The LUCA Cross-Country League (previously known as the London Colleges League; LCL) is London’s historic cross-country league for universities in London. Held across four races over two terms, students compete for individual and team success.

The league gives students the chance to race in some of London’s finest parks and measure their improvement over the season … and the years.

Students of the University of London are expected to compete for their college team. Students without a college team may enter on behalf of the University of London.

Races are typically 5k (two laps) for women and 8k (three laps) for men. All races are held on a Wednesday at 3.00pm. 

Fixtures

DateEventVenueInformation
18 October 2023Cross-Country Race 1Parliament HillClick here
15 November 2023Cross-Country Race 2Wimbledon CommonClick here
02 December 2023Indoor ChampionshipLee ValleyClick here
24 January 2024Cross-Country Race 3Mitcham CommonClick here
21 February 2024Cross-Country Race 4Wormwood ScrubsClick here
23 March 2024LUCA Open MeetBattersea ParkClick here
01 June 2024LUCA Outdoor ChampionshipsBattersea ParkClick here

Venue information and routes

Parliament Hill
Wimbledon
Mitcham
Wormwood Scrubs

Results

Downloadable excel files with race results and league standings will appear here as the season progresses. Results will also be submitted to Powerof10.

Race 1 – Race voided
Race 2 – Wimbledon Common 23-24 results
Race 3 – Mitcham Common 23-24 results
Race 4 – Wormwood Scrubs 23-24 results

Past Results and Winners

Click here for past results

Prizes

The following prizes are available to win:

  • Mike Baggs Memorial Trophy for the best overall team (men’s and women’s team performance combined)
  • League Winner Shields for the overall winning male and female team 
  • Team medals for the first three male and female teams in the league 
  • Individual shields for the first three males/females in the league
  • Medals for males/females ranked 4th-6th in the league

Scoring

League ranking, for both individuals and teams, is based on a highest number of points accumulated basis. 1st place in the men’s race receives 200 points and 1st place in the women’s receives 150 points. Points are then awarded on a decreasing basis with every subsequent finisher (i.e. 2nd male/female gets 199/149 points). 

Team points are accumulated across all four fixtures with five athletes to score for male teams and four athletes to score for female teams. The highest possible score is 4,950 and 2,970 respectively. 

Individual points are accumulated across all four fixtures. However, only the best three performances (out of a possible four races) for the individual are used when calculating their overall standing in the league. Ties in scoring are settled by the ‘best worst position’ rule – the lowest finishing position out of the three races that count are compared and the athlete whose position was higher wins. The highest points available to a male is 600 and to a female is 450. 

The Mike Baggs Memorial Trophy combines male and female team performances. The male team that comes 1st at an individual race is awarded 8 points, the 2nd team 7 points, and so on. The same applies for the female teams. The points are combined together for both male and female teams, and then accumulated across the five fixtures. The highest points available to a university is 64. 

Teams

LUCA Championship

Men are 5 to a team (no spacer).
Women are 4 to a team (no spacer).
Overall (Mike Baggs Trophy) is the total score of a club’s top men’s and women’s teams. 

University of London Championship

Men are 4 to a team (no spacer).
Women are 3 to a team (no spacer).
Mixed UL is the total score of a club’s top men’s and women’s teams. 

United Hospitals Championships (Bannister Cup)

Top three eligible men + top two eligible women.

Preparing for race day

  1. Athletes sign up once here for free. You will get a LUCA Member number. Remember this number – you will need it when you cross the finishing line!
  2. As you cross the finishing line, you get a token. This is your finishing position.
  3. You give this token to the finishing desk along with your LUCA member number.
  4. We assign points to individuals and calculate team scores

Advice for team captains

  1. Encourage your members to sign up here well before the race. 
  2. We will bill you towards the end of the season dependent on the amount of athletes you field (See below)

The LUCA Cross Country league is one of the UK’s cheapest XC leagues. You don’t pay per athlete or per race. Instead, clubs are billed at the end of the season for the amount of athletes that represented them.

See our current competition fees here.

Questions should be directed to hello@london-athletics.com

Para-Athletes

We are committed to trying our hardest to cater for athletes with disabilities. For more information about parathletics at the LUCA XC please contact hello@london-athletics.com .

Jack Harrison (KCL) racing in Richmond Park