Meet Information
2024 USATF National Cross Country Championships Return to Richmond
Region Hanover County's Pole Green Park Will Host Our Nation's Top Runners For The Second Year
Citizen's 6K Race Register HERE:
*NOTE 1: All participants in the Citizen's 6K Run/Walk will receive a $10 food truck voucher in the finish chute, good for any of the on-site food trucks on race day. Vouchers void after race day (January 20, 2024).
**NOTE 2: On roughly May 1, 2024 all participants in the Citizen's 6K Run/Walk with a valid email address will be sent a FREE 3 day park pass + parking pass for Free Admission to Kings Dominion Park.
USATF National Championship Races Register Here:
https://www.usatf.org/events/2024/2024-usatf-cross-country-championships
RICHMOND, Va. After an incredible set of races in 2023, the excitement is building for the 2024 USA Track & Field National Cross Country Championships to be held in Hanover County's Pole Green Park on January 20. The nation's top distance runners will return to the Richmond area to chase a spot on team USA for the World Athletics Championships, to be held March 30 in Belgrade, Serbia.
The 2024 USA Track & Field Cross Country Championships will take place on January 20 at Pole Green Park. Organized by USA Track & Field Virginia and the Collegiate Running Association, each championship race will feature athletes who will be competing for national titles, World Championships qualifications and $45,000 in prize money.
The Richmond Cross Country Festival will feature six USA Track & Field national championship events, including: the U20 Womens 6K Championship Race (under 20 years of age), U20 Mens 8K Championship Race (under 20 years of age), Senior Womens 10K Championship Race (open runners 20-39 years of age), Senior Mens 10K Championship Race (open runners 20-39 years of age), Masters Womens 6K Championship Race (runners 40+ years of age) and Masters Mens 8K Championship Race (runners 40+ years of age). The top six U20 and senior men and women finishers will automatically qualify for team USA, along with a select few Masters runners.
Runners in 2024 will be competing for a spot on the U.S. team for the World Athletics Cross Country Championships to be held in Belgrade, Serbia on March 30, 2024.
The events will also include the U.S. Armed Forces National Championships, as well as a Citizens 6K Race which will be open to the community.
"The Virginia Association of USATF is very proud to have been awarded the U.S. Cross Country Championships for 2023 and 2024", said Ray Funkhouser, USA Track & Field Virginia Association President. "This will bring the very best cross country runners in the United States to Virginia, as they look to earn a spot on the Team that will represent the United States in the World Championships. This is a wonderful opportunity for Virginians and especially young runners to come out and see the very best in the country compete on a course that is very spectator friendly. This event will be an excellent time for many businesses to become involved with this national event and join with us and our partners."
Richmond Region Tourism, the USATF Virginia Association, Collegiate Running Association and Hanover County all worked hard to bring the event to the region.
"We couldn't be more excited to see a concept to bring the U.S. Cross Country Championships to the Richmond region and the state of Virginia for the first time in history, turn into reality", said Steve Taylor, Event Director and President/Co-Founder of the Collegiate Running Association. The commonwealth is a hub for top high school cross country and track and field and were thrilled our nations best and brightest distance running stars and Olympians will be coming to the Richmond region for the 2023 and 2024 U.S. Championships."
Athletes will also be competing for $45,000 in prize money at the events.
Added Taylor: "We welcome our business community to partner with us as we welcome these championships to the state. The Pole Green Park cross country course is one of the best in the eastern U.S.; it's a remarkable facility and a great location. There's simply no better place for these championships to be held. We'll incorporate many of the things we learned from hosting the 2023 championships and other championship events while adding our own ideas in order to provide the best experience for runners, fans and Central Virginians alike. This shows the Richmond region has become a destination for endurance events."
Previous U.S. Cross Country Championships have been held San Diego, California; Tallahassee, Florida; Bend, Oregon and Boulder, Colorado and the U.S will host the 2026 World Athletics Cross Country Championships in Tallahassee, Florida.
"We're honored and thrilled to welcome the USA Track & Field Cross Country National Championships to the region", said Jerrine Lee, Vice President of Sales at Richmond Region Tourism. "This will be a dynamic and historic event for our community as the country's best cross country athletes race throughout the 232-acre Pole Green Park."
"We are tremendously excited to be the host site of the USA Track & Field Cross Country National Championships in 2023 and 2024", said John A. Budesky, Hanover County Administrator. "Pole Green Park is the ideal location for these events and all of our guests will find that Hanover County is a wonderfully accommodating location with our many dining, entertainment and historic attractions. We will look forward to welcoming everyone."
For more information about the USA Track & Field Cross Country National Championships, visit
https://www.usatf.org/events/2024/2024-usatf-cross-country-championships
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