ABOUT
OVERVIEW:
-
Doris Brown – won the International Cross Country Championship for five consecutive years (1967–1971).
-
Zola Budd – young prodigy who twice won women's World championship (1985–1986), known for running barefooted.
-
Tirunesh Dibaba – won three times at the World long course and once at the short.
-
Lynn Jennings – won World title three times.
-
Edith Masai – won the World short race three times.
-
Derartu Tulu – won World titles three times in six years (1995, 1997, 2000).
-
Grete Waitz – first athlete to win five IAAF World Cross Country titles.
-
Gete Wami – won twice at the World long course and once at the short.
-
Sonia O'Sullivan – was the first person who achieved wins in both the short and long races in the World Cross-Country Championships (1998)
SCORING:
Cross Country is a sport that takes place outside over a variety of terrains; grass, dirt, gravel, and wooded paths, over hills and ocassionally through small creeks. The distance of the race ranges from 2.5 - 7 miles. In South Carolina, most high school athletes compete on a course more specifically within a quater mile of 3.1 miles or 5,000 Kilometers. While middle school specific races are often a mile shorter.
​
A varsity team (SCHSL rules) is comprised of no fewer than 5 and no more than 7 ahtletes in grades 7-12. In JV races there is no limit of athletes than can compete in any race. There is no bench, every one runs!
​
​
In Cross Country runners gets points for their team that equal their overall place finish (1st place=1 point, 2nd place = 2 points, 5th place gets 5 points, 121 place = 121 points etc.). The top five racers points are added together for each team (sixth and seventh place finishers can 'play defense by finishing in front of the teams top five runners). The team with the lowest score wins. For example, consider the following race:
"The heights by great men reached and kept were not attained by sudden flight, but they, while their companions slept, were toiling upward in the night"
- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
​
Spring Valley
3rd
4th
6th
7th
8th
(9th)
(10th)
Final Score: 28
​
​
Dutch Fork
1st
2nd
5th
11th
12th
__________
31
​
NOTABLE WOMEN:
Spring Valley wins!
VOCABULARY:
COOLDOWN: a running and stretching routine that begins the body's recover process.
COURSE: the marked and measured route of the race.
FALSE START: leaving the starting line before the gun sounds.
FINISH CHUTE: a rope orflag bordered funnel past the finishe line that moves runners into theri single file order of finish.
INVITATIONAL MEET: a multi team meet
KICK: a burst of speed at the finish of the race
PACK: a group of runners in close proximity
PACE: speed over a distance
PERSONAL RECORD: best performance
RACING FLATS: lightweight shoes used for races only.
SURGE: a tactitcal burst of speed
SPIKES: a lightweight pair of shoes that have metal spikes on the forefoot to aid in traction
STARTING BOX: designated area in which a team is assigned at the start line
TOP 7: the scoring members of the team
TRAINING FLATS: a shoe designed for running that provides cushion and foot stability
WARM UP: a routine that prepares the body for rigorous exercise often comprising of some combination of running and stretching.
WORKOUT: a training session
#SUCKITUPCUPCAKE: meaning I don't want to hear your excuses, shut up and run.
#VIKEITUP: Go hard and leave your Viking footprint all over it
#TakeUpYourSword: Log your miles, be in shape so you can race with the team and make an impact in our finish.
#ForMySistersForMyTeam: Remember you are part of a team, you are running for more than yourself
HONK: Support and encourage your flock