The excitement is building for the 2024 USA Track & Field National Cross Country Championships to take place in Hanover County’s Pole Green Park Jan. 20.

Organized by USA Track & Field Virginia and the Collegiate Running Association, each championship race will feature athletes who will be competing for national titles, World Championships qualifications and $45,000 in prize money.

The Richmond Cross Country Festival will feature six USA Track & Field national championship events plus a 6K Citizen’s Run and a short Kid’s Run. The U.S. Championship events will include: the U20 Women’s 6K Championship Race (under 20 years of age), U20 Men’s 8K Championship Race (under 20 years of age), Senior Women’s 10K Championship Race (open runners 20-39 years of age), Senior Men’s 10K Championship Race (open runners 20-39 years of age), Master’s Women’s 6K Championship Race (runners 40+ years of age) and Master’s Men’s 8K Championship Race (runners 40+ years of age). The top six U20 and senior men and women finishers will automatically qualify for team USA.

Participants entered into the RVA XC Festival Citizen’s Run before Tuesday, January 16 will receive a free 3-day admission pass and free parking pass to Kings Dominion Park. Additionally, Citizen’s Run participants will receive a $10 coupon good for race day to any onsite food or coffee vender.

Runners in 2024 will be competing for a spot on the U.S. team for the World Athletics Cross Country Championships to take place in Belgrade, Serbia on March 30. The top six men and women in their respective races (Senior or U20) will earn a spot on team USA.

The events will also include the U.S. Armed Forces National Championships, as well as the Citizen’s 6K Run and a Kids Run (10 and under).

“The Virginia Association of USATF is very proud to have been awarded the U.S. Cross Country Championships for 2023 and 2024,” said Ray Funkhouser, USA Track & Field Virginia Association President. “This will bring the very best cross-country runners in the United States to Virginia, as they look to earn a spot on the Team that will represent the United States in the World Championships. This is a wonderful opportunity for Virginians and especially young runners to come out and see the very best in the country compete on a course that is very spectator friendly.

This event will be an excellent time for many businesses to become involved with this national event and join with us and our partners.”

Richmond Region Tourism, the USATF Virginia Association, Collegiate Running Association and Hanover County are responsible for bringing the event to the region.

“We couldn’t be more excited to see a concept to bring the U.S. Cross Country Championships to the Richmond region and the state of Virginia for the first time in history, turn into reality,” said Steve Taylor, director of Championships and President/Co-Founder of the Collegiate Running Association. “The commonwealth is a hub for top high school cross country and track and field and we’re thrilled our nation’s best and brightest distance running stars and Olympians will be coming to the Richmond region for the 2023 and 2024 U.S. Championships.”

Athletes also will be competing for $45,000 in prize money at the events.

Added Taylor: “We welcome our business community to partner with us as we welcome these championships to the state. The Pole Green Park cross country course is one of the best in the eastern U.S.; it’s a remarkable facility and a great location. There’s simply no better place for these championships to be held. This shows the Richmond region has become a destination for endurance events.”

“We’re honored and thrilled to welcome the USA Track & Field Cross Country National Championships to the region,” said Jerrine Lee, vice president of sales at Richmond Region Tourism. “This will be a dynamic and historic event for our community as the country’s best cross country athletes race throughout the 232-acre Pole Green Park.”

“We are tremendously excited to be the host site of the USA Track & Field Cross Country National Championships in 2023 and 2024,” John A. Budesky, Hanover County Administrator. “Pole Green Park has proven to be an ideal location for these events and all of our guests will find that Hanover County is a wonderfully accommodating location with our many dining, entertainment and historic attractions. We will look forward to welcoming them.”

For more information about the USA Track & Field Cross Country National Championships, visit https://www.usatf.org and https://www.virginia.usatf.org/RichmondXCFestival.