Unlike the NCAA system, the IAAF World Cross Country Championships don't always host a majority of the best distance athletes in the field.

If you look at the top three finishers from last year's global championship distance races, only four of the 32 athletes are entered at World XC.

'16 FINISH	EVENT	MEN	'17 XC?
1	26.2	Eliud Kipchoge (KEN)	NO
2	26.2	Feyisa Lilesa (ETH)	NO
3	26.2	Galen Rupp (USA)	NO
1	13.1	Geoffrey Kamworor (KEN)	YES
2	13.1	Bedan Muchiri (KEN)	NO
3	13.1	Mo Farah (GBR)	NO
1	10K	Mo Farah (GBR)	NO
2	10K	Paul Tanui (KEN)	NO
3	10K	Tamirat Tola (ETH)	NO
1	5K	Mo Farah (GBR)	NO
2	5K	Paul Chelimo (USA)	NO
3	5K	Hagos Gebrhiwet (ETH)	NO
1	3K SC	Conseslus Kipruto (KEN)	NO
2	3K SC	Evan Jager (USA)	NO
3	3K SC	Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad (FRA)	NO
1	1500	Matthew Centrowitz (USA)	NO
2	1500	Taoufik Makhloufi (ALG)	NO
3	1500	Nick Willis (NZL)	NO
'16 FINISH	EVENT	WOMEN	'17 XC?
1	26.2	Jemima Sumgong (KEN)	NO
2	26.2	Eunice Jepkirui (BRN)	NO
3	26.2	Mare Dibaba (ETH)	NO
1	13.1	Peres Jepchirchir (KEN)	NO
2	13.1	Cynthia Limo (KEN)	NO
3	13.1	Mercy Ngugi (KEN)	NO
1	10K	Almaz Ayana (ETH)	NO
2	10K	Vivian Cheruiyot (KEN)	NO
3	10K	Tirunesh Dibaba (ETH)	NO
1	5K	Vivian Cheruiyot (KEN)	NO
2	5K	Hellen Obiri (KEN)	NO
3	5K	Almaz Ayana (ETH)	NO
1	3K SC	Ruth Jebet (BRN)	YES
2	3K SC	Hyvin Jepkemoi (KEN)	YES
3	3K SC	Emma Coburn (USA)	NO
1	1500	Faith Kipyegon (KEN)	YES
2	1500	Genzebe Dibaba (ETH)	NO
3	1500	Jenny Simpson (USA)	NO

As a result, medaling in this year's World Cross Country Championships--which are being held in Kampala, Uganda, on Sunday--doesn't necessarily mean he or she will be a medal contender at the World Championships in London later this year.

Here is a list of all the World XC medalists and how they did later that year at the outdoor global championship.

*Analyzed only senior long course races
*Removed all years when their wasn't an outdoor global championship.
*Removed 1980 due to the Olympic boycott

YEAR	PLACE	MEN	TRACK FINISH	EVENT
2015	1	Geoffrey Kamworor (KEN)	2	10K
2015	2	Bedan Karoki (KEN)	4	10K
2015	3	Muktar Edris (ETH)	10	10K
2013	1	Japhet Korir (KEN)	DNC	DNC
2013	2	Imane Merga (ETH)	12	10K
2013	3	Teklemariam Medhin (ERI)	DNF	10K
2011	1	Imane Merga (ETH)	3 | DQ	10K | 5K
2011	2	Paul Tanui (KEN)	9	10K
2011	3	Vincent Chepkok (KEN)	DNC	DNC
2009	1	Gebregziabher Gebremariam (ETH)	10	10K
2009	2	Moses Kipsiro (UGA)	4	5K
2009	3	Zersenay Tadese (ERI)	1 | 2	13.1 | 10K
2008	1	Kenenisa Bekele (ETH)	1 | 1	10K | 5K
2008	2	Leonard Komon (KEN)	DNC	DNC
2008	3	Zersenay Tadese (ERI)	1 | 5	13.1 | 10K
2007	1	Zersenay Tadese (ERI)	1 | 4	13.1 | 10K
2007	2	Moses Mosop (KEN)	DNC	DNC
2007	3	Bernard Kipyego (KEN)	DNC	DNC
2005	1	Kenenisa Bekele (ETH)	1	10K
2005	2	Zersenay Tadese (ERI)	6 | 14	10K | 5K
2005	3	Abdullah Ahmad Hassan (QAT)	DNC	DNC
2004	1	Kenenisa Bekele (ETH)	1 | 2	10K | 5K
2004	2	Gebregziabher Gebremariam (ETH)	4	5K
2004	3	Sileshi Sihine (ETH)	2	10K
2003	1	Kenenisa Bekele (ETH)	1 | 3	10K | 5K
2003	2	Patrick Ivuti (KEN)	DNC	DNC
2003	3	Gebregziabher Gebremariam (ETH)	6	5K
2001	1	Mohammed Mourhit (BEL)	DNF	10K
2001	2	Sergey Lebid (UKR)	Semis	5K
2001	3	Charles Kamathi (KEN)	1	10K
2000	1	Mohammed Mourhit (BEL)	DNF	10K
2000	2	Assefa Mezegebu (ETH)	3	10K
2000	3	Paul Tergat (KEN)	1 | 2	13.1 | 10K
1999	1	Paul Tergat (KEN)	1 | 2	13.1 | 10K
1999	2	Patrick Ivuti (KEN)	DNC	DNC
1999	3	Paulo Guerra (POR)	DNC	DNC
1997	1	Paul Tergat (KEN)	2	10K
1997	2	Salah Hissou (MAR)	3	10K
1997	3	Thomas Nyariki (KEN)	3	5K
1996	1	Paul Tergat (KEN)	2	10K
1996	2	Salah Hissou (MAR)	3	10K
1996	3	Ismael Kirui (KEN)	DNC	DNC
1995	1	Paul Tergat (KEN)	3	10K
1995	2	Ismael Kirui (KEN)	1	5K
1995	3	Salah Hissou (MAR)	4	10K
1993	1	William Sigei (KEN)	10	10K
1993	2	Dominic Kirui (KEN)	DNC	DNC
1993	3	Ismael Kirui (KEN)	1	5K
1992	1	John Ngugi (KEN)	DNC	DNC
1992	2	William Mutwol (KEN)	3	3K SC
1992	3	Fita Bayissa (ETH)	3 | 9	5K | 10K
1991	1	Khalid Skah (MAR)	3 | 6	10K | 5K
1991	2	Moses Tanui (KEN)	1	10K
1991	3	Simon Karori (KEN)	DNC	DNC
1988	1	John Ngugi (KEN)	1	5K
1988	2	Paul Kipkoech (KEN)	DNC	DNC
1988	3	William Koskei (KEN)	DNC	DNC
1987	1	John Ngugi (KEN)	1	5K
1987	2	Paul Kipkoech (KEN)	1	10K
1987	3	Paul Arpin (FRA)	13	10K
1984	1	Carlos Lopes (POR)	1	26.2
1984	2	Tim Hutchings (ENG)	4	5K
1984	3	Steve Jones (WAL)	8	10K
1983	1	Bekele Debele (ETH)	10	10K
1983	2	Carlos Lopes (POR)	6	10K
1983	3	Some Muge (KEN)	DNC	DNC
1976	1	Carlos Lopes (POR)	2	10K
1976	2	Tony Simmons (ENG)	4	10K
1976	3	Bernie Ford (ENG)	8	10K
YEAR	PLACE	WOMEN	TRACK FINISH	EVENT
2015	1	Agnes Tirop (KEN)	DNC	DNC
2015	2	Senbera Teferi (ETH)	2	5K
2015	3	Netsanet Gudeta (ETH)	DNC	DNC
2013	1	Emily Chebet (KEN)	4	10K
2013	2	Hiwot Ayalew (ETH)	4	3K SC
2013	3	Beleynesh Oljira (ETH)	3	10K
2011	1	Vivian Cheruiyot (KEN)	1 | 1	10K | 5K
2011	2	Linet Masai (KEN)	3 | 6	10K | 5K
2011	3	Shalane Flanagan (USA)	7	10K
2009	1	Florence Kiplagat (KEN)	11	10K
2009	2	Linet Masai (KEN)	1	10K
2009	3	Meselech Melkamu (ETH)	2 | 5	10K | 5K
2008	1	Tirunesh Dibaba (ETH)	1 | 1	10K | 5K
2008	2	Mestawet Tufa (ETH)	DNF	10K
2008	3	Linet Masai (KEN)	4	10K
2007	1	Lornah Kiplagat (NED)	1	13.1
2007	2	Tirunesh Dibaba (ETH)	1	10K
2007	3	Meselech Melkamu (ETH)	6	5K
2005	1	Tirunesh Dibaba (ETH)	1 | 1	10K | 5K
2005	2	Alice Timbilil (KEN)	DNC	DNC
2005	3	Worknesh Kidane (ETH)	6	10K
2004	1	Benita Johnson (AUS)	24	10K
2004	2	Ejagayou Dibaba (ETH)	2	10K
2004	3	Worknesh Kidane (ETH)	4	10K
2003	1	Worknesh Kidane (ETH)	2	10K
2003	2	Deena Drossin (USA)	12	10K
2003	3	Merima Denboba (ETH)	DNC	DNC
2001	1	Paula Radcliffe (GBR)	1 | 4	13.1 | 10K
2001	2	Gete Wami (ETH)	3	10K
2001	3	Lydia Cheromei (KEN)	DNC	DNC
2000	1	Derartu Tulu (ETH)	1	10K
2000	2	Gete Wami (ETH)	1 | 2	10K | 5K
2000	3	Susan Chepkemei (KEN)	2	13.1
1999	1	Gete Wami (ETH)	1	10K
1999	2	Merima Denboba (ETH)	DNC	DNC
1999	3	Paula Radcliffe (GBR)	2	10K
1997	1	Derartu Tulu (ETH)	Semis	10K
1997	2	Paula Radcliffe (GBR)	4	5K
1997	3	Gete Wami (ETH)	DNF	10K
1996	1	Gete Wami (ETH)	3	10K
1996	2	Rose Cheruiyot (KEN)	8	5K
1996	3	Naomi Mugo (KEN)	Semis	1500
1995	1	Derartu Tulu (ETH)	2	10K
1995	2	Catherina McKiernan (IRL)	DNC	DNC
1995	3	Sally Barsosio (KEN)	11	5K
1993	1	Albertina Dias (POR)	7	10K
1993	2	Catherina McKiernan (IRL)	DNF	10K
1993	3	Lynn Jennings (USA)	5	10K
1992	1	Lynn Jennings (USA)	3	10K
1992	2	Catherina McKiernan (IRL)	Semis	3K
1992	3	Albertina Dias (POR)	13	10K
1991	1	Lynn Jennings (USA)	5	10K
1991	2	Derartu Tulu (ETH)	8	10K
1991	3	Liz McColgan (GBR)	1	10K
1988	1	Ingrid Kristiansen (NOR)	DNF	10K
1988	2	Angela Tooby (GBR)	Semis	10K
1988	3	Annette Sergent (FRA)	12 | 19	3K | 10K
1987	1	Annette Sergent (FRA)	DNC	DNC
1987	2	Liz Lynch (SCO)	5	10K
1987	3	Ingrid Kristiansen (NOR)	1	10K
1984	1	Maricica Puică (ROU)	1 | 3	3K | 1500
1984	2	Galina Zakharova (URS)	DNC	DNC
1984	3	Grete Waitz (NOR)	2	26.2
1983	1	Grete Waitz (NOR)	1	26.2
1983	2	Alison Wiley (CAN)	15	3K
1983	3	Tatyana Pozdnyakova (URS)	DNC	DNC
1976	1	Carmen Valero (ESP)	Semis| Semis	800 | 1500
1976	2	Tatyana Kazankina (URS)	1 | 1	800 | 1500
1976	3	Gabriela Dorio (ITA)	6 | Semis	1500 | 800

Analysis:
59 out of 138 (43 percent) were top three on the track/road in their primary event
85 out of 138 (62 percent) were top eight on the track/road in their primary event

Now let's compare these percentages to the past 10 years of NCAA competition.

*Removed athletes who did not compete in the NCAA outdoor season due to redshirting/going pro.

PLACE	YEAR	MEN	TRACK FINISH	EVENT
1	2015	Edward Cheserek (Oregon)	1 | 1	10K | 5K
2	2015	Patrick Tiernan (Villanova)	3	5K
3	2015	Pierce Murphy (Colorado)	4	10K
1	2014	Edward Cheserek (Oregon)	1 | 1	10K | 5K
2	2014	Eric Jenkins (Oregon)	2 | 2	10K | 5K
3	2014	Futsum Zienasellassie (Northern Arizona)	12	10K
1	2013	Edward Cheserek (Oregon)	1 | 2	10K | 5K
2	2013	Kennedy Kithuka (Texas Tech)	4 | 8	5K | 10K
3	2013	Maksim Korolev (Harvard)	DNC	DNC
1	2012	Kennedy Kithuka (Texas Tech)	N/A	N/A
2	2012	Stephen Sambu (Arizona)	N/A	N/A
3	2012	Lawi Lalang (Arizona)	1 | 1	10K | 5K
1	2011	Lawi Lalang (Arizona)	3 | 11	5K | 1500
2	2011	Chris Derrick (Stanford)	3	10K
3	2011	Leonard Korir (Iona)	N/A	N/A
1	2010	Samuel Chelanga (Liberty)	1 | 2	5K | 10K
2	2010	Stephen Sambu (Arizona)	3	10K
3	2010	Luke Puskedra (Oregon)	6	10K
1	2009	Samuel Chelanga (Liberty)	1 | 2	10K | 5K
2	2009	David McNeill (Northern Arizona)	1	5K
3	2009	Chris Derrick (Stanford)	4	10K
1	2008	Galen Rupp (Oregon)	1 | 1	10K | 5K
2	2008	Samuel Chelanga (Liberty)	3	10K
3	2008	Andrew Ledwith (Iona)	5	10K
1	2007	Josh McDougal (Liberty)	N/A	N/A
2	2007	Galen Rupp (Oregon)	N/A	N/A
3	2007	Lopez Lomong (Northern Arizona)	N/A	N/A
1	2006	Josh Rohatinsky (BYU)	8	10K
2	2006	Neftalem Araia (Stanford)	N/A	N/A
3	2006	Jess Baumgartner (Southern Utah)	DNC	DNC
PLACE	YEAR	WOMEN	TRACK FINISH	EVENT
1	2015	Molly Seidel (Notre Dame)	N/A	N/A
2	2015	Allie Ostrander (Boise State)	N/A	N/A
3	2015	Dominique Scott (Arkansas)	1 | 1	10K | 5K
1	2014	Kate Avery (Iona)	4	5K
2	2014	Sarah Disanza (Wisconsin)	DNC	DNC
3	2014	Emma Bates (Boise State)	9 | 10	5K | 10K
1	2013	Abbey D'Agostino (Dartmouth)	3	5K
2	2013	Emma Bates (Boise State)	1 | 4	10K | 5K
3	2013	Kate Avery (Iona)	8	5K
1	2012	Betsy Saina (Iowa State)	1 | 2	10K | 5K
2	2012	Abbey D'Agostino (Dartmouth)	1	5K
3	2012	Jordan Hasay (Oregon)	3	5K
1	2011	Sheila Reid (Villanova)	10	5K
2	2011	Jordan Hasay (Oregon)	3	1500
3	2011	Abbey D'Agostino (Dartmouth)	1	5K
1	2010	Sheila Reid (Villanova)	1 | 1	5K | 1500
2	2010	Emily Infeld (Georgetown)	2	5K
3	2010	Jordan Hasay (Oregon)	4 | 8	5K | 1500
1	2009	Angela Bizzarri (Illinois)	DNF	5K
2	2009	Kendra Schaaf (Washington)	N/A	N/A
3	2009	Susan Kuijken (Florida State)	N/A	N/A
1	2008	Sally Kipyego (Texas Tech)	N/A	N/A
2	2008	Susan Kuijken (Florida State)	1	1500
3	2008	Tasmin Fanning (Virginia Tech)	N/A	N/A
1	2007	Sally Kipyego (Texas Tech)	1 | 2	5K | 1500
2	2007	Jenny Barringer (Colorado)	1	3K SC
3	2007	Susan Kuijken (Florida State)	8	1500
1	2006	Sally Kipyego (Texas Tech)	1 | 2	10K | 5K
2	2006	Jenny Barringer (Colorado)	7	3K SC
3	2006	Lindsay Donaldson (Yale)	Semis	5K

Analysis:
28 out of 47 (60 percent) were top three on the track in their primary event
39 out of 47 (83 percent) were top eight on the track in their primary event

Notice how in the NCAA system a much higher percentage of XC medalists finished well at the outdoor championship compared to World XC medalists at their outdoor global championship.

The reasoning for this is simple. Most of the best track and field athletes all have the same top priority, and that is to finish as high as possible at the outdoor global championship. While some athletes are able to incorporate indoor championships, marathon majors, or cross country into their training, the only thing that matters at the end of the day is making the global final and being the best on that day in late summer.

So how would we get these "other" (indoor, XC, relays) global championships to matter?

The same way tennis and golf do it.

Have four major championships that are all equally important.