It\u2019s only been a few weeks since another fantastic XCR season concluded in Victoria. While we take a breath to prepare for a jam-packed summer schedule, there\u2019s still a little time to reflect on the highlights of winter in 2025, while hearing from a cross-country stalwart about the positive impact cross-country racing has on athlete performance on the track.<\/p>\n
Lachlan Herd is a dedicated cross-country enthusiast and staunch club athlete. He missed only one round of XCR in 2025, racing nine times for the Knox Athletic Club in the Premier Division, which helped cement his team\u2019s place in the top category.<\/p>\n
He\u2019s definitive when asked about his favourite aspect of cross-country racing: \u2018The team culture and race environment is by far the reason I come back each year. Being accountable to the team and the depth in AV at the moment is awesome,\u2019 he says.<\/p>\n Each year, the team at Athletics Victoria works hard to provide a cross-country experience to suit all athletes of any ability. This year, there were some slight alterations to the calendar, including shuffling the Jells Park Relays from their traditional first round position to round 3, with the hope of giving club administrators some time to \u2018rally the troops\u2019, to see which athletes were fit, willing, and able to compete for their club.<\/p>\n In Round 4, astute minds in the XCR planning team took a calculated risk, introducing a 5km road race \u2013 the Lakeside:5 \u2013 and it paid off. Having had the foresight to have the 5km course certified along with the 10km two years ago, it was decided that 2025 was the year to test it out. The combination of a certified, fast 5km road race, coupled with perfect conditions, made the Lakeside:5 difficult to top.<\/p>\n \u2018I really liked that one,\u2019 Lachlan declares. It\u2019s a good, flat course. It brought good interstate competition and was a great way to get a verified 5km road time, which is pretty difficult these days.\u2019<\/p>\n The Lakeside:5 was a potential indicator of things to come: young Casey Cardinia athlete (and On\u2019s most recent NIL signing) Lucas Chis, not previously known as a cross country regular, made an appearance after two brave runs at Hanging Rock and Myrniong. The 16-year-old gave the Open Men\u2019s field serious cause for concern, finishing 12 seconds behind the winner and eventual overall 2025 men\u2019s champion, Ed Marks. The excursions to the unfamiliar territory in earlier rounds were the initiative of his coach, Run Crew\u2019s Ben St Lawrence.<\/p>\n \u2018Cross country running, particularly for younger athletes, is a great way to develop strength, endurance, coordination, and many other aspects of distance running that can translate to better results on the track,\u2019 he explains.<\/p>\n \u2018Lucas hadn\u2019t had a season of cross country before, but I could see from his training over summer that there was some potential there if we nurtured it, and it would (despite what he initially thought) be a fun way to keep layering his fitness over winter, while getting some more practice racing in different scenarios.\u2019<\/p>\n Ben is an advocate for cross country for a multitude of reasons, and Victoria\u2019s XCR winter season has much to offer the track athlete:<\/p>\n \u2018It\u2019s a long off-season if you\u2019re not doing XC, and he (Lucas) is certainly fitter than he\u2019s ever been at this point of the season, which should increase his capacity to train over summer as well as continuing to make him a more complete athlete. A fun season of XCR culminating in a National Title is all the fruition we\u2019ve seen so far, but I\u2019m confident that we\u2019ll also see the benefits when serious track season gets underway.\u2019<\/p>\n There\u2019s no argument from Lachlan, in complete agreement:<\/p>\n \u2018XCR is essentially a base-building phase. It\u2019s an awesome way to build strength over the winter before moving to shorter distances on the track.\u2019<\/p>\n Round 6 saw the implementation of a new course for XCR \u2013 Victoria Park in Ballarat. The venue hosted the State Championships for the first time, providing a testing ground for the National Championships to be held there later in the year. The course proved to be a winner and Lachlan\u2019s pick for the season.<\/p>\n \u2018My highlight for the season would have to be State Cross Country down in Ballarat. Great new course and to have the advantage of racing before nationals was great,\u2019 he enthuses.<\/p>\n The final round of the season, the traditional relays at The Tan, may have proved the most popular. Magnificent sunshine, great racing, and a celebration of the champions of XCR for 2025 created a party atmosphere. There were still some premierships up for grabs on the final day of the XCR season, and AV members put everything on the line for their club.<\/p>\n \u2018The team aspect is by far the best part of XCR,\u2019 Lachlan says. \u2018Knowing that if you dig deep for an extra position is so important. The changing dynamics of the ladder, fighting for premierships or avoiding relegation, keep the group motivated.\u2019<\/p>\n With a busy XCR season\u2019s work under his belt, Lachlan now plans to capitalise over summer.<\/p>\n \u2018I\u2019m looking forward to hitting a couple more races on the road. \u2018I\u2019m locked in for City to Bay (Lachlan continued the great work with a super time of 36min 43sec in the 12km fun run), Burnie 10, and then hopefully World XC trials later on. I\u2019ll hopefully get a start in the 10k at Zatopek and then drop down in distances from there.\u2019<\/p>\n Victorian summer specialists have definitely not been resting on their laurels over winter. It will be very exciting indeed to watch out for our elite athletes in the coming months, especially those with a tough XCR season under their belt.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/athsvic.wpenginepowered.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/108-1024x1024.jpg\")
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