Experts offer their views

“I don’t think there is any rationale (for different distances), it has always been that way. . . There’s discussion on it (at the annual meeting) and people that are in the room have never seen it as something, up to now, that needed to be changed.”

Peter Morris

OFSSA projects coordinator for crosscountry “There are communities of athletes and coaches who grow up around those different distances and, while they’re competing, want them kept the same. In my view (equality) should happen but there should be a time of transition to allow everybody to adapt.”

Bruce Kidd

Canada’s first male cross-country champion (1963) and a prominent sport policy advisor “I’m all about equality, but you also don’t want to eliminate. You want to encourage women and girls in high school and not make it so daunting that it doesn’t allow for some women to gradually progress.”

Silvia Ruegger

Canada’s first female cross-country champion (1980) and Olympic marathoner (1984)