Cross-country race

High school (ages 12+)
Sports & Games

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/cross-country-race

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the location?Natural, often varied terrain including hills, grass, mud, and woodland
2. What is the governing body?World Athletics (international), with national federations overseeing domestic competitions
3. Why do cross-country courses have hills and mud?Hills test a runner’s strength and aerobic capacity, while mud makes the ground slippery and forces runners to use more power and careful foot placement.
4. When did cross-country racing start?The first organized cross-country race was held in England in 1837, and the sport grew from informal games called 'hare and hounds' in the mid‑19th century.

Aerobic Capacity: The maximum rate at which the heart, lungs, and muscles can supply oxygen during exercise.
Biomechanics: The study of the mechanical laws relating to the movement of living things.
Proprioception: The body's ability to sense its position, movement, and balance in space.