St. Xavier Invitational Main Cross Country

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A Guide to Cross Country


Unlike most sports, where the score is evident throughout the contest, cross country sometimes leaves coaches, runners, and spectators asking the question: "So.... who won?"

Actually, the scoring system is very simple. But sometimes when you watch a hotly contested meet, it can be difficult to determine the outcome immediately. Often, it takes five or ten minutes for the scores to be sorted out. Here's how it's done: In a true team race, each school may enter 7 runners. The first 5 finishers in that race actually score. (The other two finishers, #6 and #7, may help by pushing back other teams' "scorers.") You simply add together the finishing places of the first five runners on each team, and the low score wins. So.... a team whose runners placed 3rd, 5th, 12th, 13th, and 16th (for a total of 49 points) would defeat a team with 1st, 2nd, 4th, 25th, and 26th places (58 points). Thus, it pays to have runners near the front, but it’s vitally important to have a "pack" which finishes fairly close together. Cross Country is truly a team sport and much of our success at St. X has come as a result of our depth of talent. (At State in 1999 and in 2000, for example, our 7th finisher placed ahead of almost every other team's 5th man.) When we're running in a big meet, like the Tiffin Cross Country Carnival, for instance, with over 40 teams - nearly 300 runners in one race - it can be nearly impossible to see which team has won until scores are turned in a results are calculated.

In addition to team races (varsity, and sometimes JV and freshman) there are also "open races" at every meet, where runners who are not running fast enough for the team races, may compete. These races are still very challenging, ribbons and prizes are often awarded, and each participant can match his time up with those who ran in the team races, thereby possibly moving into team competition for upcoming races.

Also, in the past 4 or 5 years, we've tried to enter two and sometimes three meets on the same Saturday, to give more runners the opportunity to run in "team races." (On the second week of the season in 1999 and 2000, for example, we took team championships in three different meets, thus giving lots of young men "varsity-level" experience.)

Most meets begin at around 9 or 10 in the morning, often with a freshman race, followed by JV, open, girls' races, etc. Generally, most meets will be finished by 1 pm or thereabouts, except really big meets with many levels. Usually, when the meet offers a frosh-only race, freshmen will run 2 miles and upper-classmen run 5K (3.1 miles). Most courses are designed to be "spectator friendly," so you can cheer and encourage the athletes from very close up several times in the race.

Here's an important tip for parents: get acquainted with other parents.... you may be spending many hours with these folks over the next several years.