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Early cross country running was a hunting-based game called "hare and hounds" or "the paper chase" where one set of runners, the "harriers," would follow a paper trail laid out by another set of runners, the "hares." The first official race, the Crick Run, was held at the Rugby School in England, but other schools soon followed this up by holding their own events.
Image: The Brasilia Hash House Harriers, brasiliahhh.tripod.com/about.htm. -
The English National Cross Country Championship is established.
Image: Web Admin. “English National Cross Country Championships.” Bromsgrove & Redditch Athletic Club, 17 Dec. 2017, www.bromsgroveandredditchac.org.uk/english-national- cross-country-championships/. -
William C. Vosburgh of New York introduced the sport to the United States. This is an image of the first New York City marathon (held later).
Image: “The History of the New York City Marathon.” §1-04 Prohibited Uses : NYC Parks, New York City Department of Parks & Recreation, www.nycgovparks.org/about/history/nyc-marathon. -
The Intercollegiate Cross-Country Association is organized by Cornell University, where cross country was popular.
Image: Cornell University Library. “Cornell University Library Digital Collections.” Hitler Over Germany - Cornell University Library Digital Collections: Persuasive Maps: PJ Mode Collection, Cornell University Library, 2016, digital.library.cornell.edu/?f%5Bdate_tesim%5D%5B%5D=1898. -
England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales had been holding annual championship meets since 1903, but it later became international.
Image: “National and Major Newspapers of England.” Newspapers Directory of United Kingdom, www.earthnewspapers.com, www.earthnewspapers.com/united-kingdom/. -
In 1912, 1920, and 1924 Cross Country appears in the Olympics, but after 1924 in is considered "unsuitable for summer competition."
(http://www.angelfire.com/oh5/jmetz/History.html)
Image: Butler, Nick. “Cross Country Running to Make Olympic Return at Buenos Aires 2018.” Inside the Games, Dunsar Media Company Limited, 14 Sept. 2017, www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1055407/cross-country-running-to-make-olympic-return-at-buenos-aires-2018. -
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) took over cross-country as a championship event.
Image: Willets, Sarah. “NCAA ‘Reluctantly’ Signs Off on N.C.'s Quasi-HB 2 Repeal.” Indy Week, Indy Week, 10 Apr. 2017, www.indyweek.com/news/archives/2017/04/04/ncaa-reluctantly-signs-off-on-ncs-quasi-hb-2-repeal. -
The International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF) took over cross-country and established rules for the sport.
Image: “International Association of Athletics Federations.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 27 June 2018, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Association_of_Athletics_Federations. -
Amateur Athletic Union creates a national championship meet for women and a year later an international meet is held in Barry, Wales.
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Steve "Pre" Prefontaine, a beloved American track and cross country star placed 4th in the Munich Olympics. He held the U.S. record in every long distance event at the time and won 119 out of the 151 races he ran starting in high school. Not only did his records stand for about 40 years but he brought popularity to the sport.
Image: Mazurkiewicz, Stephen. “Why Is Steve Prefontaine Important?” Runner's Goal, 14 Nov. 2013, www.runnersgoal.com/why-is-steve-prefontaine-important/. -
Ethiopian runner Kenenisa Bekele breaks the world record for a 5000 meter race in Hengelo with a time of 12:37.35.
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After running since elementary school and running track for Princess Anne Middle School, Logan Warden joins the cross country team at Cape Henry Collegiate School makes it onto the girls cross country record board at CHC with a 5k time of 21:39.7. She says that running and staying active has helped her stay confident and reduce stress because of the "feel-good" endorphins it produces and the team unity involved.
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