Can’t answer your concluding question ….
by fortune_smith (2023-11-14 20:35:42)

In reply to: Question on the distances for Cross Country  posted by TWO

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but I’m fairly sure the men run 8k during most of the season and then ramp it up to 10k for the NCAA regional and championship meets.

I also can’t answer why they ramp the distance for the season’s most important races while the women do not.

Thanks
by TWO  (2023-11-14 21:35:50)     cannot delete  |  Edit  |  Return to Board  |  Ignore Poster   |   Highlight Poster  |   Reply to Post

I just don't get why the men and women don't run the same distance.
They do different distances to create records which are easy
by Domerduck  (2023-11-15 11:24:47)     cannot delete  |  Edit  |  Return to Board  |  Ignore Poster   |   Highlight Poster  |   Reply to Post

to acknowledge. I know my daughter when she started running X country in college got a top school time for the 6k and it didn't seem that remarkable but the school commented on it in their write up. Also cross country courses vary so maybe certain distances work better.

As for men women difference it may have to do with meet time management since the women are slower and more importantly the race can't be over until the last runner comes in. That was just what I thought of, but I have no facts.