Cross country running

Cross-country running is a sport in which teams of runners compete to complete a course over open or rough terrain before other teams. It differs from road running or track running principally in the course, which may include grass, mud, woodlands, or water, and in its scoring system. Teams are composed of between five to nine runners.

Courses and distances

Each cross-country running course is different in composition. Distances are generally standardized in leagues, however there will be little in common between any two courses other than their distance. As such, accurate comparisons cannot be made between performances on different courses. For this reason, records of the fastest times in international competition are not kept.

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Races are started by having each team move into its own "box" along the start line. A gun or horn is then sounded, and runners have a few hundred meters to condense from the wide starting line into the much narrower path that must be followed until the finish.

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The runner is responsible for staying within a specified distance of the marked path. Courses may be marked in various methods. A common method is to attach to poles colored flags which communicate direction. A red flag means left, a blue flag means straight, and a yellow flag means right. Flags must be passed on the opposite side of the direction to which the runner is turning, with the exception that blue may be passed on either side. Ground markings are also used, usually a solid painted centerline.

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The course usually ends at a finish line the width of one person located at the beginning of a chute. The chute is a long, roped walkway that keeps athletes single-file in order of finishing. Less common is an open finish line. This usually involves reading radio-broadcasting computer chips attached to each runner. Prior to the finish line, the course typically widens to allow more passing.

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In amateur international competition, the International Amateur Athletic Federation requires a minimum 2,000 m to 5,000 m for females and 12,000 m (7.5 miles) for males.

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