Measuring High School Cross Country Courses

I always figured somebody laid out a temporary lime line around the course, and that was what was measured. How they did it was not the measurer's problem.

Apparently their definition of the line to follow does not coincide with our definition of SPR.

At least I've been told that.

I'd like to know exactly how their rule book says courses should be measured.

It really shouldn't be an issue, because by their nature cross-country courses are different from each other. However we have an example here of a course that has obviously changed, but the state association says it's the same length it's always been. This past weekend at the state championships the state champion ran within a second or so of a record that had been set by Craig Virgin in 1972. The consensus is that the course is now longer than it was in 1972, so the 2007 performance should erase the 1972 performance from the record book. The state association isn't saying anything- or at least not anything that makes sense.

I don't really have a horse in this race; I'm just a fan and USATF doesn't certify cross-country courses, but my intellectual curiosity is getting the best of me.

If the courses are not certified to any standard how do they justify keeping records?

Good question.

And if the course is not documented in a way that is transparent, and if the course is obviously changed without an explanation, why should we believe that it's the same distance?

At least in a neighborhood 5K, if it's measured and certifier you have a pretty good idea that the course was 5000 meters long. If they have to change the course, at least it's still the same distance.

I'd like to believe them, but even though I no longer live in Missouri, you still have to show me.

A while ago I was contacted to measure a 2.5mi Cross-Country run up in Northern VA. I was told by the official the entire race is taped once to determine the length.
Here's a breakdown according to my best recollection:
The course is laid out by the officials with some form of striping, eg. paint, flour, lime etc.
After the race is run, two people armed with a 100' tape and a bag of numbered flags start following the path the runners made in the grass.
As they go along the course, the numbered flags are stuck in the ground at each 100' interval. This makes sure they don't lose count of the number of 100' intervals made.
When they get to the finish, they are done. I do not believe a second measurement is made on the way back.
I recall there is a length factor applied to the finish times to compensate for differences in course length, but I do not remember how it is derived.