The NCAA News - News and Features

September 15, 1997

Women's cross country races GETTING LONGER

Beginning in 1998, Divisions I and II championships races extended 1,000 meters for women's competition

BY STEPHEN R. HAGWELL
STAFF WRITER

Divisions I and II women's cross country competitors who in the past have been urged to go the extra mile soon will discover that the "extra mile" is more literal than they thought.

That's because the Divisions I and II subcommittees of the NCAA Men's and Women's Track and Field Committee voted at their 1997 meetings to extend to 6,000 meters the length of their women's cross country championships races, effective at the 1998 championships.

The 6,000-meter distance is an increase of 1,000 meters, or six-tenths of a mile, from the current championships distance. The Divisions I and II women's championships have been contested at 5,000 meters since 1981.

The Division III subcommittee voted to retain the 5,000-meter distance.

The Divisions I and II men's championships are contested at 10,000 meters; Division III men compete on an 8,000-meter course.

In a related action, the track and field committee approved a rules change permitting women's races to be contested between 5,000 and 8,000 meters effective in 1998.

'Step in right direction'

"It's definitely a step in the right direction for women's cross country," said Beth Alford-Sullivan, women's cross country coach at Stanford University. "Moving the distance provides some separation in terms of making cross country a separate sport, a sport within itself, which I think is great.

"Most high schools are running 5,000 meters. The concept of women making the transition to a greater distance is something that should be done. Making the transition is a natural step."

Critical factors in the subcommittees' decision to extend the race were USA Track and Field's decision to extend the length of the U.S. national junior cross country championships from 5,000 to 6,000 meters, beginning in 1997; and the belief that a longer race will increase opportunities for distance runners. The junior championships feature athletes 19 years of age and younger.

"Juniors are already running 6K," said Jim Sackett, men's and women's cross country coach at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, and chair of the Division II subcommittee. "To have juniors run 6K and then come in and run 5K doesn't make sense. We're already running 10,000 meters on the track. There isn't any reason why our athletes shouldn't be running at least 6K.

"By going to 6K, we've opened the door for high-school athletes coming in who want the opportunity to compete at a longer distance."

Not everyone agrees

Not everyone within the coaching ranks is excited about the subcommittees' decision.

Some coaches have expressed concern that the longer race will close the door to middle-distance runners (for instance, an 800- or 1,500-meter runner). They're also upset that the decision was made without input from the Women's Intercollegiate Cross Country Coaches Association. Two years ago, coaches who were surveyed voted against altering the race distance.

Tom Henderson, men's and women's cross country coach at South Dakota State University and a member of the Division II subcommittee, acknowledges that the additional distance will tax middle-distance runners, but he contends that they can continue to thrive at the longer distance.

"The 800-1,500 runner who is effective at 5,000 meters is still going to be effective at 6,000 meters," he said. "It just depends on the coach and how they train that person, and whether they want to do that or whether they want to recruit a person who runs a longer distance. Increasing the distance by 1,000 meters isn't going to prevent those people from competing. It's going to scare some people off, but not a lot.

"I know a lot of our runners, who are the 5,000- and 10,000-meter runners, are really looking forward to this. They look forward to the opportunity to run a little longer. Of course, some of our 800-1,500 runners are a little cautious at this point, but at the same time they know it's only a half-mile farther. They know it's only a slight adjustment in their training."

Adjustment for coaches

The biggest adjustment may be required from coaches.

According to John Marshall, women's cross country coach at Villanova University, the increase in the race distance will have a huge impact on coaches' training and recruiting philosophies.

"When you change the distance, you're changing the structure, the format, you're changing the event," said Marshall, who believes that increasing the distance was the right thing to do. "When you move the distance up, you need to recruit kids who can run the distance. That's a whole different recruiting style.

"Increasing the distance makes the team that races with lower mileage-type kids change their training strategy. It impacts coaches' recruiting because now they'll need to recruit stronger milers."

Henderson contends coaches can make the adjustment quite easily. He states that coaches have more than a year to modify their training and recruiting strategies, and points out that institutions may prepare for the change by conducting regular-season races between 5,000 and 8,000 meters beginning in 1998.

"There's plenty of time for coaches to prepare for this," he said. "Yes, it's going to require that coaches alter their training and/or philosophy of recruiting. But that's good for the sport.

"The athletes are tough; they'll handle anything we throw at them. They won't have a difficult time adjusting. It's the coaches who now have to alter training plans."

Alford-Sullivan, who guided Stanford to the 1996 Division I women's team title, believes it's time for coaches to make the adjustment. She says women are ready to make the transition to 6,000 meters.

"Women can easily make the transition to 6,000 meters, and possibly even farther," she said. "The decision depends on the coaches and whether or not they want their athletes to compete at that distance.

"If you look at the men's side, you'll find that a good miler can do a great job in cross country. I think you'll find the same thing on the women's side. Women will step up. They're ready to make the transition."