DI Cross Country Championships distance might change to 8k
According to the Division 1 Track and Field and Cross Country committee, the distance for the Divison 1 Cross Country Championships might change from a 10k to an 8k. This is a huge leap in NCAA Cross Country history. According to the committee, they are planning to the change the distance in the year 2020. If approved, the date for the switch would be on August 1.
The committee met before the 2018 championships where various ideas and changes were brought up. It was here that lowering the distance from a 10k to an 8k was recommended for both the regionals and nationals meet.
As of now, the 8k distance is run by D1 colleges in regular season races. The distance is also run at conference championships such as the Pac-12 Cross Country Championship. The committee's reason to move this race is to stop the inconsistency between seasonal and post-season races.
Many coaches such as Oklahoma State's Dave Smith sent letters to the committee, urging them to pull this proposal off the list. Other coaches were unhappy that this idea was proposed without their knowledge. The coaches are hoping that they could delay this decision, in order have more voices heard about this proposal.
The NCAA Division 1 Cross Country Championships has been raced at the 10k distance since 1976. The race has not been shorter than 6 miles since 1965.
The proposal is only focused on the men's NCAA Division 1 Cross Country Championships. The Division 2 Championships is likely to stay at 10k distance as for Division 3, which is already 8k.
https://www.flotrack.org/articles/6456550-di-mens-xc-championships-could-soon-move-to-8k
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