Modern day Cross Country (XC) races became popular during 19th century England when runners ran from one town’s church steeple to the next. Originally it started as a game where the more experienced runners (called hares) would start in the front and create a path that other runners (pack of hounds )would follow as they tried to catch the lead runners.
XC is one of the most participated in sports around the globe for high school aged students. It requires minimal equipment and just a space to run.
While individuals can win on their own in XC it is also a true team sport where each person on the team counts toward the results and no one rides bench.
The majority of NCAA Div. 1 and 2 schools offer XC scholarships for both men and women.
How is a XC meet scored?
The first 5 runners to finish from a team have their finishing place added to create the team score. The 6th place runner on a team counts as the tie breaker and in a championship the 7th is the alternate. In a non-championship meet there are often more than 7 runners on a team and anyone can help their team standing by finishing in front of a runner from another team. Because of this reason all runners on a team count and can contribute to a team's finish.
How long is a XC meet?
In middle school most of the meets will be 2 miles or less. In high school the most common distance is the 5K or 5,000 meters. In college the distance is generally between 5K-10K, but can vary depending if it is a championship or special invite.
What to wear?
Make sure to wear a pair of good fitting running shoes. There are several excellent running stores around town that can fit your runner. At practice lighter colored clothing and running specific shorts are ideal. For meets the uniforms will be provided.