The Oeiras International Cross Country ('' Portuguese: Crosse Internacional de Oeiras'') is an annual

cross country running Cross country running is a sport in which teams and individuals run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain such as dirt or grass. The course, typically long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open coun ...

competition that takes place in Oeiras,

Portugal Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic ( pt, República Portuguesa, links=yes ), is a country whose mainland is located on the Iberian Peninsula of Southwestern Europe, and whose territory also includes the Atlantic archipelagos of ...

. Established in 2000, it is usually held in mid-November and is traditionally the first competition of the

IAAF World Athletics, formerly known as the International Amateur Athletic Federation (from 1912 to 2001) and International Association of Athletics Federations (from 2001 to 2019, both abbreviated as the IAAF) is the international governing body for ...

's cross country season, which culminates each year in the

IAAF World Cross Country Championships World Athletics Cross Country Championships is the most important competition in international cross country running. Formerly held annually and organised by World Athletics (formerly the IAAF), it was inaugurated in 1973, when it replaced the Int ...

. The Oeiras Cross Country has featured athletes such as Kenenisa Bekele, Paul Tergat,

Gebregziabher Gebremariam Gebregziabher Gebremariam (born September 10, 1984 in Tigray) is a retired Ethiopian long-distance runner. He established himself at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships, winning the junior title in 2002 and two silver medals in the senior ...

and Felix Limo. The race can be of high importance to Portuguese athletes as the results are often used to decide the national squad for the

European Cross Country Championships The European Cross Country Championships is an annual international cross country running competition. Organised by the European Athletic Association, it is the area championships for the region and is held in December each year. The championships ...

. The men's race is 9 kilometres long, while the women's race is held over 5 km. In addition to the professional senior races, there are also a number amateur races, including shorter cross country races for children, as well as junior and veteran races. The course in Jamor is adjacent the Estádio Nacional, the home ground of Portugal's national football team, and is the same circuit that was used for the

1997 European Cross Country Championships The 4th European Cross Country Championships were held at Oeiras in Portugal on 14 December 1997. Danish orienteer Carsten Jørgensen took the title in the men's competition and Joalsiae Llado won the women's race. Results Men individual 10km ...

and the men's 1999 European Club's Cross Country Cup in 1999.Campo a Través - Temporada 2002/2003

Real Federación Española de Atletismo The Royal Spanish Athletics Federation (Spanish: ''Real Federación Española de Atletismo'', RFEA), is the governing body for the sport of athletics in Spain. As of 2020, the federation has 1,411 registered clubs and 89,470 federated athlets. His ...

(2003). Retrieved on 2009-11-22. It is a long and hilly course which features a green, scenic setting.Fernandes, António Manuel (2006-11-12)
Inzikuru and Kamais dominate IAAF XC in Oeiras

. Retrieved on 2009-11-22. The competition is organised by the same group which sets up the

Lisbon Half Marathon EDP Lisbon Half Marathon is an annual international half marathon competition which is contested every March in Lisbon, Portugal. It carries IAAF Gold Label Road Race status. The men's course record of 57:31 was set by Jacob Kiplimo in 2021, whi ...

and the

Portugal Half Marathon Luso Portugal Half Marathon or Luso Meia Maratona de Portugal is an annual half marathon contested every October in Lisbon, Portugal Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic ( pt, República Portuguesa, links=yes ), is a country whose ...

– the Maratona Clube de Portugal.Fernandes, António Manuel (2009-11-19
Gebremariam tops the field in Oeiras - preview

. Retrieved on 2009-11-22. The race has previously been broadcast live on television and attracts over 600 runners for the senior races annually.Costa, Paulo (2003-11-13)
Malot aims for third title in Oeiras

. Retrieved on 2009-11-22. The competition has been sponsored by a number of patrons over its short history, including:

Vodafone Vodafone Group Public limited company, plc () is a British Multinational corporation, multinational Telephone company, telecommunications company. Its registered office and Headquarters, global headquarters are in Newbury, Berkshire, England. It ...

Sport Zone Sport pertains to any form of Competition, competitive physical activity or game that aims to use, maintain, or improve physical ability and Skill, skills while providing enjoyment to participants and, in some cases, entertainment to specta ...

Banco Português de Negócios Banco Português de Negócios (English: Portuguese Bank of Business), or simply BPN, was a Portuguese banking institution. It used to be a private bank, but was nationalized by the Portuguese Government in 2008 after a bad management and malpractice ...

Energias de Portugal EDP - Energias de Portugal (formerly Electricidade de Portugal) is a Portuguese electric utilities company, headquartered in Lisbon. It was founded in 1976 through the merger of 14 nationalised electricity companies. History EDP was founded as '' ...

and Finibanco.An impressive Bekele smashes opponents

(2002-11-17). Retrieved on 2009-11-22.Costas, Paulo (2003-11-16)
Bekele wins but is closely shadowed by Kigen

. Retrieved on 2009-11-22.

Past senior race winners

Key:

References

External links

Official website
{{IAAF Cross Country Meetings Cross country running competitions Athletics competitions in Portugal Recurring sporting events established in 2000 2000 establishments in Portugal Cross country running in Portugal Annual sporting events in Portugal