Course Location and Specifications
The championships are moved around the province on a regional rotation such that they take place in central Ontario (outside of metropolitan Toronto) one year, followed by one year in Toronto, one in eastern Ontario, one in northern Ontario, one in southern Ontario and one in western Ontario. The host Association and exact location for each championship are determined no later than at the OFSAA Annual Meeting held in April of the school year prior to the event.
As cross country is an off-road event, the competition is normally held on a golf course or in a conservation area or other park. Course terrain is uneven and may include steep hills. Ground cover is commonly short grass or dirt but courses may also include sections of sand, gravel and other surfaces.
OFSAA regulations stipulate the following course lengths for each event (±400m):
- midget girls - 3000m
- para race co-ed - 2.8 km
- midget boys - 5000m
- junior girls - 4000m
- junior boys - 6000m
- senior girls - 5000m
- senior boys - 7000m
The course starting line must be 65–75 metres in width and include a separate starting box for competitors from each regional Association (and two boxes for TDSSAA competitors). Each starting box must measure three metres wide and four metres deep.
Read more about this topic: OFSAA Cross Country