Prize money announced with 50 days until 2026 Australian Athletics Cross Country Championships

National glory and a share in $25,000 will be on the line at the 2026 Australian Athletics Cross Country Championships, with the prize pool providing an added incentive for Australia’s premier distance runners to flock to Ballarat, Victoria.

Supported by a generous anonymous donation via The Athletics Foundation towards the Open Men’s and Women’s races, Australian Athletics will top up the prize purse to a sum of $25,000 by providing prize money for Open Para-athletes for the second year running.

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

The 2025 Australian Athletics Cross Country Championships were won by Zach Faccioni (Open Men), Bronte Oates (Open Women), Michael Roeger (Para Men) and Annabelle Colman (Para Women), with the event returning to Ballarat’s Victoria Park on August 22 for the second year of a three-year deal.

More information is available HERE.

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 – Para Men & Women: 

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

*The classification for the distribution of prizemoney for Para Men and Women will be based on the AA Baseline Tables for Cross Country. For this purpose only, the results of each athlete entered in the Open or Under 20 age groups will be included in the determination. There will be separate determinations for Men and Women. To be clear medals will still be awarded separately for Open and for Under 20.

By Australian Athletics
Posted 1/7/2026