Location: Bundoora Park, Bundoora, VIC 3083 Google Maps: click here
Please Note Closures on Eastern Freeway this Weekend.
Transport Victoria’s website notes that there will be significant delays coming from the east this weekend, with the Eastern Freeway being closed in both directions from between the Chandler Highway and Tram Road from 10pm Friday June 19 to 5am Monday June 22. Please allow yourself extra time this weekend, and drive safely. For more information, visit the Transport Victoria website here.
Part of the fun of cross-country events is the mass start and the opportunity to have a run outside over the natural terrain.
Due to the natural variation of the course there is always the chance of athletes tripping over the terrain, or other athletes, due to their varying pace and concentration levels. We would like to make all students, parents and school representatives aware that this is all a part of the challenge of a Cross Country event. We do ask students to be aware of their surroundings and fellow competitors and expect them to act in a safe and responsible manner during the race.
Also each year we see a proportion of students requiring first aid or medical treatment for various medical conditions. If you are aware that you/your athlete is unwell, or has not eaten in the last 12-24 hours; has a serious medical condition; is recovering from an injury; is not in correct physical or mental condition to complete then it is your responsibility to either withdraw that student athlete from the competition OR if appropriate after completing a mandatory health risk assessment on the student athlete, brief the student to compete within their ability and to retire if necessary from the race.
Please Note: The U20 athletes in 2026 will race the same distance as the U18 athletes. As this event is not a selection meet for the National Championships, the distance adjustment gives Athletics Victoria great flexibility regarding the timetable and providing a more efficient timetable for schools and athletes in attendance.
If you have issues entering the event please contact Athletics Victoria PRIOR to the closing date. This can be done via email to sportdelivery@athsvic.org.au or by phoning the Athletics Victoria office on (03) 7032 8400. Please leave a message explaining the issues you are experiencing. Athletics Victoria will not accept any late entries. Emails received after the closing date will not be accept
Event Specific Information
Provisional Timetable
Start Time
Age Groups
Distance
Bib Colours
10:30am
FU13* & F Para
3km (1 x 1km & 1 x 2km)
U12 – Pink
U13 – Purple
U17 Para – Navy Blue
U20 Para – Red
10:50am
FU14
3km (1 x 1km & 1 x 2km)
U14 – Red
11:10am
MU13* & M Para
3km (1 x 1km & 1 x 2km)
U12 – Light Blue
U13 – Yellow
U15 Para – Orange
U17 Para – Green
U20 Para – Red
11:30am
MU14
3km (1 x 1km & 1 x 2km)
U14 – Orange
11:50am
FU15
4km (2 x 2km)
U15 – Navy Blue
12:10pm
MU15
4km (2 x 2km)
U15 – Green
12:30pm
FU16
4km (2 x 2km)
U16 – Pink
12:50pm
MU16
4km (2 x 2km)
U16 – Light Blue
1:10pm
FU17
4km (2 x 2km)
U17 – Purple
1:30pm
FU18 & FU20**
4km (2 x 2km)
U18 – Red
U20 – Navy Blue
1:50pm
MU17
6km (3 x 2km)
U17 – Yellow
2:20pm
MU18 & MU20**
6km (3 x 2km)
U18 – Orange
U20 – Green
*U12 (born 2015) & U13 (born 2014) athletes will now compete for the Victorian U13 All Schools championship due to the splitting of the U14 race due to entry numbers.
Following the closure of entries we have altered the Draft timetable with the aim to minimise athletes on the start line for the junior races. This will see an U13 race implemented with all U13 and U12 athletes competing in a separate race to the U14 athletes.
We have also combined the U18 and U20 Female and Male races as per the draft timetable.
The older age groups have been combined to minimise the length of the day for schools and school staff in attendance.
Age groups that are running in combined races will be wearing different colour bibs to assist with differentiation regarding Victorian Team Selection.
With these changes there will also be a change to the team scoring process for the U14’s as well as an inclusion of an U13 All Schools Championship.
U14 Team Results
For team results in the U14 age group, all results will be collated from the U13 and U14 races with athletes placed by finishing time and then team results will be calculated from the collated results.
U13 Championship
Due to the splitting of the U14 age group race we will now present an U13 Championship Medal.
As neither the U13 or U12 age group were advertised as a separate championship and were initially only noted for National Victorian team selection, there will only be an inclusion of an U13 age group, there will not be an inclusion of a separate U12 Championship with all U12 and U13 athletes vying for the U13 All Schools Championship.
**Please note that this event will not be used for Team Victoria selection for National Cross Country for the U20 age groups. XCR Round 6 – Bundoora, will be the selection race for the U20 age groups.
Timetable Changes Explained
Following the closure of entries we have altered the Draft timetable with the aim to minimise athletes on the start line for the junior races. This will see an U13 race implemented with all U13 and U12 athletes competing in a separate race to the U14 athletes.
We have also combined the U18 and U20 Female and Male races as per the draft timetable.
The older age groups have been combined to minimise the length of the day for schools and school staff in attendance.
Age groups that are running in combined races will be wearing different colour bibs to assist with differentiation regarding Victorian Team Selection.
With these changes there will also be a change to the team scoring process for the U14’s as well as an inclusion of an U13 All Schools Championship.
U14 Team Results
For team results in the U14 age group, all results will be collated from the U13 and U14 races with athletes placed by finishing time and then team results will be calculated from the collated results.
U13 Championship
Due to the splitting of the U14 age group race we will now present an U13 Championship Medal.
As neither the U13 or U12 age group were advertised as a separate championship and were initially only noted for National Victorian team selection, there will only be an inclusion of an U13 age group, there will not be an inclusion of a separate U12 Championship with all U12 and U13 athletes vying for the U13 All Schools Championship.
**Please note that this event will not be used for Team Victoria selection for National Cross Country for the U20 age groups. XCR Round 6 – Bundoora, will be the selection race for the U20 age groups.
Age Groups
Age Group
Year of Birth
U14*
2013, 2014 & 2015
U15
2012
U16
2011
U17
2010
U18
2009
U20
2007, 2008
*U12 (born 2015) & U13 (born 2014) athletes will compete for an U13 All Schools championship due the the splitting of the U14 age group across two races.
These athletes will be eligible for their relevant age group at the National Cross Country Championships based the Selection Policy available above. Athletes must be born in 2015 or earlier to be eligible to compete at these championships.
Athletes competing up an age group will not be eligible for selection at the National Cross Country Championships. Athletes must be competing in their above age group to be eligible for selection.
Bib Collection
All athletes will need to collect a bib for this competition (AV Membership bibs are not to be worn).
Bib collection on the day will take place either at the Athletics Victoria Administration Tent or via your School Representative.
Please view the following PDF to see if your school will be collecting all the bibs and will hand them out, or if you will need to individually collect them from the administration tent.
Please ensure you have collected your bibs early, we encourage this to occur no later than 30 minutes prior to your race start time.
Competition Specific Rules (Inc. Para Eligibility)
Entry Limitation
Athletes are only eligible to compete in one age group. This includes both individual and team competition.
Team Scoring
The first four athletes to finish from the same school count for team awards.
U14 Team Results
For team results in the U14 age group, all results will be pulled from the U13 and U14 races to create teams with athletes placed by finishing time across the two races for team scoring only.
Para Eligiblity
Para Athletes MUST be listed in the Australian Athletics Para Masterlist to be eligible to participate in the Para Classification.
II-3 athletes wishing to compete at these championships will be denoted as an Invitational Athlete and will be ineligible to progress to the National Championships.
II-3 athletes are only eligible for a medal as an invitational athlete if there are less than 3 non-invitational Para athletes in their specific age group. II-3 athletes will be awarded in finishing order medal based on placing behind those athletes that are listed on the Australian Athletics Masterlist – https://www.athletics.com.au/participant-hub/get-involved/multi-class-athletics/
Team Managers
AV require mobile numbers of all team managers to allow contact if any changes to the event need to be made due to the forecasted weather conditions. Please submit your team managers names and contact numbers via sportdelivery@athsvic.org.au
If portions of the course are deemed unsafe due to the weather conditions, shorter race distances may be implemented.
AV will review the weather forecast Friday evening as well as completing a review of weather and course conditions Saturday morning. Any changes to the competition due to conditions will be communicated via text message to the provided Team Manager contacts.
How to get there
The most direct route to the XCR course is to turn onto Fairway Drive from Plenty Road. From there, turn right onto River Red Gum Avenue, and keep going until you find XCR base. There’s a few twists and turns in the road, but if you make it to the corner of River Red Gum Avenue and Playground Drive you should see us! Google Maps location here.
Car Parking
We encourage all participants to arrive EARLY as there will be a premium on parking and access within Bundoora Park with the All Schools Championships running in the morning.
We encourage carpooling where possible with Public Transport also available via Tram 86 running every 15 minutes from Southern Cross Station, with a stop approx. 15 minute walk from the start line.he
School Marquees
All marquees must be secured by weights. The Marquee zone can be seen here and will be marked out on the day.
Bibs & Bib Collection
Schools that registered as a group are to collect Bibs from the Administration Area and distribute to their students.
Athletes that registered as individuals are to collect your bibs from the administration area separately. Please do so 30 minutes prior to event start time to ensure you are ready for the race!
Please make sure each you have your designated timing tag (which is on the back of the race bib) attached firmly to the front of the athlete’s torso, with the other bib attached to the back.
Uniform & Bibs
All registered athletes are required to wear the approved school sports uniform, or a plain black/white top.
All athletes must wear allocated School XCR bibs on their front and back.
Please make sure the designated timing tag (which is on the back of the race bib) is attached firmly to the front of the athlete’s torso.
All athletes are required to wear two Athletics Victoria competition bibs; one with an affixed timing chip must be pinned to the front of the athlete’s competition uniform, the other to the back.
Course Map, Footwear & Warm Up/Cool down
Athletes will be running in an anticlockwise direction as noted in the Course Map (can be viewed below via link)
This year sees a 1km loop & 2km loop set up so please ensure that you familiarise yourself with the course and any alternate directions required as part of the 3km, 4km & 6km courses.
The Course Maps & Provisional Timetable lists the order of the loops, and the distances the age groups will complete.
Athletes are not to warm up on any part of the course. Please ensure where possible athletes physically distance while warming up.
Footwear
Most of the course will be run on grass. You should be OK to wear spikes. Spikes can be needles, Christmas Trees (or new variations of this type), or Pyramid shape. 9mm is recommended for this course.
Warm up/Cool down Etiquette.
There is a lot of open space in the parklands not being used for the course. We respectfully ask that you do not warm up/warm down on the course proper. There are a lot of races throughout the day, and we want to ensure the course is in its’ best condition throughout. If you are warming up, please cover your race bibs so that officials & other athletes are aware you are not in the current race on the course.
School Helpers
Please contact Andrea Hallett (andrea@athsvic.org.au) if you have any questions regarding communicated school helper duties. Officials and club helpers are required to sign in at administration by 9.15am with the first race to commence at 10.30am. All helpers will be given a voucher for the coffee van upon sign in, with light snacks made available.
Team Manager & Official Briefings
There will be one briefing by the Competition Director for officials & team Managers at the Finish line:
Course Marshals – 9:30am If your club is allocated to a marshal point, please ensure that this person attends the briefing.
School Managers & all other Officials – 9:30am One representative from each school will need to attend the Team managers briefing and this is the time to ask any questions regarding the day to the competition director.
First Aid
First Aid will be on site throughout the day. They will be situated at the start/finish line. If anyone needs first aid, please ask an official/club helper to radio through and first aid will be out to help.
Food Vendor
The Doncaster Athletic Club will also be onsite providing a delicious BBQ for purchase.
Results
Results, including live results and team results, will be published through out the All Schools XCR season on the Athletics Victoria ResultsHub webpage – https://athsvic.resultshub.com.au/
Weather Policy
Athletics Victoria has a wet/warm weather policy in place for the upcoming XCR’26 season. Please note we will let Team Managers know any information regarding this before the day or make announcements on the morning of the event. Please listen out for these throughout the day for any extreme weather announcements.
If you have issues entering the event please contact Athletics Victoria PRIOR to the closing date. This can be done via email to sportdelivery@athsvic.org.au or by phoning the Athletics Victoria office on 7032 8400 and leave a message explaining the issues you are experiencing. Athletics Victoria will not accept any late entries. Emails received after the closing date will not be accepted.
NOTE: Please be aware that following the closure of entries, AV will publish a provisional timetable which will take the place of the Draft Timetable.
