- Athletes missing a practice for a non-medical or non-academic reason will not be eligible to compete on Varsity that week but may be considered for JV competition.
- Athletes with two or more absences in a week, excused or unexcused, will not compete in any race that week.
- Athletes who do miss multiple weeks of races due to multiple unexcused absences will not receive PE credit.
Excused absences are limited to academic conflicts, injury/illness (with note from parent, trainer or doctor) and medical appointments (please make routine dental, orthodontic, and medical appointments outside of practice times whenever possible). Missing practice due to activities that cannot be scheduled for a time outside of practice (other after school activities, work) will only be excused at the coaches’ discretion and with prior approval. Limited exceptions to this policy may be made for students showing evidence of completing the team workout outside of the regularly scheduled practice time.
Cutting Policy: Racing Team
There is no formal cutting policy in the cross country program. No athlete is cut from the team based on his or her natural talent or current skill level. Some athletes enjoy racing and are willing to train daily with the intensity required to improve on previous performances. These athletes compose our racing team and are eligible to represent East in interscholastic competitions on a weekly basis. Other athletes run primarily for the social and health benefits and may not enjoy competing. These athletes are welcome to train with us, and can race when they feel ready. Runners may self-select to be a part of the racing team or training group.
Making Varsity
The initial makeup of the varsity team is determined in a 1-mile time trial held at the end of our first two weeks of training and by a scrimmage meet. The seven fastest boys and seven fastest girls in the time trial and scrimmage will compose the varsity at our first meet. The composition of the varsity team is adjusted throughout the season to reflect a combination of: most recent race performance, consistency of race performances, health, injury and eligibility status, and attitude and quality at practice.
Qualifying for the State Meet
In order to qualify for the State Meet, an athlete must be a member of the seven person varsity team that represents East at the Regional meet or be one of the team;s designated alternate. There are two ways for athletes to qualify for the State Meet based on their performance at Regionals. The entire team may qualify by finishing as one of the top four to five teams. Individuals may qualify by finishing in one of the top 15 places. Our region is one of the toughest in the state and includes Arapahoe, Arvada West, Aurora Central, Columbine, Denver West, Eaglecrest, Grand Junction, Littleton, Ponderosa, and Smoky Hill.
Lettering Policy
The Denver Prep League has general guidelines for lettering cross country which suggest that letter winners be required to: (a) participate in at least five Varsity meets (b) place individually in the top ten in any major meet in which six or more schools are competing, (c) placing in the top 10 of the City Meet, or (d) compete at the State Meet. At East the coaching staff on occasion will award varsity letters to a small number of runners who make an extraordinary, positive contribution to the team despite failing to meet any of the above specified lettering criteria. Athletes are ineligible to receive a letter award until all of their school-issued apparel has been returned or paid for.
Disciplinary Action
Participation on the East cross country team is a privilege. Because of the nature of long distance running, it is not possible for the coaching staff to observe every athlete during the entire course of each workout day. As a consequence, athletes on our team are accorded a very high level of independence and trust. Accompanying the independence is an equally high level of expectations for athletes’ behavior. Disruptive behaviors or attitudes at practice and competitions, as well as behaviors conducted outside of team events which cause significant harm to the team, will result in disciplinary action. Examples of disruptive actions include (but are not limited to) : unexcused absences, failure to adhere to an assigned workout, participation in unapproved activities during workout time or at meets, physical or verbal harassment of other team members, and use of illegal substances. In general, an athlete and his/her parents can expect that the first violation of team standards will result in the athlete being withheld from one meet. The second violation will result in the athlete being withheld from two meets. The third violation will result in expulsion from the team for the remainder of the season.
Denver East High XC 