A cross country meet is a competitive running event where teams or individual runners race over a natural terrain course, typically ranging from 3 to 5 kilometers. These meets often take place in parks, fields, or wooded areas, providing a variety of surfaces and elevations. Runners are usually grouped by age and gender, and they compete against each other to achieve the best time. During a cross country meet, participants start together and navigate the course, which may include obstacles like hills and mud. The results are determined by the finishing order of the runners, and points are awarded based on their placements. Teams often score points based on the positions of their top finishers, with the lowest score winning the meet.