The math behind the miles

   In Cross Country the fastest team doesn’t always have the fastest runner, it’s all about the math. The scoring can be a bit difficult to those who aren’t familiar with the sport. Although cross country is a distance team sport it’s also an individual sport. Every runner is not only running for themselves but also for the team.

                  So, what is the math behind the miles and how do you win? In cross country scoring is all about placement, each runner placement in the race equals their point value. For example, first place gets one point, and second place gets two points, and the pattern continues. Unlike basketball or football where the objective is to score the most points as possible cross country is to get the fewest points as possible. Each team score is determined by the top five runners finishing placements and using the sixth as a tie breaker. For example, if a team has finishing placements of first, third, eighth, tenth, and fourteenth then their score would be 36. Even if a team has an individual runner finish in first doesn’t guarantee them the win because the other four runners could be further in the back.

    While it may look like a sport for individuals sprinting to the finish line, cross country really comes down to strategy, teamwork, and the math behind the miles. In many meets, the difference between winning and losing can come down to just a few points. That means a single runner passing one more opponent in the final stretch can completely swing the outcome for their team.

“We have some really good packs.” said Golden “win together, work together.”

   it’s the only sport where five runners can beat one champion. That’s because in cross country, winning isn’t about who finishes first it’s about how the entire team finishes.

   So, for new fans, parents for friends wanting to follow or watch cross country it can be hard to follow. Yet, when you realize how important it is for every runner to finish as close as they can to the front, the sport becomes much more exciting. A single runner passing one competitor might be the difference between a team winning first or second. This makes it a lot more dramatic and exciting because everyone screams for the girls who are neck and neck, and it gets very loud and expressive. In the end, cross country isn’t just about who steps over the line first, it’s about the math.