Not many years later, cross-country started its first international races. England and France were the first to compete internationally, along with Scotland, Wales, and Ireland. Finally in the early 20^th Century, cross-country finally became a sport in the Olympic Games, but did not last long, as the sport was not considered to be appropriate for competition in the summer games.

Although cross-country was not successful in the summer Olympic games, it did grow to be a successful sport in the NCAA and began having national events in 1938.

The IAAF is known as one of the hardest cross-country races in the world. Unlike the traditional cross-country races, there are four different races. These races consist of the Men’s 12km, Women’s 8km, and also Junior Women’s 6km and Junior Men’s 6km. The scoring is based on whether you are on a National Team, which meant team scoring as mentioned above; or many race as individuals for their times and placement.

In International racing, the IAAF has brought forth many notable athletes. Paul Kibii Tergot, who was born in Kenya at June 17, 1969, was the first man to ever win the IAAF Cross County Championship five times in a row. He later went on to be an accomplished marathon runner. Other notable female runners are Lynn Jennings, who has won this race three times, as well as Grete Waitz the Norweigen runner who was the first woman to win the Championship five times in a row. She also went on to become a marathoner and participated in the 1984 Olympics.