Course
The
Starting Line:
The starting line width of 102-meters can
accommodate up to 40 teams when providing each
team’s top five runners a front line space of the
NCAA championships required width of 50-centimeter
per runner.
The Start:
A common starting line is used for the 6K, 8K, 10K
and 12K race routes. The starting stretch extends
610-meters before the first turn. The starting
stretch gradually narrows from 102 meters wide at
the start line to 25 meters wide at the end of the
straightaway. The starting stretch is of even
footing from all starting positions and is virtually
flat with only a six-foot elevation change through
the entire stretch. The first turn is gradual and
the running path will be at least 20-meters wide
until 1000-meters into the race. Note:
Using the standard layout for the 3K and 5K race
routes the starting line is moved forward
150-meters.
The Finish:
A common finish line is used for all races.
The finishing straightaway extends 300-meters from
the final turn through the same straightaway used
for the start. The finish line is located on
the outside (west) side of the course to allow
spectators to have an unobstructed view of the
finish stretch and finish line from the main
spectator areas. The location of the finish
line also allows athletes to return to the fenced
team area without having to enter spectator areas.
The Course:
The various race routes are achieved by using a
series of loops to allow a course that is simple to
follow for athletes, spectators and coaches.
The “short loop” is 2-kilometers and is an oval
around the outside of the course. The “long
loop” includes a portion of the “short loop” with
the addition of a loop inside the oval that makes
the “long loop” 2,850-meters. The course’s
combination of “short” and “long” loops along with
the 300-meter finishing stretch can accommodate any
standard championship cross country distance.
Race routes are as follows:
|
Race Routes
|
|
5,000-meter
Race Route
|
MAP
(1 x Short Loop - 150m, 1 x Long Loop +
Finish) |
|
6,000-meter Race Route |
MAP
(2 x Long Loop + Finish) |
|
8,000-meter Race Route |
MAP
(Short Loop + 2 x Long
Loop + Finish) |
|
10,000-meter Race Route |
MAP
(Short Loop + Long Loop + Short Loop + Long
Loop + Finish) |
|
12,000-meter Race Route |
Map
(2 x Short Loop + Long Loop + Short Loop +
Long Loop + Finish) |
The running path is 100% rolled grass surface with
solid footing. The running path width is a
minimum of 15-meters wide throughout the course and
is wider during the first 1,100-meters of each loop.
All turns are gradual and should not cause
significant changes in running rhythm.
The course includes several gradual uphill, downhill
and rolling terrain sections to add a reasonable
challenge. The course has shown to have a firm
running path even in wet conditions with no areas
where water should pool.
Split Locations:
The championship 6,000-meter and 10,000-meter race
routes halfway points are in the same location
located in the main spectating area directly between
the starting and finish lines. The common
halfway points allow for a transponder/chip timing
service to set up only one split location that can
be used for both championship races.
Course Description
Short Loop: From the start runners will run
along a straight and virtually flat stretch for
610-meters that is 102-meters wide at the start and
25 meters wide at the end of the stretch. At
that point the first gradual turn begins. The
path along the turn is 20-25 wide and extends
180-meters before completing a direction change from
south to east. Runners then move straight and
downhill for 182-meters before beginning a gradual
turn that continues downhill moving from east to
north over 164-meters. From there runners run
up a reasonable hill completing the final portion of
the previous turn for 91-meters. The uphill
portion continues straight for an additional
170-meters before runners run along a straight and
rolling stretch moving north for the next
313-meters. At that point the course gradually
turns to the west over the next 153-meters.
The loop is then completed after a 137-meter
straightaway that runs directly by the start line.
Long Loop: From the start runners will run
along a straight and virtually flat stretch for
610-meters that is 102-meters wide at the start and
25 meters wide at the end of the stretch. At
that point the first gradual turn begins. The
path along the turn is 20-25 wide and extends
180-meters before completing a direction change from
south to east. Runners then move straight and
downhill for 182-meters before beginning a gradual
turn that continues downhill moving from east to
north over 164-meters. From there runners run
up a reasonable hill completing the final portion of
the previous turn for 91-meters. The uphill
portion continues straight for an additional
70-meters before turn to the west entering the
courses inner loop. The inner loop begins by
running along the outside of a natural bowl for
155-meters before going straight and virtually flat
for 120-meters heading southwest. From there runners
turn north uphill for 155-meters along an old fence
line towards the starting stretch. Runners
turn gradually to the north east along a straight a
flat then downhill stretch for 360-meters.
From that point runners begin working their way
downhill back to the outer loop over a distance of
approximately 320-meters. Runners then
re-enter the east side straightaway of the outer
loop. At the end of that straightaway the
course gradually turns to the west over the next
153-meters. The loop is then completed after a
137-meter straightaway that runs directly by the
start line.
Finish Stretch: From the end of the loops
directly by the start line runners turn left into
the starting stretch for run straight and virtually
flat for 300-meters towards the west / outside of
the starting stretch where the finish line is
located.
