how long is a girls college cross country course

by Mercedes Terry Sr. Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago 5 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?

How Many Miles Is a College Cross Country Race? 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.

How many miles do Wisconsin girls run in cross country?

Wisconsin is one of 10 states in which girls run shorter distances during the cross country regular season. Their four-kilometer (2.5-mile) races differ from the standard five-kilometer (3.1-mile) courses run by the boys. In all other states, girls and boys run the same distance.

What is the best college cross country course?

"I believe that Van Cortlandt Park is the best college cross country course because of how challenging and historic it is," Chavez said. "Dating back more than 100 years, Van Cortlandt is known among the running community as the mecca of cross country running.

How many high school students compete in cross country each year?

Over 440,000 high school students compete in cross country each year, making it the sixth-most popular sport for girls, and seventh most popular for boys.

How long is cross-country in college?

US college distances: In the United States, cross-country runners race on courses of varying lengths—usually between eight kilometers (a little under five miles) and ten kilometers (a little over six miles) for men and five kilometers to six kilometers (a little under four miles) for women.

How long is a normal cross-country course?

3.1 milesCross-country is a team running sport that takes place in the fall on a measured 5000 meter (3.1 miles) High School course or 2 mile course for the Jr. High over varied surfaces and terrain.

What is a good cross-country time for a girl?

Women's Cross CountryNCAA DINJCAA5KUnder 20:15Under 23:7510KUnder 37:45Under 46:45

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

How hard is cross country?

What is overlooked, however, when it comes to cross country is it is one of the hardest sports from a training standpoint, where the actual meet is more of a reward than a challenge, and that it takes a certain breed of person to run the 3.1-mile course, especially when you have to run miles and miles to get ready for ...

Is cross country a good sport?

CROSS COUNTRY is the best sport offered at the high school level. No other sport comes close. Why is cross country the best high school sport? XC is free of the commercialization of youth athletics.

How fast should a freshman girl run a 5k?

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.

Why are cross country runners so skinny?

ANSWER: Your running muscles get smaller with high-volume endurance training for one simple reason: it's more efficient to run with smaller muscles.

How fast is a d1 mile?

Division I sub-4 minute mile runners That's 22 percent of all DI athletes in the group.

What times do you need to run d1 female?

Women's Track and Field Recruiting StandardsNCAA DINCAA DII100m11.9-12.3412.5-13.4200m24-25.5426.2-28.5400m54.5-56.9459.0-68.0800m2:10-2:132:20-2:4211 more rows

How fast do you have to be to run d1 cross country Female?

For girls, the general rule for Division 1 programs are: 800m: 2:25, mile: 5:30, 2 mile: 11:40, and 5K: 19:30 Again, there are no set guidelines, and there might be many people that disagree with me that these are the appropriate times, so you owe it to yourself to contact coaches personally and ask them what their ...

Which college has the best cross country team?

These were the top five NCAA Division 1 cross country teams in the final 2019 rankings on the men's side:1 – BYU.2 – Northern Arizona.3 – Colorado.4 – Iowa State.5 – Tulsa.

Cross-country Running: What Is It?

Cross-country running is a sport where runners (also called harriers) run on open-air tracks that incorporate natural terrain. The sport can be played by individuals or by teams.

Cross-Country Race Distances

Depending on the level of competition, cross-country distances vary widely, with longer distances for top international competitions and shorter distances for local races.

5 Cross Country-Training Tips

If you’re interested in running cross country, here are some tips to get you started:

Difference Between Cross Country and Track

There is one key distance between cross-country races and track races: location. In cross country, races are open-air events across rough terrain, usually including grassy areas, hills, and even snow, which increases the difficulty for runners.

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, ...

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

Who won the 2012 Wisconsin Cross Country Championship?

May 8, 2012. Christopher Parish. On a brisk day in late October, Molly Seidel crossed the finish line at the Wisconsin cross country state championships ahead of all other competitors. The senior won the Division 3 state meet handily, just weeks before she'd eventually be crowned as a national champion.

What does it mean to race longer distances?

The longer distance means more time spent racing, more training and, simply, more work. But following the move to the longer distance, Friedman said the participation numbers barely wavered. "It doesn't appear to be the case at all," he said. Participation numbers aren't the only reason for skepticism.

Which states have shorter distances?

Wisconsin is one of 10 states in which girls run shorter distances during the cross country regular season. Their four-kilometer (2.5-mile) races differ from the standard five-kilometer (3.1-mile) courses run by the boys. In all other states, girls and boys run the same distance. Girls also run shorter distances in Iowa , Kansas, Minnesota, ...

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. Coaches and 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 steeplechase fo…