MORE ABOUT CROSS-COUNTRY

• Cross-country running originated from a game called “hare and hounds.” One runner, the hare, would have a head start, and would leave a trail of paper for the other runners, the hounds.
• In the United States, the USA Track & Field organization holds national meets four times a year. There are different races for men, women, junior men, and junior women.
• The distance of courses can vary, with some courses requiring different laps. Courses are usually between 2.5 and 7.5 miles long, with middle school and high school courses on the shorter side.
• For longer events, there must be at least 440 yards of a course before the first turn. This makes sure there is enough room for runners. Shorter races don’t need to follow this rule.
• Because terrain, layout, and length vary so much from course to course, it is hard to track speed records.
• Many cross-country events are team based, where each place (first, second, third) is given a different set of points. A team can win even if their best runner doesn’t come in first.