Cross Country Course

2025 GREAT NORTHEAST ATHLETIC CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS COURSE MAP

Established in 2023, the Norwich University Cross Country Course offers a scenic, challenging, and spectator-friendly venue nestled alongside the Dog River in Northfield, Vermont. The course serves as the first dedicated home venue for the Cadets’ men’s and women’s cross country teams since the 1999 season, and has quickly become a premier destination for collegiate racing in the region.

The layout begins on the Graveyard Pitch, located in the outfield of the Norwich softball field, and finishes at the opposite end of the same field - providing an open, energetic space for both starts and finishes. From there, runners cross a pedestrian bridge over the Dog River and circle the historic Dog River Rugby Pitch before entering a wider loop that incorporates Water Street and Dole Hill Road.

The course spans a mix of surfaces - grass fields, wooded trails, dirt roads, and paved stretches - and includes two scenic farm loops that add both visual appeal and variation to the terrain. The design accommodates multiple race formats, most commonly hosting a 6-kilometer course for women and an 8-kilometer course for men, with the ability to modify for invitational or championship-level events.

In just its first few years of operation, the course has hosted three editions of the Norwich Cadet Invitational and served as the site of the 2024 Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Championships, and it will again host the 2025 GNAC Championships. These high-profile meets have showcased the course’s capacity for top-tier collegiate competition.

With its balance of speed, variety, and New England charm, the Norwich Cross Country Course continues to grow as a vital asset for the GNAC and beyond, offering a thoughtfully built venue rooted in both tradition and opportunity.