challenge cup the challenge cup competition was initiated at the mcm in 1978. the challenge cup is a competition between the united states marine corps and the british royal navy/marine running teams. an 1897 victorian silver cup, donated by the british in 1978, is awarded to the winner each year. a female division was added in 1998. the finish time for the top three runners for each team are added and the lowest total running time is declared the winner.