New cross-country challenge for students enables solo training and racing

May 5, 2020

A new schools sports initiative has been launched for students that have seen their regular cross- country carnivals cancelled due to Coronavirus restrictions.

The Great Australian Cross Country Challenge enables students of all ages to train and race as individuals, recording their results in a mobile app to help maintain their health and fitness, while keeping connected with their communities online.

The innovative and competitive sporting challenge has been enable through a major technology partnership with endurance sport platform ‘Race Roster‘, backed by international sports brand ASICS.

The technology-led solution allows participants to train and track their progress and virtually interact with other competitors while schools will be able to host their house cups, continue rivalry with other schools across the country and see national Champions crowned.

Over 9000 schools across Australia are currently unable to conduct their traditional school cross country carnivals, and inter-school competitions, state/territory and national championships have been postponed or cancelled. The Great Australian Cross Country Challenge provides a much-needed digital solution that students, teachers and parents are sure to embrace.

Housing information on nutrition, training and motivation tips from ambassadors Rio Olympic marathoner Milly Clark and former pro surfer and tv personality Beau Walker, the platform will connect, motivate and encourage students during an otherwise tumultuous time.

Rio Olympic marathoner Clark explained “I used to love my school cross country day. You’d do your best for your school house and strive to qualify for the next round. It was always a challenge to make it through to state or even national level, but for Australian kids in 2020, that has been taken away in the traditional form.

“Now with this awesome technology, individuals and schools can register, then compare themselves to others through the country, as many times as they want.”

James Matthews, Chief Executive of Race Roster Australian and New Zealand representative, CMS Lateral, advised “the opportunity to bring people together across Australia to get fit and healthy and bring normality through such a core functional school sport is amazing. Race Roster’s is a global brand that has been supporting some of the world’s largest mass participation events and is now available in Australia.

“The cutting edge technology allows participants to use any digital device, compete for their house cups, against other schools in their zone, region or state, get rewarded via virtual and physical medals and other goodies and build an online virtual event community. For the more competitive students it allows them to race against others across Australia and maybe even become a one time national champion.”

Students throughout Australia are being invited to get active this winter with the introduction of the all new Great Australian Cross-Country Challenge. The challenge features categories for kids of all ages and abilities, including;

Junior (K - grade 2) - 1km
Primary (Grade 3 - 6) -2km
Secondary (Grade 7 - 12) - 4km
University - 4km

Parents and teachers can also participate, competing at the same distance as their students.

Event Organiser Richard Welsh added “the aim of this is to be as inclusive as possible and provide students Australia-wide with the opportunity to do something we have done for generations. Kids are naturally active, so this provides a framework for them to run or walk, compare themselves to others and keep active right through winter.

“Schools at all levels can use this to award house points, interschool groups can crown the best school and students can claim to be the best in their state or even the country for their age, all thanks to this fantastic technology.”

The Great Australian Cross Country Challenge begins on 15th May and will conclude with the full results being completed by 31st August.

For more information go to www.gaccc.com.au

Images: Participants in the Australian Schools Cross Country Championships (top and below) and Milly Clark (middle). Images courtesy of CMS Lateral/Great Australian Cross-Country Challenge.

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