KYtrackXC.com: How is the registration going for the Youth Cross Country Championship?
FM: Registration is picking up. We still have more meets that athletes can use to qualify out to get in to the meet in Lexington. Realizing that all these athletes are family members and students first, our varying qualifying procedures can afford these athletes who have a number of other commitments to attend a meet of this level without be eliminated by a family or school conflict.
KYtrackXC.com: What has been the early response to the meet?
FM: The early response has been very good. Elgin Sharks(Illinois), Philadelphia CYO, Team Kentucky, Brocaw Blazers, and Knoxville Track Club are a few of the large teams who have committed to come. I have also had communication from a number of individuals with very good credentials.
KYtrackXC.com: Describe the course at Masterson Station Park?
FM: Masterson Station has gently rolling hills. It is a challenging spectator friendly course.
KYtrackXC.com: What was the reasoning behind establishing this meet?
FM: A number of coaches have kicked around ideas for improving cross country in the country. The Kentucky Track & Cross Country Coaches Association is made up of current and former coaches who have improved cross country in the state of Kentucky and impressed a lot of coaches outside the state with the hosting of the 1996 USATF Junior Olympics and the 1999 AAU Nationals. The crew running the finish chute has experience running large meets which is the important factor in running an efficient meet. Putting out results less than fifteen minutes after the last runner crosses the line makes the meet very fan and athlete friendly. It was a natural match of cross country coaches ideas and the KTCCCA to host the inaugural meet in Lexington.
KYtrackXC.com: So what makes the meet unique?
FM: In the younger age groups, races and team scoring will be done in two year age groups. Awards will be presented, however, by single year ages. The Race of the Americas will be unique in that it will feature athletes 8 & under in a combined boys and girls 800 meter race. Athletes from the older age groups will line the course and cheer for the youngest runners in the last race of the day. Bib numbers will be on front and back with individuals designated as such on the bibs so team competitors will have a better idea of which runners need to be challenged for team points.
KYtrackXC.com: What is the advantage of having the meet in Lexington?
FM: Statistics show that 80% of competitors in most youth meets come from an area with 600 miles of Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Louisville, Lexington and Nashville. With academic emphasis in schools, it is advantageous to host a meet that can minimize loss of school time. A maximum of ten hour drive for a vast majority of the competitors tends to insure this.
KYtrackXC.com: It must have taken a long time to plan a meet of this magnitude, didn’t it?
FM: Not really. We started putting things together in early October. The ideas have always been there as the KTCCCA hosts its Meet of Champions in late October which attracts 2500 runners annually. The experience of running this meet was a natural lead in to the national meet. The Lexington Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Lexington Area Sports Authority have worked with us on bids for other meets. It just became a matter of finalizing specific details and putting in to action the plans which we had ready for those bids. The Convention Bureau provided the immediate contact with the hotels on very short notice, getting some great rates and amenities. The vendors we have used for years had no problem providing the necessities needed to host the meet. The Lexington Parks and Recreation Department has been tremendous in aiding the preparations for the meet.