The Cross Champs is an annual professional
cross country running
Cross country running is a sport in which teams and individuals run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain such as dirt or grass. The course, typically long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open cou ...
competition in the United States. First held at
Mt. San Antonio College in 2021, it has since been held at
Camp Mabry park in
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of Texas, as well as the seat and largest city of Travis County, with portions extending into Hays and Williamson counties. Incorporated on December 27, 1839, it is the 11th-most-populous city ...
and it usually takes place in November or December. Since its inception it has been a
World Athletics Cross Country Tour
The World Athletics Cross Country Tour is an annual series of cross country running competitions which are recognised by the World Athletics (formerly known as the IAAF). Athletes accumulate points in the series' cross country meets during the sea ...
Gold status meeting, the highest level the only such meeting in the United States.
The distance was in 2021, but from 2022 onwards it was held over the more standard cross country distance. The competition is organized by Sound Running, and was sponsored by FitnessBank in 2022. Since 2022, it has been held in conjunction with
The Running Event expo in Austin.
The Austin course is flat, but is considered difficult because of rocky footing and
hay
Hay is grass, legumes, or other herbaceous plants that have been cut and dried to be stored for use as animal fodder, either for large grazing animals raised as livestock, such as cattle, horses, goats, and sheep, or for smaller domesticat ...
barrels inserted on the ground at portions. Runners could choose to run over or around the barrels.
Past professional race winners
References
External links
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{{Cross country running in the United States
Cross country running competitions
Cross country running in Texas
Recurring sporting events established in 2021
November sporting events
Sports competitions in Cardiff
Annual sporting events in the United States
2021 establishments in Texas
World Athletics Cross Country Tour