Central Cross Country Philosophy
The basic philosophy of our cross country coaching staff is to promote cross country, make it a positive learning experience, and have the runners develop a passion for the sport. Hopefully the athletes learn more than just how to run from point A to point B. The athletes will learn how to set goals and more importantly to develop the determination needed to achieve those goals. Hard work is necessary to achieve most goals, but we will prove hard work does not mean you can’t have fun in the process. High school cross country is a special sport. It is a team sport comprised of individual efforts. It demands tremendous commitment and the willingness to work hard. Cross country is a sport in which effort is rewarded in small doses. Unlike more popular spectator sports, victories are often quietly won and not widely recognized. Attaining individual success does not happen overnight, it must be earned.
Cross Country BasicsCross country is a sport in which runners compete to complete a course over a golf course or an open park.
Each cross-country course is different in composition. Distances are generally standardized (see right) , however there will be little in common between any two courses other than their length. As such, accurate comparisons cannot be made between performances on different courses or even on the same course on different years as the weather and underfoot conditions can be significantly different. Cross Country is sport in which everyone gets to travel and participate at every meet, no one gets left out. You will have the ability to contribute significantly to our team, even if you have never been out for cross country before. Every meet we go to has a middle school, junior varsity and a varsity level. Scoring Points are awarded to the individual runners of each team, equal to the position in which they cross the finish line (first place gets 1 point, second place gets 2 points, etc) only the first five runners in for a team are counted towards that team's score; the points for these runners are summed, and the teams are ranked based on the total, with lowest score being best. In the event of a tie, then the victor is decided by whose sixth runner crossed the finish line first. Team's non-scoring runners, any runner not in top 5, will not score points for their team, but if they finish ahead of the 4th or 5th runner from another team, they will increase that team’s point total. and are known as "pushers" or "displacers" as their place can count ahead of other runners, thus increasing the score of their team. |
Race Distances
|
Summer Running
Summer running is Monday-Friday at 4 pm at 2220 university ave. Boys or Girls 7th -12th is welcome to come anytime, its never to late to join!! Saturdays practice at 10 am will of course have pancakes afterward!
All boys and girls from grades 7th to 12th are invited. Most people are afraid of the distance you will have to run, but if you can run around the block, you will do fine! Everyone starts with 10-minute runs until they are comfortable going farther.
The main reason our teams have been successful is the training we do during the summer. By running during the summer as a team, you will develop the strength needed to improve your times and also contribute to our history of excellent cross country runners. We make things fun, by playing as frisbee football and weekly runs at Turtle River State Park.
All boys and girls from grades 7th to 12th are invited. Most people are afraid of the distance you will have to run, but if you can run around the block, you will do fine! Everyone starts with 10-minute runs until they are comfortable going farther.
The main reason our teams have been successful is the training we do during the summer. By running during the summer as a team, you will develop the strength needed to improve your times and also contribute to our history of excellent cross country runners. We make things fun, by playing as frisbee football and weekly runs at Turtle River State Park.