A cross country meet is a 3.1 mile race that consist of all different types of terrain. We compete in many area meets, from the Ohio Caverns up to Maumee Bay. All teams are lined up in certain spots at the starting line. When the gun goes off, it is an all-out sprint for the first turn.
The first turn is the toughest because all teams reach it at the same time. It is a dead sprint and when you reach the turn who ever has the will and strength to push through will get the better position. After the first turn there are usually several place changes. Everyone goes into their own pace and this is how most of the race goes. The course ranges from swerving through trees, crossing single man bridges by two's, to running through a wide open field.
Most courses have many obstacles during the race. Many courses contain steep climbs and quick drops. During some there are ponds to go around and bridges to cross. The toughest hill, judged by the 2001 team, is at the Cardinal Stritch Invitational. It is at Maumee Bay and is one of the longest climbs in the season.
When approaching the finish, a runner usually goes all out for the finish. As soon as the finish line comes into sight, the runners put whatever energy they have left into a full-out sprint. Some competitors run so hard they can hardly stay standing at the finish. Usually you will find the best finishes towards the final transfer spot during a District or Regional meet.
Weather at a meet ranges from cold rain and muddy paths, to hot sunny days. For some, the cold weather helps them stay cool and allows them to run faster. For others, the sun gives them energy to run. When the sun becomes too intense, there is the risk of over- heating. There are a few meets, usually in the first few, where someone becomes too dehydrated and passes out. It just goes to show how hard these runners are willing run for a good position and time.
The rules are fairly simple. At the start, every team has a box that they must stay in until the gun goes off. When the starter says "On your marks!", everyone lines up right behind the front line. They must wait there until the gun goes off. If there is a false start, then the teams are called back for a restart. They do this by firing a second shot.
After a clean start, the only rules are that the runners stay inbounds and do not cut the first turn. Sometimes this can be a problem for the inside runners. If the first turn is marked by a small moveable object (i.e., an orange cone), then the runner must be careful not put himself in a position where he will be pushed around the wrong side of the cone. During the race, the only rules are to stay on the course. It is pretty much anything goes throughout most of the race.
At the end, during the all-out sprint, there are timers that mark each runners time. If there is a close race between two different runners, then whoever has the best time according to the timers will get the better position. After the finish, the runner must walk down a chute to the recorders. They must remain there until their number and time is recorded.
At the beginning of the meet, each runner is given a number that they must pin to their uniforms. This number is taken off at the end of the race and used for recording times and positions. Some are paper clipped and some are pinned using safety pins. The ones that are pinned by the safety pins usually have a strip that is torn off while the runner is in the chute after the finish. It is the runner's responsibility to make sure that the number stays on. If it falls off, then the time and position of the runner is unofficial.