Cross Country

 St. Matthew's Bulldogs Cross Country

St. Matthews offers Cross Country to our students in grades 5-8 and participates under the by-laws created by the St. Matthew Parish Athletic Association.

Our Cross Country program began in 2001 with 9 runners, and has grown to 30 runners competing for the Bulldogs in 2010!  Our program offers a great compliment to our other athletic sports at St. Matthews, as well as a great opportunity for students to continue to grow both physically and mentally.

 While our kids learn running technique, fitness training & how to consistently better their times from the run before, our program teaches them so much more....  In the bang of the starters pistol there are hundreds of kid's unspoken promises to finish the race.  They learn about faith - faith that you will reach the finish line. They will face uphills and downhills that are very similar to everyday life, and that you rarely have one without the other.

 What can be Expected at a Meet?

Meets are run on weekdays and volunteer parents take you to and from the meet. Meets usually run from 4:00-5:30 p.m. We usually participate in 5 meets. The larger races may have over 250 runners.  All athletes who practice properly will participate in the races. The top 5 finishers contribute to the overall team score. There are usually four races run at a meet: 5^th-7^th girls, 8^th girls, 5^th-7^th boys, and 8^th boys. Top runners may win medals. Most runners receive ribbons.

It’s a Great Sport!

Cross country is the challenging sport of distance running. Committed runners who are willing to work hard are invited to join.  In a typical cross country meet, a runner will compete on a course that covers 1.2  to 1.8 miles. This sport allows you to get in shape, compete, and make new friends. Everyone who practices runs in the meets. Everyone is cheered-on by their team!

When is the Season?    

Late August – Early October