What does an event official do in a cross country competition?

Answer 1

The officials:

Set up and measure out the course

Time the runners

Fire the starting gun

Make sure runners go the right way on the trails

Usher runners the right way after the race

In a chip-timed race: take off chips

Hold a coaches' meeting

In a numbered race: Hand out numbers, collect number stubs.

Most officials will just be course marshals, those who cheer on the runners and make sure they go the right way.

Hope this helped, and that I didn't forget anything!!