Entry to all races is open to club and community runners and walkers. 

These races will be held under the World Athletics rules & Athletics NZ Supplementary Rules for cross country events. 

Championship titles will be awarded to Athletics Otago registered competitive athletes. 

Club uniforms are to be worn. 

Team Races: In all championship races, the first three Athletics Otago runners (registered competitive) from the same club to finish will count for the relevant team race.  

Open 4 km run and walk: Certificates will be awarded for these events because they are not championship events. The walk is not judged but all entrants are expected to walk the entire distance. Running, if observed in the open 4 km walk, may lead to disqualification. The first three finishers from the same club will count towards the teams race.

Ages are taken as at 31 December 2026, except Masters ages are taken on the day of the event.  

Masters Age Grades will be 35-49; 50-64; 65+. Masters results will be published in 5 year age grades. 

Under 10 (aged 8-9), Under 12 (aged 10-11) & Under 14 (aged 12-13) - $0

Under 16 (aged 14-15) - $6

Under 18 (ages 16-17), Under 20 (aged 18-19), Senior (aged 20-99) & Masters (aged 35 & older) - $16

Under 10 (aged 8-9), Under 12 (aged 10-11) & Under 14 (aged 12-13) - $0

Under 16 (aged 14-15) - $6

Under 18 (ages 16-17), Under 20 (aged 18-19), Senior (aged 20-99) & Masters (aged 35 & older) - $22

Under 10 (aged 8-9), Under 12 (aged 10-11) & Under 14 (aged 12-13) - $10

Under 16 (aged 14-15) - $16

Under 18 (ages 16-17), Under 20 (aged 18-19), Senior (aged 20-99) & Masters (aged 35 & older) - $32

All entries are to be done online via Athletics Otago website

Online entries close on Friday 17th July at 6.00 pm. Entries will be received after this time on payment of a $10 late fee.

Toilet and changing facilities are available at the Chisholm Links Golf Club.  

Competition Number/Bib: All athletes are required to check in 20 minutes prior to the start of their race to collect their race bib/number from inside the Golf Clubhouse. The race bib is to be returned after the race. The bibs have a timing chip attached, that the timing system uses to record your finish time for the results. Please do not disfigure the bib or remove the timing chip from the bib. 

Medals & Certificate: Presentations for most grades will be held in the Chisholm Links Golf Club at 12.15pm. Presentations for the U16, U14, U12 & U10 grades will be held at the completion of these events. Medals will be awarded to the first 3 finishers in each age group who are registered as Competitive with an Athletics Otago club. Certificates will be awarded to the winning team in each age group, placegetters in the Open 4 km Run & Walk and placegetters in other events who are not registered with an Athletics Otago club. 

The Otago team for the NZ Cross Country Championships will be announced after entries have closed on the Athletics NZ website. 

We will NOT be running the usual Under 8 Fun Run at this event, childrens that would normally do this event are encouraged to take part in the Ariki Kids' Cross Country Fun Run Series (Race 1) being held before our races start. 

You can register for the Ariki Kids' Cross Country Fun Run on the day by signing up at Ariki desk outside the Golf Shop. Entry is a can of food that will be donated to a local food bank. For more information on the Ariki Kids' Fun Run series, see - Ariki Kids' Cross Country Series 2026

Enquiries: Email - events@athleticsotago.co.nz  

OTAGO CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS 2026 - RACE DAY PROGRAMME 

(Please note that race start times may be delayed if there is a frost on the morning of the event) 

Course will be run in a clockwise direction. 

EVENT 2: 10.38 am  

EVENT 3: 11.10 am