Italian Cross Country Championships
The Italian Cross Country Championships (Italian: Campionati Italiani di corsa campestre) is an annual cross country running competition that serves as Italy's national championship for the sport. It is usually held in February or March. It was first held in 1908 and featured a men's long course race only. A women's race was added to the programme in 1926.
| Italian Cross Country Championships | |
|---|---|
Nadia Battocletti two-time Italian champion. | |
| Date | February/March |
| Location | Various, Italy |
| Event type | Cross country |
| Distance | 10 km and 4 km for men 8 km for women |
| Established | 1908 |
The event includes separate races for both sexes across four categories: open (senior), under-23, under-20, and under-18 (Italian: assoluti, promesse, juniores, allievi). Short races were held for men and women from 1998 to 2006 (coinciding with the period that it was an official distance at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships). Short course champions were also elected in 1970 and 1971, but in no other years. Two championship races were held in 1925: one by FISA on 8 March and another by rival organisation UISA one week later.
The location of the championships varies from year to year and it has previously been incorporated into high level international races, such as the Cinque Mulini and Cross della Vallagarina.