HISTORY
The inaugural CC Coaches National Youth Championships (CCCNYC) were        held in Lexington, Kentucky, in 2007. The 2026 CCCNYC will mark the        20th edition of the meet and will take place in Cedarville, Ohio, at Cedarville        University on its dedicated and spectator friendly cross country course.       The governing body of the CCCNYC is composed of youth cross country       coaches from across the United States. Their mission is to enrich the lives of       young runners while promoting health, wellness, and lifelong participation in the       sport of running nationwide.       There are several features that set the CCCNYC apart from other national youth       cross country meets. Here are five key differences:                  1. Coach & Runner Engagement on the Course                        Coaches are encouraged to be on the course during races to cheer on                        not only their own athletes, but runners from other teams as well.                        This creates an uplifting and supportive race environment.                  2. Coach Collaboration and Feedback                         A coaches’ meeting will be held prior to the start of competition,                          followed by a post-meet Zoom meeting to discuss feedback and                         possible improvements. This event is designed to benefit not only the                         runners, but also the coaches and spectators who share a passion                         for the sport.                  3. Unique Team Awards                         Team medals and a team plaque are awarded to the top three teams                           in each division. While five runners score and up to eight athletes may                          be declared on your championship team, all runners competing in that                         age group will receive the team award. For example, if a team has                         20 runners in the 11-12 girls division, all 20 athletes receive the                         team award.                   4. Age Appropriate Racing and Recognition                        The top 25 finishers in each single-age race receive medals                        through the 13-14 age groups. CCCNYC proudly hosted the                        first national 2K race in 2007 for the youngest athletes                        (ages 6, 7 and 8), recognizing that a 3K distance was excessive                        for those athletes 8 and under - well before other national                        organizations adopted similar standards. The top 25 finishers in                        each of the 6, 7, and 8-year-old races receive individual medals, while                        team awards are determined by combining runners from those                        three ages. This structure allows more teams to participate while                        still honoring individual achievement.                    5. Athlete Centered Race Management                        Coaches are responsible for getting their runners to the starting line                        on time. Athletes are not sequestered away from their coaches                        prior to racing, allowing teams to complete their preferred warm-up                        routines and ensuring a positive, enjoyable experience for everyone                        involved.                                Since its inception, the CCCNYC has hosted many outstanding competitors,        including the 2024 Paris Olympic Men’s 400m Champion and the Olympic Men’s        1500m Champion. Numerous international-level athletes have participated        during their formative years, and two World Cross Country Champions -        accounting for seven individual world titles - have served as award presenters.                        We look forward to welcoming even more teams as we celebrate our 20th        national championship in 2026.
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