CUNYAC Cross Country Championship

CUNYAC Cross Country Championship is an annual cross country running competition organized by the City University of New York Athletic Conference (CUNYAC), featuring teams from various CUNY colleges, including Baruch College, Brooklyn College, City College of New York, College of Staten Island, Hunter College, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, Lehman College, Medgar Evers College, New York City College of Technology, Queens College, York College, and Bronx Community College. The championship is part of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III and is sanctioned by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). The event is also supported by the New York Road Runners (NYRR) and the USA Track & Field (USATF) organizations.

● History of

the Championship The CUNYAC Cross Country Championship has a rich history, dating back to 1985, when the first championship was held at the Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx. The championship has been dominated by teams such as Hunter College, City College of New York, and Brooklyn College, with Coach Jim Hurt from Hunter College being one of the most successful coaches in the championship's history, having led his team to multiple titles, including the 2015 CUNYAC Cross Country Championship. The championship has also been influenced by the NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships, with many CUNYAC athletes going on to compete at the national level, including SUNY Geneseo and MIT. The championship is also closely tied to other regional cross country events, such as the IC4A Championships and the ECAC Cross Country Championships.

● Championship Format

The CUNYAC Cross Country Championship features a standard cross country format, with men's and women's teams competing in separate races, typically held on the same day, at the same location, such as the Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex on Staten Island. The men's race is usually 8 kilometers long, while the women's race is 6 kilometers long, with the courses designed to meet the standards of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) and the USA Track & Field (USATF). The teams are scored based on the finish position of their top five runners, with the team having the lowest total score declared the winner, similar to the NCAA Cross Country Championships and the Big East Conference Cross Country Championship. The championship is also supported by the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).

● Past Champions

The past champions of the CUNYAC Cross Country Championship include teams such as Hunter College, City College of New York, and Brooklyn College, with Hunter College being the most successful team in the championship's history, having won multiple titles, including the 2010 CUNYAC Cross Country Championship and the 2012 CUNYAC Cross Country Championship. Other successful teams include Lehman College and Queens College, which have also won multiple championships, including the 2005 CUNYAC Cross Country Championship and the 2008 CUNYAC Cross Country Championship. The championship has also been influenced by the Atlantic 10 Conference Cross Country Championship and the America East Cross Country Championship.

● Participating Teams

The participating teams in the CUNYAC Cross Country Championship include Baruch College, Brooklyn College, City College of New York, College of Staten Island, Hunter College, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, Lehman College, Medgar Evers College, New York City College of Technology, Queens College, York College, and Bronx Community College, with many of these teams also competing in other regional cross country events, such as the Metropolitan Cross Country Championship and the New Jersey Athletic Conference Cross Country Championship. The teams are supported by their respective athletic departments, including the CUNY Athletic Department and the NCAA Division III Athletic Department. The championship is also closely tied to other CUNY athletic events, such as the CUNYAC Basketball Championship and the CUNYAC Soccer Championship.

● Course and Location

The course and location of the CUNYAC Cross Country Championship have varied over the years, with the championship being held at various locations, including the Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx, the Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex on Staten Island, and the Kissena Park in Queens. The courses are designed to meet the standards of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) and the USA Track & Field (USATF), with the men's and women's courses typically being 8 kilometers and 6 kilometers long, respectively, similar to the NCAA Cross Country Championships and the Big East Conference Cross Country Championship. The championship is also supported by the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation and the Staten Island Borough President.

● Notable Athletes

The CUNYAC Cross Country Championship has featured many notable athletes over the years, including Olympic athletes such as Nick Willis from University of Michigan and Shalane Flanagan from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, as well as NCAA champions such as Galenn Fox from University of Oregon and Jenny Simpson from University of Colorado Boulder. The championship has also been influenced by the New York City Marathon and the Boston Marathon, with many CUNYAC athletes going on to compete in these events, including Meaghan Nelson from Hunter College and Joseph Brancale from Brooklyn College. The championship is also closely tied to other regional track and field events, such as the Millrose Games and the Penn Relays.

Category:College athletics conferences in the United States