Cross Country Information

Please see below for complete details for the 2026 Cross Country Season.

Please note that athletes should compete in two or more meets to qualify for the City Championship.

Divisional Classifications

The Cross Country season has an inclusive design intended both for high volume of participation and to prepare runners for City and Provincial Championships. Runners should be aware of the following classifications for Championship and Provincial competition:

  • Juniors
    • ​Under 16 as of September 1st
    • Girls - 4000 metres; Boys - 4000 m
  • Intermediate
    • ​Under 17 as of September 1st
    • Girls - 5000 m; Boys - 5000 m
  • Senior
    • Under 19 as of September 1st
    • Girls - 5000 m; Boys - 6000 m

Please note - with all categories, SSA eligiblity rules apply, including a minimum of 800 instructional minutes and a maximum three years of eligiblity upon entry into grade 10.

ASAA Registration

The deadline for SSA Registration is October 1. All students must be added on or before this date.

League Fees

School team fee will be determined based on entries. Schools will be billed separately for the cost of Provincials.

Officiating Duties

In the detailed meet listing that follows, please review your school's officiating duties for each meet. Also note that whether or not your school has been assigned an official duty, please be prepared to offer extra help as needed.

  • Timing
    • Each school assigned to timing must provide one timer
    • ​Stop watches will be provided by the Metro Office
  • Finish Judges
    • Each school assigned must provide at least one finish judge
    • Finish judges determine runners finishing places and direct them to the Results Recording table
  • Results Recorder
    • ​Each school assigned must provide at least one results recorder
    • Results recorders take the name tags from the respective runners and place them on the results board
  • Marshalling
    • Each school assigned must provide at least two marshalls (preferably three)
    • The marshalls will be posted at various points along the race courses to ensure runners are aware of the course and provide direction
  • Pick up Course Markers
    • ​At the end of the final race, all course markers must be picked up and each school responsible for this should assign people for this task before the races

All officials should report at least 15 minutes prior to race start time.

Detailed Meet Schedule

Meet # 1 - Rookie Meet/Open Meet - Wednesday, September 9 - Capilano Park (50th Street & 109 A ave)

  • Events
    • ​Rookie Competition is for participants who have NEVER competed in Cross Country events at the SENIOR HIGH LEVEL. Any athletes who have competed before will be grouped in the Open category.
      • Rookie (Girls) - 3000 m - 4:30 PM Start
      • Rookie (Boys) - 3000 m - 4:45 PM Start
      • Open (Girls & Boys) - 3000 m - 5:00 PM Start
  • Registration Procedures
    • ​Metro will not be timing this event; this is purely for student athletes to get out and get a feel for running again; if schools or students want to see their time, they will have to time themselves; we will also have a running clock at the finish line if students or coaches do want to see their times.
  • Officiating Responsibilities
    • ​Flag Pick Up - Ross Sheppard

Meet # 2 - Relay Events/Popsicle Meet - Wednesday, September 16 - kinsmen Park (9100 Walterdale hill; meet behind outdoor pool)

  • Events
    • ​Start time: 4:30 PM for all events
    • Girls, Boys, and Mixed relays, each of 4 people x 3000 m each
  • Registration Procedures
    • ​Metro will not be timing this event; this is purely for student athletes to get out and get a feel for running again and have fun; if schools or students want to see their time, they will have to time themselves; we will also have a running clock at the finish line if students or coaches do want to see their times.
  • Officiating Responsibilities
    • ​Flag Pick Up - Bev Facey

Meet # 3 - girls & boys open meet - Wednesday, September 23 - goldbar park

Events

  • Open Girls 4000 m - 4:30 PM Start Time
  • Open Boys - 5000 m - 4:45 PM Start Time

​​​​​​​Registration Procedures

  • ​Coaches will provide name tags (on SMALL file labels) completed before the events. Competitors must be wearing a name tag with name, school and classification and should marshal in at the start linie when their event is called.
  • Officiating Responsibilities​
    • Marshalling and Flag Pick Up - Romero, McNally, Paul Kane
    • Timing - Scona, Jasper Place
    • Finish Judges - Sturgeon, Louis St. Laurent, Old Scona, O'Leary
    • Results Recording - MacDonald, St. FX, Eastglen, Dr. Anne Anderson

Meet # 4 - 6 events by classification - monday** september 28 - rundle park 

  • Events
    • The purpose of this meet is to introduce athletes to the distances they will run in the City and Provincial Championships.
      • ​Senior Boys - 6000 m - 4:15 PM Start Time
      • Junior Girls - 4000 m - 4:30 PM Start Time
      • Junior Boys - 4000 m - 4:40 PM Start Time
      • Intermediate Girls - 5000 m - 4:50 PM Start Time
      • Intermediate Boys - 5000 m - 5:05 PM Start Time
      • Senior Girls - 5000 m - 5:20 PM Start Time
  • Registration Procedures
    • ​See Meet # 3
  • Officiating Responsibilities​
    • Marshalling and Flag Pick Up - Salisbury, Archbishop Jordan, Father Michael McCaffery
    • Timing - Scona, Jasper Place, Holy Trinity
    • Finish Judges - WP Wagner, Parkland Immanuel, Fort Sask, ME LaZerte
    • Results Recording - Lillian Osborne, Mother Margaret Mary, Millwoods Christian

Meet # 5 - Edmonton City Championship - Wednesday October 7 - rundle park

  • Events
    • Athletes should compete in two or more meets to be eligible for the City Championship.
      • ​Junior Girls & all Para Athletes - 4000 m/2000 m - 1:00 PM Start Time
      • Junior Boys - 4000 m - 1:20 PM Start Time
      • Intermediate Girls - 5000 m - 1:40 PM Start Time
      • Intermediate Boys - 5000 m -2:05 PM Start Time
      • Senior Girls - 5000 m -2:30 PM Start Time
      • Senior Boys - 6000 m - 2:55 PM Start Time

Registration Procedures

  • ​See Meet # 3
  • ​​​​​​​Athletes competing in City Championships MUST be registered online with SSA by October 1

Officiating Responsibilities​

  • Marshalling and Flag Pick Up - Dr. Anne Anderson, Bev Facey, Paul Kane, McNally, Ross Sheppard, Romero
  • Timing - Scona, Jasper Place, Holy Trinity
  • Finish Judges - Louis St. Laurent, MacDonald, Old Scona, ME LaZerte, WP Wagner
  • Results Recording - Bellerose, Sturgeon, Austin O'Brien, Mother Margaret Mary
  • Result Presentations (medals) - St. FX


Awards

  • Top Three finishers in each race will be presented with medals; 4-10th place will receive a ribbon

Advancement to Provincials

  • Top 18 finishers in each event advance to Provincials hosted by Metro Athletics at Rundle Park on October 17, 2026
​​​​​​​

For all of the above races, Harry Ainlay is assigned as Race Starter.


Team Scoring System 

The following scoring system will be used to determine team championships at Cities:

  • TEAM BANNERS - will be awarded to the top scoring team, as below, in the team categories 1A/2A/3A Team and 4A Team and 5A Team.
  • DIVISIONAL TROPHIES - will be awarded to the top scoring school within each division, as below, in the divisions Junior Girls, Junior Boys, Intermediate Girls, Intermediate Boys, Senior Girls, and Senior Boys.
  1. Each runner shall wear a tag with his/her name, gender, age category and school, which will be taken from him/her by the meet scorers in the finish chute and posted on a place board based on order of finish.
  2. The scoring area shall record the finish and calculate the total value of the eight best finishers for overall team banner, and four best finishers within each division (ie. Junior Girls) for divisional trophies (e.g. if a school's eight best finishers are 1st, 3rd, 5th, 9th,10th, 21st, 33rd, and 51st; their team score will be 1 + 3 + 5 + 9 + 10 + 21 + 33 + 51 = 133). A lower team score is preferable in the standings, as it indicates better finishes.
    • NOTE: THE EIGHT BEST FINISHERS OVERALL ARE THE ONLY CONTRIBUTING FACTOR TO CALCULATING THE TEAM BANNER RESULT.
    • NOTE: THE FOUR BEST FINISHERS WITHIN EACH DIVISION (ie. Junior Girls) ARE THE ONLY CONTRIBUTING FACTOR TO CALCULATING THE DIVISIONAL TROPHY RESULTS.
  3. To qualify for the Team Banners, A SCHOOL MUST HAVE AT LEAST 8 OVERALL RUNNERS (WITH AT LEAST THREE OF EACH GENDER) START AND FINISH THEIR RESPECTIVE RACES. 
  4. To qualify for the Divisional Trophies, a school must have at least 4 runners start and finish that division's race.
  5. In the case of a tie among runners within a race, the average of their respective finish places will be taken and given to each tied runner (e.g. tie for 10th place 10 + 11 / 2 = 10.5. 10.5 assigned to each runner, with the next finisher, after the tied runners, given 12th place).
  6. In the case of a tie in team points, THE TIE SHALL BE BROKEN BY THE SCHOOLS 9TH PLACE FINISHERS. IF STILL A TIE, THEN THE 10TH, 11TH AND SO ON, UNTIL THE TIE IS BROKEN OR ONE OF THE TIED SCHOOLS DOES NOT HAVE ANOTHER RUNNER. IN WHICH CASE THE SCHOOL THAT HAS ANOTHER RUNNER WILL WIN. ​​​​​​​