Cross country action returns to Parker this fall, but not the equestrian park. Colorado Track XC file photo.
Note: Cross country fall previews will begin on July 1. To the extent possible, I want to let track have the month of June, but expect a firehose effect once the cross country previews begin next month.
You would think that cross country courses would never get old. Rarely does a team compete on a course more than twice in a season. And, unlike tracks which are always left turns, always 400 meters, and always around a turf or grass infield, cross country courses vary from week to week.
Still, for one reason or another cross country teams want to get away from a particular course. It may have something to do with a bad result on a course, oppressively hot weather on a particular course, or some other factor, but sometimes teams go looking for change.
If you're a team finding yourself in that position this fall, there are few options on this year's table you might want to consider:
Central Warrior Invitational, August 23 - For years, Central (Grand Junction) has hosted their home invitational at Long Family Park adjacent to the high school campus. As you might expect of a city park in Grand Junction, you'll find lots of level, lots of grass, and as much concrete as you could ever want. Well, Central is making a break from that tradition this year. In addition to an earlier meet date, Central has moved the meet to The Trails at Matchet Park. I can't tell you a lot about The Trails at Matchet Park, but it definitely has the ring of a less urbanized feel.
Ponderosa Mustang Stampede, August 28 - It seems there is an equestrian park and a more ordinary park in the town of Parker that both go by the name Salisbury. This one will be at the more ordinary kind of park, a little north of, and on the other side of Highway 83 from Ponderosa High School. The course incorporates two circuits around the park lake, a covered bridge, and starts and finishes on soccer fields. Elevation change is relatively small for this course, rather unlike the equestrian park course just south of Ponderosa High School.
Standley Lake Invitational, September 11 - Gone is the Westminster Community Center setting. Say hello to Arvada's Stony Creek Golf Course! We'll wait for the reviews on this one to appear, as I really can't tell you much about what Stony Creek Golf Course is like except to list a few standard attributes of golf courses. Par for the course for country club venues, this one is not on a Saturday (Instant trivia: which golf course meet in Colorado is held on a Saturday and has been for time out of memory?).
Woodland Park Race Above the Clouds, September 16 - Here we have another golf course venue. It's at Shining Mountain Golf Course. The golf course, incidentally is in Woodland Park and not in Boulder, despite any school names you might have heard of to indicate to the contrary. Before signing up for this one, you might want to note that Woodland Park is at about 8500 feet of elevation. This meet doesn't figure to be for the timid or faint of conditioning.
Middle Park Invitational, September 20 - This isn't so much a new venue as it is a return to an old venue. Since Middle Park is back to hosting at Snow Mountain Ranch, I know of one coach at Littleton High School who will be sorely tempted to take his team there. If the hills don't get you, the elevation will.
Lake City Cross Country Invitational, September 27 - Have you ever been to Lake City? If you have, you have some sort of idea what you might be in store for with this one. I'm hoping maybe Dan Scroggins will read this note and send me a shareable executive summary of what his course proposes to be like. I'm having trouble envisioning a course in Lake City itself, but maybe something somewhere in the valley alongside the Cinnamon Pass road or around Lake San Cristobal? Those would be a couple of the less gonzo course possibilities around Lake City. Regardless, this one promises to be the champion of travel meets for the state this year. I'm pretty sure Gunnison is the closest school to Lake City that runs currently runs cross country. But Lake City deserves to have a home meet for all the traveling they have to do! By September 27, this should be a pretty quiet little town, so you can more or less have the places to yourself if you go.
Do you know of other meets sporting new venues this fall? Pass along the word! I'd be happy to add to the list above and add to the calendar of meets as well.