noun
cross-country race
A footrace run over open country or rough terrain, often as a school or athletic event.
秋の体育祭で断郊競走に出場した。
I participated in the cross-country race at the autumn sports festival.
Standard kanji form for cross-country race.
Variant spelling using 争 instead of 走; less common but still encountered.
クロスカントリー is the common loanword for cross-country running or skiing, while 断郊競走 is a more formal or traditional Japanese term specifically for a footrace.
Compound of 断郊 (cross-country) and 競走 (race). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the kanji literally mean 'cutting across fields' and 'competitive running'.