Cross Country Committee meeting minutes rejecting equal distance survey…

REPORT OF THE NCAA DIVISION I AND III MEN’S AND WOMEN’S TRACK AND FIELD AND CROSS COUNTRY COMMITTEES, NCAA DIVISION II MEN’S AND WOMEN’S TRACK AND FIELD COMMITTEE, AND THE NCAA DIVISION II MEN’S AND WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY COMMITTEE JUNE 14, 2023, MEETING

4. Equal race distances proposal – cross country. During the 2022 joint meeting the committees discussed a letter received advocating for equal race distances in men’s and women’s cross country. The committees discussed the proposal at length and unanimously voted against it a that time. The committees were asked to revisit the proposal on behalf of the Committee on Women’s Athletics in
5. The committees reaffirmed their previous stance voting against the proposal. This feedback will be provided to the Committee on Women’s Athletics.

REPORT OF THE NCAA DIVISION I MEN’S AND WOMEN’S TRACK AND FIELD AND CROSS COUNTRY COMMITTEE MARCH 5-6, 2024, MEETING

4. Cross country race distance survey. The committee discussed its frustration with the decision to explore surveying men’s and women’s cross country programs on the topic of race distances. The committee noted that all three divisional committees with cross country oversight have unanimously voted down the idea of changing the NCAA men’s and women’s cross country championship race distances twice in the last two years. The committee is frustrated that despite the opposition from the three sport committees, a survey is being explored. Members also noted that if a survey were to be distributed, it should only go to women’s cross country programs, since the request to survey is coming from a small contingency advocating on behalf of women’s cross country. Additionally, members noted that men’s cross country programs should not be asked about the women’s race distance and vice versa. The committee noted that men’s basketball programs would never be surveyed about women’s basketball and vice versa. Ultimately, the committee elected to write a letter to NCAA staff expressing its opposition to a survey noting the numerous prior meetings during which this topic was opposed.

REPORT OF THE NCAA DIVISION I AND III MEN’S AND WOMEN’S TRACK AND FIELD AND CROSS COUNTRY COMMITTEES, NCAA DIVISION II MEN’S AND WOMEN’S TRACK AND FIELD COMMITTEE, AND THE NCAA DIVISION II MEN’S AND WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY COMMITTEE JUNE 12, 2024, MEETING

4. Equal race distances survey discussion – cross country. The three divisional sport committees discussed the idea of a cross country race distances survey and were unanimously opposed to surveying the student-athletes and membership on this topic. The committees noted that for two consecutive years all three committees were unanimously opposed to the idea of considering changes to men’s and women’s race distances in cross country. The committees noted that the idea of surveying without support from the oversight committees and bodies is in complete contradiction to the governance model and calls into question their roles and responsibilities. The committee noted that surveying student-athletes on rules related items is not common practice, poses several accuracy challenges and that polling would be required every couple of years given student-athlete turnover. The committees reiterated their stance in opposition to changes, as has been noted over the previous two years, highlighting that we should not be discussing the idea of lowering the men’s distance to equalize men’s and women’s distances. It was noted in particular that at the 2023 NCAA Division I Men’s Cross Country Championships that during the men’s 10-kilometer race, 117 athletes were 2:37.1 or faster at 1,000 meters which is world record pace for 10,000 meters on the track. Lowering the men’s distance would lead to safety concerns and competition integrity as it relates to density of the runners. Further, there has not been a desire expressed from coaches, administrators or student-athletes in all three divisions to increase the women’s distance. The committees continue to review and consider all factors when it comes to the structure and conduct of competition including race distances and the context of race density and spread, recruitment and interest. The committees will continue to monitor this topic if anything changes but noted that there is no interest to support exploring this topic further at this point in time.