High school cross country in February? You'd better believe it! Colorado Track XC file photo by Alan Versaw.
Most of you already know that the USA Cross Country Championships are coming back to Boulder on February 7. 2015 is a World Cross Country year, so we can expect and larger and higher-end field at the USA Cross Country Championships than we saw in 2014.
But, that's not the only change coming for USA Cross Country this February. This year, there will be two high school races (one male, one female) as part of the morning's slate of races. High school athletes can still register for, and compete in, the Junior Championship races (6K for women, 8K for men), but there will also be 4K high-school-only races with a much less expensive and more convenient entry system.
The high school races will start at 10 AM (girls) and 10:25 AM (boys). Both races will be a two-lap tour of the 2K circuit. Registration is as simple as putting filling out a short web-based form and putting down a $15 entry fee. No USATF membership is required for these two races.
High School Challenge Race Registration link
The race provides a great opportunity for high school athletes to test their fitness a little before the routine of track and field gets back into full swing (for most) at the end of February. And, the 4K race distance provides something of a transition from the 5K of state association sanctioned cross country to the shorter distances of track and field.
So, maintain a little fitness over the winter and show up with spikes in hand on the morning of February 7. Then, stick around and watch America's top cross country talent vie for positions on the USA team for World Cross Country. Opportunities like this don't come around every year!