Physical Education - Cross Country

2026 Stratford Cross Country

Cross country running is divided into two divisions at the elementary school level:

Pre-Novice is for students in Grades 3 & 4. Pre-Novice runners compete in a 1.5 km race.
Novice is for students in Grades 5 & 6. Novice runners compete in a 2 km race.

Each division is divided into girls and boys (i.e. Girls Pre-Novice & Boys Pre-Novice).

Ms. Murnaghan coaches the Pre-Novice team and Ms. Sanderson coaches the Novice team. ALL practices and school championship will be during recess time.

Stratford Elementary will host a school championship late in September. The top 10 runners from each division will advance to the Zone 3 Championship.

Septmber 28: Pre-Novice Girls and Novice Girls

September 29: Pre-Novice Boys and Novice Boys

October 1: Rain Date if needed

The Zone 3 Championship is at Eliot River on October 8 (Rain date: Oct. 9). Information regarding the Zone 3 Championship will be sent home with the students who advance from our school.

Provincials will be October 17 or 24, 2026.

Zone 3 Cross Country 2026

The Zone 3 Championship will take place at the Terry Fox Complex at Eliot River Elementary on Thursday, October 8 (raindate: October 9). Transportation to Eliot River will be provided. The bus will be leaving the school at 9:00 and will return to the school early in the afternoon.

The schedule for the day follows:

10:00 a.m. - PRE-NOVICE BOYS (Grade 3 & 4 students) - 1.5 km

10:15 a.m. - PRE-NOVICE GIRLS (Grade 3 & 4 students) - 1.5 km

10:30 a.m. - NOVICE BOYS (Grade 5 & 6 students) - 2.0 km

10:45 a.m. - NOVICE GIRLS (Grade 5 & 6 students) - 2.0 km

Each runner will receive a placement card.

The top 5 runners from each school in each age classification count in the team standings.

Ribbons will be awarded to the top 10 finishers in each age classification.

The top 20 runners in each age classification, as well as the top 5 teams (7 runners per team) qualify for the Provincial Championship to be held on October 17, 2026. Additional information will go home with the runners that have qualified for the Provincial meet.

Provincial Cross Country 2026

The Provincial Cross Country Championship will take place on Saturday, October 17.

12:00 pm Coaches meeting for PM Run

12:30 Novice boys 2.0 km currently in grade 5 or 6

12:55 Novice girls 2.0 km currently in grade 5 or 6

1:20 Pre Novice boys 1.5 km currently in grade 3 or 4

1:40 Pre Novice girls 1.5 km currently in grade 3 or 4

Eligibility: Athletes must qualify by running at the zone meets. The top 20 individual finishers per age class in each zone qualify for these championships. The top 5 teams in each zone may enter 7 runners per age class in these championships.

Scoring: All entries in each race will be counted, including those not competing with a team. The top 5 finishers from each team will count for team score.

- Note: In the case of a tie for the provincial team title, we will break the tie by looking at the 5th place runner. The lowest placing will be the deciding factor.

Awards: The top 3 finishers in each class will receive medals and 4-10 will receive ribbons. The winning team in each age class will receive a provincial bar.

Please note: the SAA will be charging a price of admission of $2.00 to all adults entering the competition site. Pre-school and students are free.