The History of Cross Country

"Run over the Countryside"

Feb 7, 1737

<http://www.freeportcrosscountry.com/history_of_the_sport_of.htm'
The historical Native American method of dividing land was the walk from sunup to sundown. All the land covered in 1 day would belong to the settlers. Thomas Penn conditioned 3 rugged colonists for 2 years to prepare for this cross country run. Instead of walking, they ran from sunup to sundown, surprising the Natives. The distance covered was aprox. 70 miles.

"Crick Run"

Feb 7, 1837

<http://www.freeportcrosscountry.com/history_of_the_sport_o
In a Rugby School in England, the school ran a race called the "Crick Run" or "Hares and Hounds." A group of runners (the hares) would take off and leave a trail of pieces of paper. Then, the "hounds" would follow the hares and try to catch them. They would travel over hedges and creeks, which led to the track event called Steeplechase.

XC in College

Feb 7, 1880

<http://www.gsspa.org/thelamp/slide-show/the-history-of-cross-country/comment-page-1/'
Harvard was the first college to introduce cross country as an autumn event for track and field. This is important because other colleges began to follow suit and the ICCA was created.

XC Internationally

Feb 7, 1898

<http://www.gsspa.org/thelamp/slide-show/the-history-of-cross-country/comment-page-1/' >International cross country competitions began with a competition between England and France. It was followed by an annual competition involving England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. The event only truly became international, however, once France sent its own representatives to the game. By the 1920s, other European countries followed in participating. This changed the sport because it was now recognized worldwide.

XC IN THE OLYMPICS

Feb 7, 1912

<http://www.gsspa.org/thelamp/slide-show/the-history-of-cross-country/comment-page-1/'
Cross country running was held at the Olympic Games in 1912 in Sweden, 1920, an 1924, but was dropped for being unsuitable as a summer competition compared to track and field. This is important because it is the beginnings of longer races in track and field. We now have long races in the olympic games today.

NCAA

Feb 7, 1938

The NCAA began cross country. This changed the sport because now, student-athletes could be recognized in the sport and get scholarships for talent.

First IAAF Championships

Feb 7, 1973

<http://www.iaaf.org/disciplines/cross-country/senior-race' >
The inaugural IAAF World Cross Country Championships took place on 17 March, 1973, in the Belgian town of Waregem. This changed cross country by making people worldwide able to compete. This race is immensely difficult, some argue it is even more difficult than the Olympics.

Girls XC Race Distance Extended

Feb 7, 2014

<http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/sports/high-school/2015/01/07/iowa-high-school-cross-country-girls-race-distance-change/21415081/' >
Iowa girls high school cross country race distance was extended. Still, in 10 states, girls run a 4k rather than a 5k. This is a change because girls will be able to compete at more and a wider variety of races if they can run a 5k like the boys and many other girls in different states.

Now and beyond

Feb 7, 2015

<http://www.freeportcrosscountry.com/history_of_the_sport_of.htm' >
Cross country has become an open activity for all ages, male and female. Runners activities for fitness and health have evolved from competitive programs. (Run for Fun, Run for Your Life, etc.) There are 5k and 10k races almost every weekend.

Marathon Beginnings

Mar 2, 2022

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Runners were used as messengers in ancient civilizations. The most famous was a Greek soldiers Philippines who ran 26.2 miles from the Pains Of Marathon to inform the populace of Athens of their victory over the Persians. This was the beginning of and basis for the modern day marathon.