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Cross Country Head Coach: Heather Baker hbaker@dunlapcusd.net

Assistant Coaches: Randy Black rblack@dunlapcusd.net  Natalie Lanser nlanser@dunlapcusd.net

Cross country, at the middle school level, is a sport of teams and individuals running a race on a common course usually measuring two miles. Team scores are compiled by adding the places of a team's top five runners in a race (1st=1 point, 2nd=2 points, etc.). The team with the lowest score wins.
 * What is cross country?**

An invitational is a meet with a large number of schools (anywhere from ten to fifty). Invitationals usually have varsity and open races for both boys and girls and are usually run on Saturdays. A dual meet is a meet with a small number of teams (two to six). Dual meets usually only have a boys' race and a girls' race and are run during the week.
 * What is an invitational as opposed to a dual meet?**

At invitationals there usually varsity and open races. Varsity races limit the number of runners a team can enter to seven and teams are scored against one another. Open races allow an unlimited number of entries per team and do not have team scores. Both races are run on the same course but at different times. At practice, the equipment is simple. You need a pair of shorts and a shirt. Both should be loose fitting (avoid jean shorts). You will also need a pair of running shoes. The shoes should be specific to running as opposed to "cross training" or simple tennis shoes. Uniforms will be provided by the school, and these should be worn at only cross country meets. The other piece of equipment you might consider are cross country spikes. These are running shoes that are designed to be used on grass cross country courses. These shoes that you only wear for races. Feel free to ask me about whether your student might need them or not. In addition, a wrist stopwatch, and labeled water bottle are recommended.
 * What is a varsity race as opposed to an open race?**
 * What equipment is needed for cross country?**

Cross country courses vary from place to place, but most of them are run on grass. Many of them incorporate some hills and wooded areas. Occasionally they cross water, and cross country meets are run in about any weather (I have never heard of a cross country meet being cancelled due to weather other than thunder and lightning). At this level, the courses are two miles in length.
 * What is a cross country course like?**