The competition was hosted by the United Kingdom on 3 November 1985 in Gateshead and featured one race only: a 15K run for women.
This was the first time that the distance was contested at the championships, having previously been a 10K run, and this was a permanent change.
[1] The race was won by Portugal's Aurora Cunha in a time of 49:17 minutes, completing a successful defence of her title from 1984.
As she had the year before, Bradford led the British women to the team title (alongside fifth place Paula Fudge and Wendy Sly in eleventh).
St Hilaire helped the American women to the bronze medal team position (backed up by Nancy Ditz and Carol McLatchie).