Australian Cross Country Championships Frequently Asked Questions

Yes,

Athletics Australia have made significant changes to the National Cross Country for 2024, so it is important that all interested athletes read these FAQs and the selection criteria carefully. A summary of these changes include;

• The Athletics Australia Cross Country will no longer take place with School Sport Australia (i.e two separate crosscountry events will take place)
• Athletics NSW can now select an unlimited number of athletes in each age group (SUBJECT TO THE PREQUISTES IN THE SELECTION POLICY)
• The competition now includes events for the Under 11, Under 12 & Masters age groups, in addition to the traditional age groups offered for this competition
• A relay event will take place on the Sunday

The following age groups will be offered for 2024;

Note, Masters events will also take place at the National Cross Country but will not be selected by ANSW. Please contact NSW Masters Association for entry details.

Yes, there is now no longer a limit to the number of athletes that ANSW can select. However, ANSW will only accept an entry if the athlete has satisfied the prerequires (section 6 of the selection criteria or the following question in the FAQs)

From the athletes that enter, ANSW will select up to 12 athletes that will be deemed ‘Official Representatives’. Any additional athletes will be deemed ‘Additional Competitors’.

The only key difference between an ‘Official Representative’ and an ‘Additional Competitor’ is the teams component. ‘Official Representatives’ will be eligible for team medals in each age group, however both ‘Official Representatives’ and ‘Additional Competitors’ will be provided the same services by ANSW team  management and be eligible for individual medals.

Please read section 5 or 6 of the selection policy to determine how ‘Official Representatives’ are selected.

In Short, based on results of the NSW Cross Country Championships and NSW Short Course Cross Country Championships.

Please read section 5 and 6 of the selection criteria for details.

The following are the perquisites for selection. These prerequisites are applicable for both ‘Official Representatives’ and ‘Additional Competitors’;

1. Athletes must be registered with either Little Athletics NSW or Athletics NSW
2. Athletes must compete in a minimum number of events throughout the Winter Season;
   1. Athletes in age groups Under 18 and below must compete in no less than two (2) of the following; St George Classic, NSW Road Championships (Sydney 10), NSW Cross Country Relays NSW Cross Country Championships, NSW Short Course Cross Country Championships
   2. Athletes in the Under 20 and Opens must compete in no less than one (1) of the following; St George Classic, NSW Road Championships (Sydney 10), NSW Cross Country Relays NSW Cross Country Championships, NSW Short Course Cross Country Championships
3. Athletes must have completed either the NSW Cross Country Championships or NSW Short Course Cross Country Championships in faster than the minimum standard indicated in section 3 of the selection policy.

In certain circumstances yes. However, you must complete an exemption and have it approved prior to entering the Nationals. All exemptions must be submitted prior to Sunday 14^th July 2024.

Please read section 7 of the selection criteria for further information.

Entry will be available on the ANSW website. Entries will open Monday 18^th June and close Sunday 21^st July 2024. To confirm your entry, you will need to pay the Athletics Australia entry fee and the Athletics NSW levy.

Only athletes that have satisfied the prerequires should enter.  

Athletics NSW believes in keeping costs as low as possible for athletes, to make participation in the National event as accessible as possible. To this end, we don’t provide a team environment, and everyone travels individually to the Championships (including individually covering all costs and logistics with travel).

Athletics NSW provides team management personnel to assist athletes while at the Championships.

Athletics Australia have introduced mixed relay events that will take place on the Sunday of the Championships. These events are not state-based and Athletics NSW will not be selecting teams.

The relays are designed for Schools, Clubs and Universities, and entry is directly through the Athletics Australia entry system found here

To foster the NSW team environment at this event, all athletes must compete in NSW team uniform. This includes athletes that have been selected as Additional Competitors. 

You can purchase your team uniform here. 

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