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paintballimpact.com / Sports / Cross Country
Cross Country - Track & Field
While most track and field events are run in an official 400 meter Olympic track, cross country is a distance race run over rough terrain. Cross country races are held in the outdoors, usually through uneven man-made tracks that are carved through wooded areas. While races like the 5,000 meter and the 3,000 steeplechase are run on a level surface (the 400m track), cross country races are run in the natural peaks and valley you would encounter in natural, wooded terrain. Like the marathon and the 10,000 meter, the cross-country race is a long distance course that favors athletes that can withstand the rigors of a very long race. The length of a cross country course varies, according to venue. This differentiates the cross country race from all other track races in that the marathon, 800 meters, and 400 meters are all the same distance while the length of the cross country course can vary greatly.
The first cross country championship, held in 1876, was a comedic disaster, since all the runners got lost in the English countryside. The first international cross country race took place in 1898, in a contest by France and England called the Cross des Nations. The first Cross Country World Championships took place in 1903. Cross Country races were run as Olympic events between 1912 to 1929, but are no longer on today's Olympic program. The World Championships host a number of cross country races, including the men's 4 km race, the men's 12 km race, and the women's 8 km race. Around the world, these races are played on just about every type of terrain, including the rocky terrain, and the mountains. Exotic obstacles encountered in this unique race could include some very steep inclines, cold, rainy weather, sleet, river streams, and sand. Cross country races are very popular in Europe.
The cross country is very popular as a high school event in the United States, and in European countries. Some famous cross country racers include Vladimir Kuts of Russia who won the International cross-country race in Vincennes in 1997.
The Race
Cross Country races can vary greatly in size, from 25 to over 1,000 runners. Cross country races are usually run as team events, but with each individual team member running the entire course. When the race is finished, the times are recorded. 2 finishing orders are established: individual and team. In the latter case, the times of the teammates, usually 4, are added, and the lowest total determines the winning team.
The race course varies from 4 m to 12 km. The race is usually run in a loop, where the starting line and finishing line are in the same place. In high school cross country events, the races run neatly exclusively in manmade trails through wooded areas. In official national cross country races, the countryside has been replaced by stadiums, the courses are flatter and less steep and rugged. Most stadium tracks are approximately 12 km, and average times for competitive athletes is about 38 minutes.
Like the marathon, the Kenyan runner has dominated this event for the last 20 years. Light running shoes made of nylon and rubber cleats are ideal for gripping the dense, sometimes wet, and sometimes icy and unpredictable terrain. Like paintball, cross country is a team event and one that requires their athletes to be strong and can stand up to extreme exertion.
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