USATF Runners to Compete at Pole Green Park, December 13th

With 2,444 runners ages nine to 18 signed up, the 2008 USA Track & Field National Junior Olympic Cross Country Championships set for December 13, 2008 at Pole Green Park in Mechanicsville, Richmond hosts its third national championships of 2008.

"We will see the next generation of cross country stars from all over the country at this meet," says Jim Holdren, USATF Virginia Association president. "And the top 25 finishers in all the age groups will earn the title of Cross Country All American."

One hundred and five kids are registered to represent the Richmond Track Club in the competition, which offers individual and team categories in five age groups for boys and girls that will compete over different distances. The Bantam and Midget runners will cover 3 kilometers, the Youth runners, 4 kilometers, and the Intermediate classes and Young Men and Women runners will cover a 5-kilometer course. The course at Pole Green Park, which has been used for several regional and district high school meets, is made up of grass and gravel trail. Portions were improved through a hands-on cooperation between the Sports Backers and the Hanover County Parks and Recreation Department.

"This is the national championships for youth cross country runners," says Jon Lugbill, Sports Backers executive director, who notes that the Sports Backers also organized the U.S. Men's 10K Championship and the USAT Duathlon National Championships here last year. "Some of these kids will go on to the Olympics. We think Hanover County had done a great job preparing for this event."

Past USATF National Junior Olympic Cross Country Championships have been held in Kansas, Rhode Island and Washington State.

There will be an Olympic-style opening ceremony open to the public at Hanover High School at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, December 12th. The races kick off at Pole Green Park at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 13th. And the closing ceremonies and awards presentation, which is also open to the public, will be that night at 6:30 p.m., again at Hanover High School.

Entry for the event was done through a series of qualifying meets and is closed, but spectators are welcome. Go to www.sportsbackers.org or call Mike McCormick at 804- 285-9495 for more information.