XCR’26 Round 9 – R:15

Thank you to all athletes who have entered the event.

Following the closure of entries and reviewing the number of athletes, the decision was made to adjust the timetable to provide the best experience for attendees.

Running one 15km race gives athletes expecting to finish in the 55–70 minute range the chance to run the course with the entire field, causing less pressure around finishing times or being separated into different races. We believe this will provide a more enjoyable and social racing experience for these athletes.

The revised timetable will also minimise the workload for volunteer officials and club helpers, allowing these individuals to complete their roles and finish earlier.

Having athletes enter prior to each round, regardless of which package they hold, provides us with a much more accurate guide to expected participation. This allows us to make adjustments to the event structure, such as combining races or splitting events, where appropriate, to provide the best possible experience for athletes, officials and volunteers such as the changes to the timetable this Sunday.

We appreciate everyone’s understanding of these changes and look forward to seeing you at Burnley on Sunday.

Access the Athletics Victoria Entry Portal (members.athsvic.org.au) and complete the online entry form by close of entry date. As per 2025, XCR & Max Package purchasers will need to enter each individual event throughout the season – entries will be free of charge – this will assist in planning for all events.

Individual Entries

*Any competing athlete who is neither a member of an Athletics Victoria club or recreational running club.

**Individuals must be born in 2015 or earlier to be eligible to participate in XCR events.

Moving to a 15km race in 2026 from the Half Marathon of previous years, the course map will nevertheless be very similar:
Course Map

There will be 8 signs positioned from just behind the start line – the first sign will read ‘Sub – 50 minutes’.  It’s simple – if you think you will run faster than that, stand in front, close to the start line. If you think your time will be a little beyond that time, stand just behind. Find the start sign which is closest to your predicted finish time and position yourself close to it, giving the faster runners space to run along, and those running at a more comfortable pace feeling comfortable too.

There will be no provision made for Premier Division athletes at the front of the start line – athletes should find space according to their expected race time.

In 2026, the 15km event will carry a time limit of 1 hour and 50 minutes.

Athletes who have not completed the course within that time frame will be asked to leave the course, and times will not be recorded.

A water station will be placed in the middle of the road on the 5km loop to allow access to the drink station every 2.5km.

A water station will also be placed at the finish line.

We advise you to arrive at least 60 minutes before your event. Please note that there is limited parking within Botanicca Corporate Park. This parking is privately owned. Athletics Victoria has no permission for athletes to park in this area, and takes no responsibility for cars parked. There is restricted parking around the event area. Any vehicles intending to park close to event site must approach via Swan Street – road closures will be in place via Yarra Boulevard.

Arriving by public transport is highly recommended. The closest metro train station is Heyington. Local trams are along the Glenferrie Road, Burwood Road, and Riversdale Road corridors are also available. To plan your trip, download the PTV App on Apple here and Android here.

While Athletics Victoria advises finding alternate modes of transport, the only way to enter the event area will be via the directions on the map below:

Our generous sponsors, ProFeet and South Melbourne Physio, will be on-site at the Burnley:15, close to the administration area.

ProFeet will offer:

• Strapping
• Foot and ankle mobilisation and manipulation
• Pre and post event massage
• Injury questions and management (lower limb)
• Normatec Compression Boots

Both will offer free consultations and treatment – if you are in need of expert advice, or perhaps a post-race massage, please see either.

Due to equipment failure unfortunately the live stream is unavailable today for the Burnley 15km event. We appreciate your understanding as we continue to test our live streaming capabilities.

In the 2026/27 season, there will be no cloth bibs issued. We are committed to reducing our footprint on the environments we use. Your new timing bibs are now made from hardier material, designed to last the whole season – XCR and track! So please ensure you care for your bibs, e.g. do not machine wash, do not fold. Lost or damaged bibs will incur a new bib fee.

All registered athletes are required to wear the approved uniform of their athletics club. Non-Athlete AV members are to wear appropriate athletic clothing.

All athletes must wear their allocated 2025/26 AV Membership on their front and back, the smaller bib with the timing chip (foam sticker on the back) to be worn on the front. Non-compliance with the above may see disqualification.

Recreational Runner or Non-Member Bibs & Uniform

If you are a Recreational Runner or Non-Member of Athletics Victoria you are to wear your assigned temporary bibs during the race, if these are not worn you may not receive a finishing time or may be removed from the course.

These are to be collected on the morning from Administration. With large numbers expected, arrive early to be prepared for the race!

In regards to uniform, we encourage members of recreational clubs to wear your recreational running club uniform or alternatively if you do not have a club uniform, or are not part of a recreational running club, you are to wear appropriate athletic attire to compete at the event.

Replacement Bibs

If you have lost or forgotten your bibs, please see the staff at administration, where you will be able to purchase a temporary or full replacement set.

Please note that bib sales at this event will be cashless. Only card payments will be taken.

Road closures begin at 6am with Citywide. Patrons wishing to drop off tents should not approach via Yarra Boulevard, rather turn from Swan Street into the Botanica Business Park via Central Drive. While parking is limited in this area, vehicles will be able to gain access close the the start/finish area to facilitate marquee drop off.

‘Net’ times as well as ‘gun’ times will be available for all races.

This is an AIMS Certified Course.

Clubs must provide helpers in accordance with the duty roster.

Any club who fails to supply Club Helpers may face disqualification for an XCR’26 event and/or lose team points for a particular competition.

We will be providing a bag drop tent for the convenience of competing athletes. While every effort will be made to protect your belongings, responsibility cannot be taken for any loss or damage. Please wear your race bib to both drop off and pick up your belongings; it will be used for identification purposes.

Athletes are not to warm up on any part of the track. Please do not cross the track while an event is in process.

Presentations will be carried out following the verification of results for each event.

If you have finished in the top three in any of the following events please ensure that you are available for presentation – located adjacent to the finish area.

Female 15km: Open

Female 4km: U20, U18, U16, U14

Male 15km: Open

Male 4km: U20, U18, U16, U14

Please take any rubbish you have with you. In particular we ask that you keep public roads clear of energy gel waste and dispose of them in the provided rubbish bins.

It’s Time 4 Coffee will be in attendance, serving coffee and light snacks.

Free Period Products

Athletics Victoria is committed to helping everyone participate comfortably. At events where portable toilets are in use, free period products will be available for anyone who needs them. You can find them on the amenities table, alongside hand sanitiser, at one end of the portable toilet block.

Results, including live results, XCR Team Championship ladders and XCR Individual Championship ladders will be published through out the XCR season on the Athletics Victoria ResultsHub webpage – https://athsvic.resultshub.com.au/

Colmed will be on site throughout the day. They will be situated at the start/finish line, and also situated out on the track during the event. If anyone needs first aid, please ask an official/club helper to radio through and first aid will be out to help.

Athletics Victoria has an Unfavourable Weather Policy in place for the upcoming XCR’26 XCR season. Please note we will let athletes and 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.

Possession or use of video recording devices by an athlete on the course during their race may be allowed with prior approval from the Competition Director or Chief Referee for each race. The imagery recorded cannot be used for live streaming during the current race by the athlete.