Updated: August 2025
2025 Toronto Varsity Blues Cross Country Selection Criteria
Tryout Dates:
Before arriving, all participants must have completed their
VBRS and
PAR-Q (Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire)
- Must use your utoronto email
Tryouts for the Varsity Blues Men's and Women's Cross Country Teams will be on:
- Wednesday September 10th, 2025
Please arrive early, prepared to register and warm up.
Wednesday September 10th, 2025
Location - Varsity Stadium
3000m Time Trial
4 pm – Women
4:30 pm – Men
Aim to arrive early enough to be warmed up and ready to go at the start times listed above.
Failure to attend the scheduled tryout sessions will result in forfeiting your opportunity to be considered for the team.
Main Contact: Terry Radchenko -
t.radchenko@utoronto.ca
Selection Process:
1. If an athlete has achieved the performance standards below within the last 24 months (2024 indoor season to present) or is a first year confirmed and posted recruit they will automatically be selected to the University of Toronto Cross Country Team, unless there are more than 16 athletes per gender that achieve the standard. (See section 3. Selection Standard)
Women - 1500m under 5 minutes or 3000m under 11 minutes
Men - 1500m under 4:05 or 3000m under 9:10
- A Team Fee of $200.00 will be charged to each rostered and redshirt athlete (this will include your ticket to the athletic banquet in April).
- Note, if a cross-country athlete is also rostered for the track and field team, the athlete will only pay an additional $150 for the track and field team.
2. Time Trials
If the above standards haven't been met in the past 24 months, student-athletes will have an opportunity to hit the standards at the tryouts listed above.
3. Selection Standards
The standards above are subject to change to reflect the OUA depth/results and based on the number of athletes who achieve them and the number of roster spots available.
If more than 16 athletes per gender achieve the standards above it will be left to the discretion of the head coach to determine the final roster.
If there are any roster spots remaining these spots may be filled based on tryout performance, personal bests and the head coach's discretion.
4. Notification of Selection
Those selected will be notified either at the tryout or by email no later than 24 hours after the tryout.
5. Competition Standard (OUA and USports Teams)
Up to 10 men and 10 women will be considered for the out of province travel roster (if applicable), OUA, and U Sports Championships.
This will be determined by meet results, health, training performance and personal bests.
6. Coach Discretion
There will always be an element of the head coach's discretion when determining the final team roster selection and those competing at meets and at the OUA and U Sport Championships.
7. Requirements To Maintain Roster Standing
It is expected that all Varsity Blues Cross Country student-athletes will comply with the following:
- All information contained within the 2025-26 Student Athlete Handbook
- Student-athletes are expected to attend all practices and training sessions under the exclusive guidance of the University of Toronto coaches. If these sessions conflict with an academic responsibility (class, lab etc.), the student-athlete and coach will work together to find an alternative practice/training session to make up for the one missed.
- Unexpected personal difficulties arise. Should you have a situation that will require an absence from practice/training, contact your coach to let them know so you can make arrangements to make up the training/practice. Unexpected personal difficulties include illness, work, academic issues, etc.
- It is important for clear lines of communication between the student-athlete and the coach and between the coach and all the student-athletes. Should an athlete miss practice or training, it is a show of respect to let the rest of the team know. This can be done without breaching confidentiality.
