January 2022
To the Division I, II, and III Cross Country and Track and Field Committees
To the NCAA Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee
To Mark Emmert, CEO of the NCAA
In this time of unparalleled social change and reflection, we request that the NCAA Division I, II and III Cross Country Committees and NCAA President Mark Emmert take an important step forward for equity and inclusion by creating NCAA Cross Country Championship race schedules that offer equal race distance opportunity for women and men.
8km FOR ALL GENDERS
We propose an 8km distance at the NCAA Cross Country Regional and Championship Events for all divisions and all genders. While boys and girls both run 5km in high school, the inequality of graduating collegiate men to 8km/10km and collegiate women only to 6km is outdated. Unequal race distances are not providing equivalent athletic opportunities to men and women. With the time gap closing at longer distances, women are unquestionably capable of an 8km race. An 8km Championship event for the men also makes sense as they are already training for and competing in that distance for the majority of their season including their Conference Championships.
WHY NOW?
It’s time for the NCAA Cross Country Championships to follow the race formats of other domestic and international races and equalize race distances. Women run the same distances as men on the track as well as domestic and international road races. The World Athletics Cross Country Championships were equalized in 2016, with both genders competing in a 10km race. It was just announced that the European Cross Country Championships are equalizing their distances starting in 2023 for all age groups. The time for the NCAA to equalize is now.
THE NCAA
The NCAA prides itself on representing the interests and abilities of its member athletes and strives to “establish an environment that is free of gender bias”. Requiring women to race shorter distances is gender bias and sends an unmistakable message, intended or not, that women are not as capable as men. This needs to change. Young women are already inundated with societal messages telling them they are less capable than men; these messages should not be reinforced by their athletic competitions.
THE NUMBERS
Change is hard, even if it's only adding one mile. Some coaches may worry that collegiate women might leave the Cross Country team if “longer distances” are introduced. But the opposite is true. In 2000, when the NCAA increased the women’s race distances from 5km to 6km there was no drop in participation. In fact, women’s cross country participation has grown. Women (and men) deserve equality of competition.
EQUALITY BY 2023
The NCAA needs to mandate equality of competition by 2023. We propose that the NCAA and member institutions have until the start of the 2023 NCAA Cross Country season to adjust their schedules to accommodate an 8km race distance for all genders in all divisions. We recommend test events in 2022 where all genders race an 8km distance in preparation for the change.
We are asking you, Mark Emmert and the NCAA Cross Country Committees to mandate equal opportunity in the NCAA Championship events to provide a more fair and equitable experience for all athletes, regardless of their gender. #RunEqual2023
Sincerely,
The Run Equal 2023 Team
Molly Peters: Founder of #EqualDistance. Head Cross Country/Nordic Coach St. Michael’s College.
Kathrine Switzer: First woman to officially run the Boston Marathon. 1974 Women’s NYC Winner.
Lynn Jennings: 1990, 1991, 1992 World Cross Country Champion. 1992 Olympic Bronze medal.
Joan Benoit Samuelson: 1984 Olympic Marathon Champion.
Ben True: 2013 World Cross Country Championships 6th place, 2021 NYC Marathon 7th place.
Kathryn Bertine: former pro cyclist, activist for women’s rights in sports & author of STAND.
Molly Huddle: 10 Time NCAA All-American, 2014 set American Record in the 5000m.
Kara Goucher: 3 time NCAA Champion, 2008 & 2012 Olympian, silver medal World Championships.
Jesse Williams: Sound Running and former NCAA athlete.
Kasie Enman: 2011 World Mountain Running Champion and former NCAA athlete.
Torin Laliberte: Head Cross Country Coach at Clarkson University and former NCAA athlete.
Nicole Wilkerson: Head Cross Country Coach at Middlebury College and former NCAA athlete.
Bruce Ingersoll: Asst. Cross Country Coach at Middlebury College and former NCAA athlete.
Danielle Patterson: Asst. Cross Country Coach University of Alaska and former NCAA athlete.