In Cross Country meets, each runner is awarded the number of points equal to his order of finish. For instance, the 1st place finisher earns one (1) point for his team, the 2nd place finisher earns two (2) points, etc.

Each team then totals the points earned by its first five finishers. The team with the lowest score wins.

If the sixth (and/or seventh) runner from one team (Team A) is able to finish ahead of any of the first five runners from the opposing team (Team B), this Team A runner is said to "displace" the opposing Team B runners. The displacement causes these Team B runner(s) to be assigned higher point scores for their team. Only the sixth and seventh runners can displace an opposing runner (or runners).