974-11-24 in Dibezana) is an Eritrean runner who specializes in the half marathon and cross-country running.
- Mohammed Awol
Mohammed Awol Ibrahim (born 1978 in Wollo) is an Ethiopian runner who specializes in cross-country running.
- Nebiat Habtemariam
Nebiat Habtemariam (born 29 December 1978 in Adi-Kinzinab) is an Eritrean long-distance runner who specializes in the 5000 metres and cross-country running. She has competed at the World Cross Country Championships in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2007. Her best placing is a sixteenth place from 2003. In 5000 metres she has competed in the 1997, 1999 and 2001 World Championships in Athletics as well as the 2000 and 2004 Summer Olympics. She never reached a final.
- Brian Newth
Brian Allen Newth was a New Zealand modern pentathlete. Newth was one of the eight members of the New Zealand contingent who particiapted at the Games of the XXII Olympiad (Moscow) in 1980. Newth carried the flag of the New Zealand Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association at the Opening Ceremony of the Games. In the Modern Pentathlon competition, Newth scored the following: 23rd in the Equestrian (1018 points), 42nd in the Fencing (532 points), …
- Ahmed Baday
Ahmed Baday (born 12 January 1979) is a Moroccan runner who specializes in the 5000 metres and cross-country running.