Cross Country
Cross Country
What is Cross-Country?
Cross-country is a running team that competes in races that are 3 kilometers (about 1.9 miles) in length. Each race is run in a large group with 50–200 runners competing at the same time. There is competition on both an individual and team basis.
Individuals may win awards, often given to the first 10–20 finishers in each race.
Teams score by adding the places of their top five runners; the lowest combined score wins.
When is Cross-Country?
The official season begins in mid-August and continues through early November.
Morning Practices: Athletes start at 6:30am and meet at the gym dressed to run, bringing their backpack and supplies for the day. After practice they change and have time before classes start.
Afternoon Practices: Athletes go to the locker room immediately after school to change and store backpacks. Practice is held on the field, and pickup is at the gym at 3:30 PM.
A full practice and meet schedule will be provided to families.
Who Can Join?
All Joe Walker students are welcome to join cross-country. You do not need to be a fast or experienced runner, but you must:
Be willing to work hard and show progress.
Attend practices and meets consistently.
Maintain good citizenship.
Keep at least a 2.0 GPA with no Fs.
Who Gets to Compete?
There is no limit on the number of runners we can enter at races—everyone can compete if they qualify. To race, athletes must:
Run 2 miles in under 22 minutes consistently.
Show effort and sportsmanship at practices.
Where are Practices and Meets?
Practices are held on campus and in the surrounding community.
Meets take place at schools and parks throughout the valley. There are usually six meets per season.
Why Join Cross-Country?
There are many benefits to running cross-country:
Make friends and have fun.
Build fitness for both cross-country and other sports.
Participate in “destination runs” (like runs to local spots such as Jamba Juice or Coldstone).
Earn a letter and pin for finishing the season.
Celebrate with an end-of-season pizza party.
Improve academics—studies show runners often see grade improvement.
Team Goals
Promote lifelong fitness by preparing students to transition into high school cross-country and beyond.
Compete for success as a team in league competition.
Training & Expectations
Athletes will train with runs ranging from 2–5 miles, core strengthening, and stretching. All are welcome, even if not yet in top shape—what matters is the effort to improve.
Time Trial Requirement: Runners must complete a 2-mile time trial in 22 minutes to compete in meets.
End of the Season McDonald's Run: Runners are expected to work toward completing 4 miles in 44 minutes, preparing them for destination runs. One of those runs is a celebratory run that takes place at the end of the Cross-Country season, where students run to McDonald's from Joe Walker.
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