Countdown On: Prize Money Announced for 2025 Australian Cross Country Championships

With just one month to go until Australia’s top endurance athletes descend on Ballarat for the 2025 Australian Cross Country Championships, anticipation is building and so is the incentive to win, with a $25,000 prize pool now confirmed.

Set to take place on Saturday, August 23 at Ballarat’s Victoria Park, the Championships will bring together the nation’s best distance runners across the Open and Para categories, before the relay events take place on Sunday, August 24.

Continuing on from 2023 and 2024, a generous anonymous donation has once again been made to The Athletics Foundation, supporting prize money for the Able-Bodied Open Men’s and Women’s races, while Australian Athletics has topped up the prize pool further to introduce prize money for Open Para-athlete for the first time.

While the prize pool for the Para categories is smaller, this reflects the relative field sizes and depth of competition in each event.

Prize Breakdown – Open Men & Women:

• 1st – $3,500
• 2nd – $2,000
• 3rd – $1,200
• 4th – $750
• 5th – $600
• 6th – $400
• Total per category: $8,450

Prize Breakdown – Open Para Men & Women:

• 1st – $1,750
• 2nd – $900
• 3rd – $700
• 4th – $400
• 5th – $200
• 6th – $100
• Total per category: $4,050

The announcement of the $25,000 total prize pool adds extra excitement to what’s shaping up to be a thrilling day of racing, with Australia’s most promising juniors, seasoned seniors, and the country’s leading Para athletes all set to take on Ballarat’s terrain.

The 2025 Australian Cross Country Championships are part of the Chemist Warehouse Winter Series, and are supported by the Victorian Government through Sport and Recreation Victoria.

By Sascha Ryner, Australian Athletics
Posted: 23/7/2025