Sat, Nov 7, 2026

NIRCA Cross Country Open 6K

Shelbyville, IN

Registration openAnnual since at least 2023

Entry is $30 now and rises to $55 after Oct 31, 2026, so registering before then saves $25.

About the NIRCA Cross Country Open 6K

The Blue River Cross Country Course hosts this race the same morning as the NIRCA Collegiate National Championships, so the course is already set up for serious competition. Spikes are welcome on the trail, and the race runs regardless of weather. After finishing, you can stay on-site and watch the collegiate championship races unfold on the same course.

Parking is free at the course on Lee Boulevard. Race-day registration is available on-site, though signing up early costs less. Packet pickup details were not something shared in advance, but the start area is at the cross country course itself.

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Finish-Time Stats

Going by the 2025 results, this is a small, friendly field, and the field is fairly quick, so expect a competitive front.

6K · 2025 results

141finishers

20:24winner

28:02median

55:00cutoff

Top 3: Will Appman (20:24) · Nate Goldsborough (20:45) · Brady Ballou (21:29)

The NIRCA Cross Country Open 6K has been held every year since at least 2023. That is as far back as RunSignup's records for this race go, so it may well be older.

Where Would You Finish?

Enter a finish time to see where it lands against the most recent 6K results.

Median

See how your time stacks up nationally →

How we calculate these stats: RunSesh calculates these figures from the most recent published results of past editions, sourced from RunSignup. We show aggregates only: field size, winning and median times, and the cutoff. We never publish individual finisher tables. Last updated Jul 27, 2026.

Distances & Start Times

6K11/7/2026 09:00$30

Going for a Time?

Set a goal and get a pace band: every mile split on a card sized for your phone lock screen, so race morning needs no math.

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Common Questions About the NIRCA Cross Country Open 6K

Will I finish last at the NIRCA Cross Country Open 6K?

Almost certainly not. Half the 6K field finished slower than 28:02, and the last recorded finisher came in around 55:00, so there is a long tail of runners behind the middle of the pack. Most fields are far slower than people expect.

Is the NIRCA Cross Country Open 6K a good first 6K?

It is a small race (141 finishers), which is friendlier and less intimidating than a big-city event, though the field thins out. There is no qualifying time, and the finish-time spread above shows how varied the field really is. If it is your first 6K, that spread matters more than the winner's time.

How competitive is the NIRCA Cross Country Open 6K?

The 6K winner ran 20:24 while the median finisher took 28:02. That spread points to a relatively quick field, so expect a competitive front end.