The mud pits, mounds and logs will be familiar. The hills will not.
The Australian Cross Country Championships returns to Victoria Park in Ballarat on 22 August with a course that, on paper at least, looks considerably more demanding than the one athletes tackled 12 months ago. While many of the artificial obstacles remain, the 2026 layout has been tightened from 2km and 3km loops into shorter and twistier 1km and 2km loops ,and appears to pack in roughly twice as much climbing as last year’s course.
It is not simply the amount of elevation that stands out, but how it is delivered. Rather than long, rolling rises that allow athletes to find a rhythm, the new course is punctuated by a series of short, sharp — and occasionally sadistic — climbs. One rise on the 1km loop gains around six to seven metres in barely 50 metres, an average gradient of roughly 13–15 per cent, while a climb midway through the 2km circuit appears steeper again.
The result should be a very different type of race. Rhythm will be harder to find, repeated accelerations will exact a greater price, and athletes who can combine aerobic strength with power, balance and efficient hill running may find themselves with an advantage as the laps — and the climbs — accumulate.
The 14 day forecast ahead of the event shows a week of rain, before fine weather the week leading into the event, with a sunny 17 degrees expected. With the mud, climbs, twists and turns and potentially soft ground in shaded areas, 9mm Pyramid Spikes are likely the best choice for athletes, with a pair of 12mm or 15mm spikes in reserve should it be wetter than expected.
Strintzos vs Marks in men’s race
The start lists are out and are headlined by Australia’s strongest recent World Cross Country performers converging on Ballarat for a high-quality men’s 10km.
Haftu Strintzos, who owns Australia’s best finish across the past two editions with 22nd place, goes head-to-head with Ed Marks, 23rd in 2025 and 25th in 2026. But even that understates the quality: Marks was only one place behind the top Australian home at this year’s championships, Australian 5000m and 10000m record holder Ky Robinson.
Despite their international prowess neither have won the national cross country previously. Marks has been closest, finishing second in 2024 following a third place in 2023, while Strintzos was third in 2024. Marks was the favourite for last year’s race – taken out by the now retired Zac Facioni – before an injury prevented him from taking to the starting line.
Strintzos will line up in his first race since setting the Australian marathon record at the beginning of Gold Coast last month, where he ran 2:06:20. Marks enters with a strong string of runs including a 60:57 half marathon debut on the Gold Coast and a 28:12 10km at the Sydney Harbour 10.
An open women’s race
The women’s race has more contenders, headlined by World Cross Country representative Holly Campbell. The NSW champion finished 44th at this year’s global event in Florida and is in strong form following recent wins on the road, with a 32:39 performance at the Sydney Harbour 10 and a 46:07 at the City2Surf.
Victoria’s women line up with a home ground advantage and depth to boot. Victorian champion Georgia Hansen had a close race with Natalie Rule last month at Bundoora, reversing the places that had occurred a week prior on the roads at the Gold Coast. But it is former world junior representative, Amy Bunnage, which is the most interesting entrant in the field of 56.
The 21-year-old is the Australian Under 20 record holder over 3000m and 5000m, and has been based at Stanford University since finishing high school. Her success in the NCAA has been mixed due to injury, with highlights including 4th in the 2024 NCAA cross country and personal best over 3000m (8:43.82) and 5000m (15:00.75). However, she hasn’t raced since finishing 30th at the NCAA cross country in November 2025.
2025 champion Bronte Oates is not entered to defend her title.
Check out images from the 2025 event
Held at Victoria Park, Ballarat on Saturday 23 August 2025.
