how long is the course in women's cross country

by Edgardo Franecki 3 min read

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).

Full Answer

What is the ideal size of a cross country course?

According to the IAAF, an ideal cross country course has a loop of 1,750 to 2,000 metres (1,910 to 2,190 yd) laid out on an open or wooded land.

What is a cross country race course?

Race course. Cross country courses are laid out on an open or woodland area. The IAAF recommends that courses be grass-covered, and have rolling terrain with frequent but smooth turns. Courses consist of one or more loops, with a long straight at the start and another leading to the finish line.

Do you know the general layout of the cross-country course?

Whether you’re one of the fastest runners or one of the slowest, you need to know the general layout of the cross-country course. First of all, it will help with pacing. If you know where you are, you know where the hills will be or when to start your final kick to the finish line.

Should there be a shorter distance for cross country races?

Some female runners might not want to race longer distances, but some male runners, most likely the 800-1500m specialists, might welcome a shorter distance too, with a compromise of 10 km seeming fairground. We certainly want to increase overall participation in cross country as well.

How long is a normal cross country course?

Cross-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.

How long are most cross country courses?

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 many miles do girls run in college cross country?

"At our state level, the boys run 3,200 [meters] and the girls run 3,200. The boys run 1,600 [meters] and the girls run 1,600. But for whatever reason, the game changes during cross country season."

How long is the women's Olympic cross country?

At the Olympics and world championships, it is tradition that the longest men's cross country race is 50km long, while the longest women's event is 30km. “On principle, it really bothers me a lot,” Diggins told NBC Olympics last spring.

How do I get in shape for cross country?

Interval WorkoutsWarm up: 5-minute easy jog including 1–3 30-second accelerations (strides)Run: 30-second sprint at 5K pace.Recover: 1 minute at an easy pace.Repeat: Do the run/recover cycle for a total of 20 minutes.Cooldown: 5-minute easy jog.

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 ...

How many days a week should high school cross country runners run?

Many of you desire to know “the secret” to becoming a great cross-country runner. The secret is very simple. YOU MUST RUN 6-7 DAYS A WEEK ON A CONSISTENT BASIS.

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

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 ...

What mile time do I need to get a scholarship?

If you can run about 40 seconds in the 400, 1:30 in the 800 and 3:20 in the mile, you will have not only a scholarship, well, you'll be able to go anywhere you want.

How long is women's ski sprint?

7.5kmWhile one member races, the other rests. The total length of the race is 8.4km for men and 7.5km for women. Team sprint begins with two semi-finals, from which 10 teams move ahead to the final. In this individual race, competitors use the classic stroke to complete the course, which is 15km for men and 10km for women.

How long is the women's skiathlon?

15 kilometreThe women's 15 kilometre skiathlon competition in cross-country skiing at the 2022 Winter Olympics was held on 5 February, at the Kuyangshu Nordic Center and Biathlon Center in Taizicheng. The event was won by Therese Johaug of Norway. The event was noted for its extreme weather, which many athletes complained.

How far do Olympic cross-country skiers go?

The men will compete at 4x10 kilometers, while the women will race at 4x5 kilometers. Mass start: The longest cross-country skiing event at the Games, the mass start is considered one of the marquee events of the Olympics.

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.

What is the NCAA Women's Cross Country Championship?

The NCAA Women's Division I Cross Country Championship is the cross country championship held by the National Collegiate Athletic Association each autumn for individual runners and cross country teams from universities in Division I. Teams and individual runners qualify for the championship at regional competitions approximately ...

When did cross country become a women's sport?

Cross country was one of twelve women's sports added to the NCAA championship program for the 1981–82 school year, as the NCAA engaged in battle with the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women for sole governance of women's collegiate sports. The AIAW continued to conduct its established championship program in the same twelve ...

Which college has won the most NCAA women's titles?

Villanova has won more NCAA Division I women's titles (9) than any other school, followed by BYU and Stanford with 5. BYU and North Carolina State have competed in the most NCAA Division I women's championships (25). Villanova has had the most individual NCAA Division I women's cross country champions (9).

How many teams were in the 1981 National Championship?

The Division I national championship race included 13 teams in 1981, 16 teams from 1982 to 1988 and 22 teams from 1989 to 1997. Beginning in 1998, the national championship race has included 31 teams. The race distance from 1981 to 1999 was 5,000 meters (3.1 miles).

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!

How to know the layout of a cross country course?

First of all, it will help with pacing. If you know where you are, you know where the hills will be or when to start your final kick to the finish line. You also want to know the course because there’s always a slim chance that you’ll get separated from the pack and need to know your way. You don’t want to run an extra half mile because you went the wrong way, and you certainly don’t want to get disqualified. Know where you’re going!

How many points do you get in cross country?

Cross country is one of three sports I know of that equates low scores to winning. If you finish in 20th place, that’s 20 points for your team. Once the first five runners on your team finish, their place numbers are added up, and there’s your team score. So, if your top five runners were up at the front of the race, that’s a lower score, and that sets you up for a team victory!

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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. 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…

See also

• Sport of athletics portal

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.