Cross Country
Jamboree Guidelines
1. Cross-country is a gender-specific sport, but jamborees will host girls and boys together. Mixed-gender races may be done if the field of runners is too low to warrant separate races. This will be determined by the host in consultation with coaches.
2. There is no limit how many runners a school may send to a jamboree.
3. The Jamboree race distance is 3km. If this distance is not possible due to location restrictions, the host should make an effort to make the distances as close as possible to those listed here. All distances will be precisely measured by the host and shared with participating schools. (May 2023)
4. Schools should send a list of runners to the host in advance to prepare name labels, if requested. Linking a document on the MS KAIAC website information page is recommended.
5. Uniforms are not required, but encouraged.
6. Students are not allowed to run with earphones or while listening to music.
7. Students will be assigned a number to be used at all jamborees that season. Jamboree hosts may decide to use whichever system/app they choose for recording jamboree results.
KAIAC Championship Race Guidelines
a. Tournament Set-up
i. The course will be 3,000 meters in length for both boys and girls. (January 2023)
ii. The end of season tournament will be held simultaneously with the final jamboree.
iii. Race order (all 3k races): Girls Open, Boys Open, Girls Championship, Boys Championship (January 2023)
iv. Each school must designate their seven official tournament runners for each gender prior to the race.
v. Teams must have a minimum of five official runners complete the course to qualify for the team championship.
vi. Team scoring will be calculated according to invitational rules as listed below.
vii. The team with the lowest score will receive a championship plaque.
viii.The top five runners in each race will receive a certificate provided by the tournament host.
b. Race Procedures
i. Each school will be assigned a starting box in which to arrange the team’s runners.
ii. Starting boxes should be preassigned to avoid disputes or arranging runners single file by school.
iii. Runners should be given instructions on the start commands prior to the race.
iv. Runners are permitted to stop or walk during the course of the race but they may not cut corners or deviate from the laid out course.
v. Runners may not be assisted toward the finish of a race by fellow competitors, coaches, or spectators.
vi. The host school will act as the meet official.
vii. It is highly recommended that tape digital timer and back-up stop watches be used for the meet.
viii. It is recommended that a chute be created with plastic cones or flags for runners to finish in order to facilitate time recording.
ix. Finishing sticks (numbered tongue depressors or craft sticks) are a recommended method to assist in keeping track of the order of finish and times. Each finisher will be handed a numbered stick as he/she crosses the finish line.
c. Tournament Scoring
i. Each runner’s place of finish is the point total earned for his or her team. Teams will not be isolated to score against each other as all teams compete against each other.
ii. The first five runners to finish for each team will make up that team’s total.
iii. The tiebreaker is the first sixth place finisher between tied teams.
iv. If all tied teams only have five runners, then the first four runners will be tallied to determine the winner.