Qualification for the WOC long distance from 2019 will be based on a divisional system as currently applied for the Middle and Long Distance.
National scores will be calculated from results of the Long Distance, Middle Distance and Relay at WOC 2017 and WOC 2018. The scores for the Middle Distance and Relay will be as at present, but Long Distance scores will be double the current values, giving the Long Distance double its current weight. The host country will have three places regardless of their current divisional status. Personal places for the current World Champion and regional Long Distance Champions remain.
Full details about the Long Distance divisional system and Middle Distance Qualification below:
Long distance
- Qualification for the WOC long distance from 2019 will be based on a divisional system as currently applied for the middle and long distance.
- National scores be calculated from results of the long distance, middle distance and relay at the preceding forest WOC (for the first forest WOC in 2019, the previous two years will be used as at present).
- The scores for the middle distance and relay will be as at present, but long distance scores will be double the current values, giving the long distance double its current weight. Other details of the scoring system (e.g. only using the best 3 scores for division 1 countries in the current year, even if they have a fourth runner through a World/Regional Champion personal place) will remain as at present.
- The host country will have 3 places (plus any personal places) regardless of their current divisional status.
- Personal places for the current World Champion and regional long distance champions remain. (It is noted that this means that the personal place for the World Champion, and possibly that for some Regional Champions, may be up to 2 years old).
- Any long distance entrant from a division 3 country must have achieved at least one World Ranking score in excess of 600 in the previous three years. (This score could have been achieved at an earlier race in the same WOC).
Middle distance
The maximum field size for the middle distance final is 60 (subject to clause (c)). The runners are selected as follows:
- The top 15 (plus ties) from each of three qualification heats. Each country is entitled to enter 3 athletes in the qualification, with additional personal places for the current World and Regional middle distance champions. (These personal places are for the qualification only and do not guarantee participation in the final).
- The remaining places (usually 15) are filled, in order of placing in the qualification races, by the next-ranked athletes from those countries which did not qualify any runners under (a), with a maximum of 1 athlete per country. (If two athletes from the same country have the same place in different heats, the one who is the least amount of time behind the winner of their heat is chosen).
- If two or more runners from different countries are tied for the last qualifying place under (b), all may participate in the final.
- In order to be selected for the final under (b) or (c), an athlete must have been within 100% of the heat winner’s time in their qualification race.
These criteria will be formalised into the 2019 edition of the Competition Rules.