Equal Distance for NCAA Cross Country
In fall 2021, the Equal Distance Team was formed with a clear mission: to change the NCAA Division I, II, and III Cross Country Championship format to an equal race distance of 8K for all genders.
The team includes legendary advocates for women’s running, including:
Lynn Jennings – 3x World Cross Country Champion, Olympic Bronze Medalist
Joan Benoit Samuelson – First women’s Olympic marathon champion (1984)
Kathrine Switzer – First woman to officially run the Boston Marathon, 1974 NYC Marathon winner
Molly Huddle – 10x NCAA All-American, former American record holder (5000m)
Ben True – 6th at 2013 World Cross Country Championships, 7th at 2023 NYC Marathon
Kara Goucher – Olympian, NCAA Champion, World Championship Silver Medalist
Kasie Enman – 2011 World Mountain Running Champion
These pioneers are urging the NCAA to eliminate gender bias in cross country. While boys and girls race the same 5K distance in high school, men in college move up to 8K or 10K while women are capped at 6K—an outdated and inequitable format. The time gap between the 6K and 10K events can be nearly 10 minutes, creating very different race experiences based solely on gender.
In January 2022, we submitted our proposal for equal distances to the NCAA Cross Country Committees. By August, they rejected it without offering a plan for review or feedback.
We escalated the issue to the NCAA Committee on Women’s Athletics (CWA), which responded in summer 2023 by forwarding the proposal back to the Cross Country Committees. They also urged the committees to survey current athletes and coaches, and to consult the NCAA Medical Advisory Board to confirm that women could safely run longer distances.
Instead of taking action, the Cross Country Committees again refused to consider equal distances in fall 2023. They declined to survey athletes or consult medical experts—ignoring the CWA’s recommendations entirely.
Frustrated but determined, we launched our own national athlete survey in November 2023. The results were shared at the USTFCCCA convention, sent to the NCAA Cross Country Committees, and delivered directly to NCAA President Charlie Baker.
Key Results:
89% of respondents had thought about the gender distance gap
96% believe women can run farther than 6K
86% support giving women the chance to race 8K or 10K
90% want the NCAA to conduct an official athlete survey
📣 Media & Outreach:
Molly is available for interviews, podcasts, and presentations. Have connections? Share their contact info.
💰 Sponsorship:
Know a brand, organization, or influencer who supports equality in sport? We'd love to connect.
🏃♀️ Host Equal Distance Races:
Are you a coach interested in hosting a women’s 8K or 10K race this fall? Let us know—we're working with sponsors to offer great prizes.
📢 Spread the Word:
Talk to athletes, coaches, and anyone in the running or college community. Help make this issue visible.
Stay tuned for more updates as we continue the push for equal race distances in NCAA cross country. It’s time to give all athletes the same opportunity to compete—and to thrive.
#EqualDistance #RunEqual #NCAAEquality #SkiEqual #CrossCountryEquality