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Back to 2025-26 USATF Cross Country Championships

Technical Instructions

Runners competing in the 2025-26 USATF Cross Country Championships & Selection Event on Saturday, December 6-7, 2025, should be aware of the following points of emphasis. Competitors who fail to comply with these and other applicable USATF Rules of Competition risk possible disqualification.

Schedule

Saturday, December 6

Time Event
12:30 p.m. Open Men 2 KM
12:40 p.m. Open Women 2 KM
12:55 p.m. Open Men 10 KM
1:50 p.m. Open Women 10 KM
2:50 p.m. U20 Men 8 KM
3:30 p.m. U20 Women 6 KM

Sunday, December 7

Time Event
9:00 a.m. Masters Men 8 KM
10:00 a.m. Masters Women 6 KM
  1. Registration: Registration for the 2025-26 USATF Cross Country Championships & Selection Event is available online only at the links below:
    1. ​​Masters Registration Form
    2. Open/U20 Registration Form
  2. Entry Deadline: On-time registration is open until Sunday, November 30, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. PT. No Late Entries: No entries will be accepted via phone, fax or email after the close of online registration. No entries will be accepted at packet pick-up. No entries will be accepted on race day. Per USATF Competition Rule 341.12, absolutely no changes will be allowed to runner team affiliation after the close of online registration.
  3. Eligibility: You must be a 2025 USATF member to enter the USATF Cross Country Championships. All athletes must be citizens of the United States and eligible to represent the United States in international competition to be eligible for team scoring and for USATF medals and prize money.  If you do not have a 2025 membership, please visit www.usatf.org/membership
  4. Note on Non-Citizens: Non-US citizens are not allowed to compete in the Open and U20 races. Non-US citizens ages 40+ who are 2025 USATF members are allowed to compete in the Master races but may not score for a team nor win individual awards.
  5. Age Limits: Open runners must be ages 16+ on race day. U20 runners must be ages 14 to 19 on race day and cannot turn 20 at any time in 2025. Master runners must be ages 40+ on race day.
  6. Parking: NO RACE DAY PARKING AVAILABLE at Glendoveer Golf Course. Participants should use the shuttle from the host hotel, rideshare or the spectator parking lot for race day parking.
    1. Spectator Parking Lot: Linfield University, 2900 NE 132nd Ave, Portland, OR 97230
  7. The Race Course: The race starts and finishes at Glendoveer Golf Course.
  8. Course Preview: The course will be available to athletes on Friday, December 5th between 1:00-2:30 p.m. You will not be admitted to the site outside of this time. Parking during the Course Preview will be at Glendoveer Golf Course on a first come, first serve basis.
  9. Cutting the Course: Any competitor who has been found by the Referee to have gained an unfair advantage by intentionally shortening the route of the race (“cutting the course”) shall be immediately disqualified. 
  10. Illegal Assistance: Anyone found to have received illegal assistance is subject to disqualification. “Assistance” is the conveying of advice, information, or direct help to an athlete by any means, including a technical device. It also includes pacing in running or walking events by persons not participating in the event, by competitors lapped or about to be lapped, or by any kind of technical device. Verbal or other communication, without the use of any technical device, from an individual not on the course shall not be considered assistance. The course is defined as the grass pathway and bike path between their edges and curbs.
  11. Bona Fide Effort: All athletes should compete honestly with bona fide effort in all Cross Country Championship events.
  12. Water: Runners may at any time carry water and other refreshments by hand or attached to their body provided it was carried from the start or received at any official water station.
  13. Wireless Devices: The use of wireless devices (iPhones or iPods) is not permitted. Competitors may carry or wear articles of personal equipment such as wrist chronometers and heart-rate monitors. The use of phones is prohibited during the race.
  14. Competition Front Bib Numbers/Timing Tag: All runners must wear the competition bib number pinned on the front of the outermost layer of clothing that you they will be wearing in the race. Per USATF Competition Rules “bibs are to be worn as issued”. Bibs should not be crinkled, folded or cut.  The transponder timing antennae or “B” tag is a part of the bib number and is disposable after the race.
  15. Master Age/Gender “Back” Bibs: Masters (ages 40+) entered in the USATF Cross Country Championships Master races must also wear an age/gender “back” number pinned to the back of the outermost layer of clothing that they are wearing in the race. Please use 4 pins to affix the “back” number in such a manner that it is visible to any runner behind them and will not flip up. Any Master competitor failing to wear a competition bib number on the front and a visible age/gender “back” number will be subject to disqualification. If your packet is lacking a “back” number, extras will be made available at packet pick-up and at the start line.
  16. Packet Pick-up: Teams are given a last chance to revise their team rosters onsite, in person, at packet pick-up at the Hilton Portland Downtown (921 SW Sixth Avenue, Portland OR 97204) on Friday, December 5th. Packet pickup runs from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 pm. An additional packet will be available on Saturday December 6 at Glendoveer Golf Course between 11:00-3:00 p.m. No team changes will be allowed. This is strictly for bib collection. An additional packet pickup will be available at the host hotel between 6:30-8:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 6.
  17. Final Team Declarations: If a team has listed more than maximum number of athletes on their online declaration form and fails to submit a revised final team declaration form by 5:00 pm on Sunday, November 30th, then the extra runners (as listed on the status of entries webpage) will be dropped from the team roster. “B” teams are permitted. No email, fax, or phone team declarations will be accepted. Hard copy Team Declaration forms will be made available at packet pick-up.
    1. Division # Score # Declare #Enter
      Open Men 10KM 4 6 Unlimited
      Open Women 10KM 4 6 Unlimited
      U20 Men 8KM 4 6 Unlimited
      U20 Women 6KM 4 6 Unlimited
  18. Masters Team Scoring
    1. Shall be scored by place as follows:
    2. Each division shall be scored Separately by places of the top 3 or 5 team finishers respective of the division (see chart below).
    3. Division # Score # Declare #Enter
      M40+ 5 9 Unlimited
      M50+ 5 9 Unlimited
      M60+ 3 5 Unlimited
      M70+ 3 5 Unlimited
      M80+ 3 5 Unlimited
      W40+ 3 5 Unlimited
      W50+ 3 5 Unlimited
      W60+ 3 5 Unlimited
      W70+ 3 5 Unlimited
      W80+ 3 5 Unlimited
    4. USATF Rules indicate that when scoring by place:
      1. The team score shall be the total of the finishing positions of the scoring members. The team with the lowest total points is the team winner.
      2. Runners of incomplete teams, team entries not declared eligible for team scoring, and unattached or individual competitors will be eliminated from team scoring. Non-scoring declared members of complete teams shall retain their finishing positions and thereby displace other runners.
      3. When separate competitions are conducted simultaneously, each shall be scored independently. Runners on teams not eligible for a given competition will be eliminated from team scoring in that competition.
      4. If a team falls to finish with a complete scoring team, the team members finishing shall be counted as individuals in the race results and shall be eligible to receive individual awards.
      5. Team scoring tie breaker (Rule 7.9.b) - Ties between two or more teams shall be resolved in favor of the team whose last scoring member finishes closer to first place.
  19. Technical Meeting: Open to all runners, coaches, and guests. Time to be determined. The Technical Instructions will be posted on the USATF event webpage. Questions should be directed to the Championship Referee. The technical meeting will be hosted at the Hilton Portland Downtown, 921 SW Sixth Avenue, Portland OR 97204.
  20. Host Hotel: Room blocks for the Championships have been secured at the Hilton Portland Downtown. Bookings can be made here.
  21. Nearest Airport: Portland International Airport is 8 miles from Glendoveer Golf Course.
  22. Bag Drop: Participants will be provided a drawstring bag for limited clothing to be left at a designated drop location behind the start line. These bags will be moved from the start to a finish area collection point as the race starts. Bags will be printed with your bib number and to retrieve the bag you will need to show your bib. While we try to marshal the area as best as we can, the race is not responsible for lost or stolen items from clothing bags.
  23. Start Time: Each competitor is responsible for knowing the starting time of their race. All competitors are responsible for being at the starting line no later than 15 minutes prior to their start with their competition bib number. Master runners must also wear the age/gender “back” number properly affixed.

    1. Saturday, December 6

      Time Event
      12:30 p.m. PT Open Men 2 KM
      12:40 p.m. PT Open Women 2 KM
      12:55 p.m. PT Open Men 10 KM
      1:50 p.m. PT Open Women 10 KM
      2:50 p.m. PT U20 Men 8 KM
      3:30 p.m. PT U20 Women 6 KM

      Sunday, December 7

      Time Event
      9:00 a.m. PT Masters Men 8 KM
      10:00 a.m. PT Masters Women 6 KM
  24. Start Details: All complete scoring teams must report together to the USATF Clerks at the tent adjacent to the starting line to verify their team uniforms (see below for uniform apparel requirements for complete teams). All Championship runners will be checked for proper front bib and back numbers (Masters) prior to the start. There will be a two-command start: “On your marks” followed by the gun signaling the start of the race. All awards are based on “gun time”.
  25. No false start: False starts will not be recalled. Runners who false start are subject to disqualification.
  26. Team Uniforms: All members of each complete scoring team must be clearly identifiable as team members. Team identification shall be clearly visible and shall distinguish one team from another. The jersey or singlet worn by the members of a team shall be basically identical for each member in color and style, and must be clearly visible throughout the race, i.e., worn as the outer garment if other apparel items are worn underneath by one or more team members. Individuals not complying with this uniform rule may be disqualified from scoring for a team. Bibs must be securely fastened (4 pins) to this outermost jersey or singlet. The USATF Clerks will begin verifying team uniforms at the Masters tent adjacent to the start line beginning 30 minutes prior to each race. Do not wait until the last minute to verify team uniforms.
  27. “B” Teams: If a club enters two (or more) teams in the same team age/gender division, then members of these teams shall wear different singlets. If this is not possible, then the games committee shall issue identifying letters to all members of the “B” teams to be worn on the back of the singlet. Stick-on letters (“B”, “C”, etc.) will be available at packet pick-up and at the start line.
  28. Withdrawal for medical reasons: A competitor must retire from the race immediately if directed to do so by a duly authorized official of the race or by an appropriately identified member of the race medical staff.
  29. Team Processing
    1. NXN Championships Athletes - Team Processing will take place immediately following the NXN race at Glendoveer Golf Course.
      U20 and Senior Open Championships Athletes - Team Processing will be at the Host Hotel, Hilton Portland Downtown, 921 SW Sixth
      Avenue, Portland OR 97204. Team processing will be open 2:00-6:00 p.m. Official selection procedures for the 2026 World Athletics Cross Country Championships can be found
      here.

      Event Details
      • A valid passport is required at Team Processing for World XC Champs. The passport must be valid for at least six months from the date of the event, June 10, 2026, in this case. A photo of the current passport is acceptable for team processing. Passport cards are not accepted.
      • World Athletics will only allow a valid passport to confirm citizenship (and date of birth for U20 athletes) at the time of submitting final entries. If you don’t currently have a passport and intend to make the team, it is strongly advised to begin the passport application process now and not wait until confirmation of making the team. In this case, at Team Processing please provide paperwork showing proof of your passport in process and/or the confirmation from the US Department of State or other processing service. Please note that World Athletics requires all participants, including Team USA, to have a valid passport in effect prior to the final entry deadline of December 19, 2025 despite Team USA not needing to travel internationally.
      • Athletes must accept or decline their position on the team at the time of Team Processing.
      • Any athlete who is under 18 years of age will need to have their parent or legal guardian available to co-sign acceptance paperwork.
      • World Athletics Cross Country Championships 2026 - Tallahassee, FL, USA
      • Competition date: January 10, 2026
      • Tentative travel dates: January 8 - 11, 2026
      • Team kits are expected to be packed and shipped to athletes on December 9, 2025 (qualifiers will select uniforms and confirm sizing during Team Processing post NXN race).
      • USATF will book and cover the cost of round-trip flights between the athletes' homes and Tallahassee, FL.
      • Ground transportation will be provided by World Athletics between the airport, the team hotel, and the competition course for credentialed team members.
      • World Athletics will cover the cost of housing and meals during the official competition period.
      • Athletes who will be under the age of 18 during the championships are not required to have a parent or legal guardian present at the World XC Championships.
      • Should family members choose to attend World XC Championships, the cost of their attendance (housing, meals, transportation, etc.) will not be covered by World Athletics or USATF.
      • USATFs SafeSport Director will be in contact with parents/legal guardians of minor athletes named to the team to discuss safeguarding measures in place for the athlete at the World XC Championships.
      • Further information regarding the championships can be found on the World Athletics website.
      •  Any additional questions can be directed to teams@usatf.org

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