how long is a college cross country course

by Travis Herman 6 min read

In the United States, college men typically compete on 8 km (5.0 mi) or 10 km (6.2 mi) courses, while college women race for 5 km (3.1 mi) or 6 km (3.7 mi). High school students typically race on 3 mi (4.8 km) or 5 km (3.1 mi) courses. The start of a typical cross country race, as an official fires a gun to signal the start

In the United States, college men typically compete on 8 km (5.0 mi) or 10 km (6.2 mi) courses, while college women race for 5 km (3.1 mi) or 6 km (3.7 mi).

Full Answer

How many miles is a college cross country race?

Mar 29, 2020 · In most places, the standard distance for a college cross country race, for boys and girls, is 3.1 miles, which equates to 5 kilometers, or 5k. The 5k is a standard distance, but some states have shorter official races for female cross country runners, who complete for only 4 kilometers or a 2.5-mile run. States with different running courses for boys and girls include …

How long is the Wisconsin State marathon cross country course?

Although far from a set rule, it seems that most coaches allow runners to try out for teams as long as they can run a 4:40 mile and/or a 9:50 two mile. Of course, having a great cross-country resume can help convince a coach to give you chance.

What is cross country running?

Oct 26, 2017 · About the course : According to Wisconsin, its cross country course features an exterior loop of approximately 2,500 meters and an interior loop of 1,000 meters. Both loops cover the area's rolling...

What is the best college cross country course?

Meet cross country college coaches with help from NCSA. Start a free recruiting profile and read more about the XC recruiting or call us at 866 495 5172. ... Of course, the 5,000- and 10,000-meter races on the track are seamless transitions for most xc runners, but perhaps you also have skills in shorter hurdles races or a field event such as ...

How long should a cross-country course be?

International competition distances: Regulation World Athletics distances for cross-country tracks are at least twelve kilometers (between seven and eight miles) for men and five kilometers (a little over three miles) for women, often made up of several loops on a two-kilometer (one-and-a-quarter-mile) course.Mar 2, 2022

How many miles is a cross-country course?

3.1 miles3.1 miles. Cross country is essentially a team sport. At a race, each team consists of six or seven runners, but only the scores of the first five finishers are used to determine the team's overall score. Like golf, this is a sport in which the low score wins.

How fast do you need to be to run cross-country in college?

Division 1 track and field recruiting standardsEventD1 TopD1 Low800m1:47.141:58.491500m3:45.754:16.771600m4:05.894:27.805K XC13:58.2015:5222 more rows

What is a D1 5K time?

NCAA D1: 5K Under 16:10. 10K Under 35:45. Running these times would only mean that you could maybe make the team. Going under 15 minutes would put you in the top 5 in the nation and most likely you would get some athletic scholarship money assuming you have a good mile time as well, at least 4:15.

What is 5k in miles?

A 5K run is 3.1 miles. Don't be daunted by the distance. A 5K run is a great distance for a beginner.

How long is a typical high school cross country race?

3.1 milesHigh school races are usually 3.1 miles long, and junior high races are usually 2 miles long. The courses oftentimes take place at public parks or golf courses and parents are allowed to attend and cheer them on from anywhere on the course.Aug 22, 2017

What is a 10K in miles?

A 10K race, which is 6.2 miles, is ideal for experienced runners who are looking for more of a challenge. It's the second most popular race after the half-marathon and requires a fitness level that balances strength, energy, and endurance.Aug 9, 2019

What is a good 5K time for a freshman girl?

Maybe between 19:00-22:00(varsity?) I would say an average 9th grade girl in her first cross country season runs a personal best of 23 minutes for 5k. I would say an average 9th grade girl in her first cross country season runs a personal best of 23 minutes for 5k.Jul 10, 2006

What is a good 5K time to get a scholarship?

Men's Cross CountryNCAA DINCAA DII5KUnder 16:10Under 17:2010KUnder 35:45Under 39:45

How far do you have to throw javelin to get a scholarship?

Men's Track and Field Recruiting StandardsNCAA DINCAA DIIShot Put60'10”-45'0″50'0″-35'0″Discus185'0″-155'0″150'0″-120'0″Javelin210'0″-170'0″170'0″-130'0″Hammer (12lb)210'0″-170'0″170'0″-130'0″12 more rows

What is a good time for an 8k race?

It seems that if you run under 25 min. for the 8k you should be considered pretty decent. Anything under 24:30 is good (you won't be anywhere near national class but you could beat lots of guys with that time).

How fast should a college athlete run a mile?

Athletes running under the four-minute mark in the mile are pretty balanced when it comes to class. The 13 freshmen under the mark might point to athletes being faster coming out of high school, rather than experience in college making runners faster.Feb 21, 2022

What are the USATF cross country championships?

The USA Cross Country Championships, first held in 1890, include six races: masters women (8 km), masters men (8 km), junior women (6 km), junior men (8 km), open women (8 km) and open men (12 km). In addition to crowning national champions, the championships serve as the trials race to select the Team USA squad for the IAAF World Cross Country Championships. The USATF Masters 5 km Cross Country Championships, first held in 2002, incl men's race and a women's race. The USATF National Club Cross Country Championships, first held in 1998, feature the top clubs from across the United States as they vie for honors and bragging rights as the nation's top cross country team. The USATF National Junior Olympic Cross Country Championships, first held in 2001, has raced for boys and girls in five different two-year age divisions.

How many men's cross country teams are there?

Over 900 men's cross country teams and over 1000 women's cross country teams compete in the three divisions of the National Collegiate Athletic Association. Men usually race 10 km (6.2 mi) or 8 km (5.0 mi), and women usually race 6 km (3.7 mi) or 5 km (3.1 mi). Every state offers cross country as a high school sport for boys and girls.

How long is a sand volleyball course?

The course, typically 4–12 kilometres (2.5–7.5 mi) long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open country, and include hills, flat ground and sometimes gravel road. It is both an individual and a team sport; runners are judged on individual times and teams by a points-scoring method.

What is the equipment used in cross country?

Equipment. Cross country running involves very little specialized equipment. Most races are run in shorts and vests or singlets, usually in club or school colours. In particularly cold conditions, long-sleeved shirts and tights can be worn to retain warmth without losing mobility.

How long is a cross country race?

Sometimes the runners are referred to as harriers. The course, typically 4–12 kilometres (2.5–7.5 mi) long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands ...

What is cross country running?

World Championships. 1973–. 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. Sometimes the runners are referred to as harriers. The course, typically 4–12 kilometres (2.5–7.5 mi) long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, ...

When was the first USATF Masters 5 km race?

The USATF Masters 5 km Cross Country Championships, first held in 2002, incl men's race and a women's race. The USATF National Club Cross Country Championships, first held in 1998, feature the top clubs from across the United States as they vie for honors and bragging rights as the nation's top cross country team.

Why do college coaches use track times?

College coaches rely on track times because, unlike cross country, everybody runs the same course. Although far from a set rule, it seems that most coaches allow runners to try out for teams as long as they can run a 4:40 mile and/or a 9:50 two mile.

What is the best time to run a 5k in Division 1?

If you have placed high at the state meet, or have a solid 5k time (probably has to be at least under 17:00) it can make up for poor track times. For girls, the general rule for Division 1 programs are: 800m: 2:25, mile: 5:30, 2 mile: 11:40, ...

Do cross country runners get scholarships?

Athletic scholarships for track and cross country runners are in short supply and only elite runners out of college can expect to receive any money during their freshman year. Don’t despair though – college coaches often reward runners with athletic scholarships in their sophomore, junior, and senior years.

Does Title IX help women?

However, Title IX does help female athletes by ensuring that athletic programs don’t unequally provide athletic opportunities to males. As a result, it is comparatively easier for female runners to get onto NCAA cross-country and track teams than it is for males.

Is 10:00 a two miler?

For example, a 10:00 two-miler would have a very difficult time making an elite Division 1 team. However, he would probably be welcomed onto most NCAA Division II teams. It’s important to realize that coaches have good reasons to keep their teams relatively small.

What is XC town?

The course and town has been nicknamed "XC Town USA," following similar suit to Eugene, Oregon, which is known as TrackTown USA. The site sits on a reclaimed coal mine and features a mix of uphill and downhill sections, while being nestled amongst trees.

What is the oldest cross country race in the country?

Oklahoma State Cross Country Course. About this course: This course is home to one of the oldest cross country races in the country, the Cowboy Jamboree, which began back in 1937. The course is grass, with wood chips and rolling hills.

How many meters is the Wisconsin cross country course?

About the course : According to Wisconsin, its cross country course features an exterior loop of approximately 2,500 meters and an interior loop of 1,000 meters. Both loops cover the area's rolling hills and valleys, while the outside loop also runs through a section of dense woods, which are aflame with color in the fall. The course opened in 2009, and used the course at Indiana State as inspiration.

Where is Van Cortlandt Park?

Van Cortlandt Park. Location: Bronx, New York. About the course: Known for its notorious Cemetery Hill, Van Cortlandt Park is a course that many runners have grown to love. Van Cortlandt Park, Bronx, NY. To complete that course, especially in the cold weather & mud, made you feel like you could conquer anything.

Where is the FSU Invitational in 2021?

Apalachee Regional Park. Location: Tallahassee, Florida. About the course: This course, which will host the FSU Invitational this weekend, is recognized as one of the premiere cross country courses in the nation. It will host the DI championship in 2021. Apalachee Regional Park.

Where is Rim Rock Farm?

Rim Rock Farm. Location: Lawrence, Kansas. About the course: This historic course was home to the men’s championship in 1965, ‘66 and ‘98. It has also hosted Big 12 Championship races in 2006 and '14. The location was actually donated to Kansas by coach Bob “Timmie’ Timmons.

Who was the cross country coach at Indiana State?

The late Indiana State cross country coach John McNichols created the vision for the course, which was specifically created for cross country races. The course also has a press box and many areas for spectators to watch the race. A classic... the Lavern Gibson in Terre Haute!

How many scholarships are there for cross country?

In NCAA cross country, schools are limited to 12.6 men’s and 18 women’s scholarships for cross country and track and field athletes combined. Those cross country colleges that are not track and field colleges as well are limited to five men’s and six women’s cross country scholarships, respectively.

What division is cross country in?

The top athletics departments compete in NCAA Division 1 cross country and other sports while NCAA Division 2 cross country and NCAA Division 3 cross country are roughly on par with NAIA cross country as far as the quality of teams go. Additionally, the NJCAA sponsors junior college xc for both men and women.

Why do cross country coaches want to cover college distances?

In addition, cross country colleges want to ensure that you’ll be able to succeed in the “student” part of the term, “student-athlete.”.

What are the terms used in cross country recruiting?

Colleges – cross country terms: Prospects, recruits and commits. As you go through the cross country recruiting process, it’s important to understand terms that are being used to describe you. The most common ones are prospects, recruits and commits. Most who participate in boys and girls cross country are prospects.

Where do cross country runners go to college?

Many of the top runners head to prestigious cross country colleges such as BYU, Northern Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Oregon and Arkansas, all of which have claimed NCAA cross country ...

Is there a national cross country meet for NAIA?

The vast majority of NCAA schools will then engage in cross country training for regional meets although there are no regional meets for NAIA cross country colleges. Only a select few will take part in the national championship meet.

Can coaches contact you at cross country?

For example, coaches at cross country colleges are only allowed to contact you at specific times and in specific ways .

Qualifying

Teams compete in one of nine regional championships to qualify, where the top two teams automatically advance and thirteen additional teams are chosen as at-large selections. In addition to the 31 teams, 38 individual runners qualify for the national championship.

History

The field for the Division I national championship race has ranged in size from a low of 6 teams in 1938 to a high of 39 teams in 1970. From 1982 to 1997 the field was fixed at 22 teams. Beginning in 1998, the national championship race has included 31 teams.

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Overview

Regional organizations

Beyond championships, IAAF world cross country meetings include the Great Edinburgh International Cross Country, Cross Internacional de Itálica, Antrim International Cross Country, Cinque Mulini, Nairobi Cross, Chiba International Cross Country, Fukuoka International Cross Country meet, Eurocross and Almond Blossom Cross Country.
Cross country running is organized at the state level by the athletics association for each state. I…

Race course

While a course may include natural or artificial obstacles, cross country courses support continuous running, and do not require climbing over high barriers, through deep ditches, or fighting through the underbrush, as do military-style assault courses.
A course at least 5 metres (5.5 yd) full allows competitors to pass others during the race. Clear markings keep competitors from making wrong turns, and spectators from interfering with the c…

Strategy

Because of differences between courses in running surface, frequency and tightness of turns, and amount of up and downhill, cross country strategy does not necessarily simplify to running a steady pace from start to finish. Coachesand cross country runners debate the relative merits of fast starts to get clear of the field, versus steady pacing to maximize physiological efficiency. Some teams emphasize running in a group in order to provide encouragement to others on the t…

Equipment

Cross country running involves very little specialized equipment. Most races are run in shorts and vests or singlets, usually in club or school colours. In particularly cold conditions, long-sleeved shirts and tights can be worn to retain warmth without losing mobility. The most common footwear are cross country spikes, lightweight racing shoes with a rubber sole and five or more metal spikes screwed into the forefoot part of the sole. Spike length depends on race conditions…

History

Formal cross country competition traces its history to the 19th century and an English game called "hare and hounds" or "the paper chase". English schools started competing in cross country races in 1837, and established a national championship on 7 December 1867. It was held on Wimbledon Common in south-west London. It was the first cross country race that was considered "open", or could be run by anyone. Its original purpose was to imitate steeplechasefo…

Formal cross country competition traces its history to the 19th century and an English game called "hare and hounds" or "the paper chase". English schools started competing in cross country races in 1837, and established a national championship on 7 December 1867. It was held on Wimbledon Common in south-west London. It was the first cross country race that was considered "open", or could be run by anyone. Its original purpose was to imitate steeplechasefo…

Further reading

• Havitz, Mark E., and Eric D. Zemper, "'Worked Out in Infinite Detail': Michigan State College's Lauren P. Brown and the Origins of the NCAA Cross Country Championships," Michigan Historical Review (Spring 2013), 39#1, pp. 1–39.