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Welcome to Round 13 of the Yarra Ranges Athletics Cross Country Season for 2026 at Lillydale Lake. Today marks the final round of Cross Country for the seaon and is our annual Cross Country Handicap Day.
A unique format of racing. Athletes are allocated a starting time beginning with 0:00 seconds and increasing depending on their times from the season so far.
Leaders will have to chase, and chasers get the opportunity to lead. Hopefully....it means everyone finishes close together!!
Athletes who have attended 5 or more rounds will be allocated a start time and are eligible for medals, running at Relay & Region XC can be part of the 5 attended rounds.
Athletes with less than 5 attendances can still run, we will estimate a time for them, but they won't be eligible for medals.
Actual running time will be captured to see if the effort is a PB time (calculated after the morning is done & will be published on the Facebook Clubhouse group a few days later)
First 3 finishers accross the line in each distance. Girls and Boys awarded separately. Adults (YRA Crew) will be awarded separetly to Little Athletes in the 3km race. Note that medals are per distance not per age group. ie Under 7&8 will be running together as normal. We will award medals on the podium as soon as results are available on the day.
Please arrive early to collect your athletes starting times (written on their hand) at the registration table. This takes a bit of time to get every athlete in order.
Extra helpers will be needed to help organise athletes in order and monitor starting order.
Marshals will be vital as runners not used to leading may not be as familiar without someone to follow. Plus runners tend to spread out more.
Race starts at: 0, runners depart in order when the clock matches the time on their hand.
It's lots of fun!! Parents, please try to help your athletes understand what to expect before arriving on the day.
We run 5 races in the normal order;
Under 6 - 500 metres
Under 7 & 8 - 1000 metres
Under 9 & 10 - 1500 metres
Under 11 & 12 - 2000 metres
Under 13, 14, 15, 16 & 17 - 3000 metres - Parents and older athletes are welcome to join in this event!
Please remember to volunteer twice during the Cross Country season. We need marshals, timers, recorders and help with set up and pack up. Sign up for duty on this link. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C094BADAF2AA7FDC16-64487129-cross#/
For more information please email info@yarrarangesathletics.org.au and join the Yarra Ranges Athletics Clubhouse Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/groups/1285665794784235
Thank you for joining us for the 2026 Cross Country season and we look forward to celebrating next weekend at Presentation Day.