Is Cross Country a Team Sport? A Statistical Perspective

Music City Center 

Despite the individual nature of racing, cross country is widely recognized as a team sport. While each runner competes for the fastest time, team success depends on collective performance, with scoring determined by the placement of a team's top five finishers. Coaches and athletes often cite the team nature of the sport as an important factor in athlete performance, yet this effect has not been statistically quantified. This study examines the impact of team participation on collegiate cross-country performance using observational race data. We analyze results from the Track and Field Results Reporting System (TFRRS), comparing runners competing as part of a team ("attached") to those running independently ("unattached"). Using a linear mixed-effects model, we control for confounders such as race distance, competition level, and athlete-specific variability. Our findings reveal a significant team effect, with attached runners gaining a significant advantage over unattached runners on average. Our results provide empirical support for the long-held belief in cross country that running for a team enhances performance.

Mixed model

Sport

Cross Country 

Section on Statistics in Sports