11/03/14 – State Cross Country Information

November 3, 2014 Cross Country Blog Updates

Congratulations to all participants and coaches who have qualified for the 2014 State Cross Country Championship.  

First, I would like to thank the eight regional host for all of their hard work and the success of the “super regional” this past Saturday.

There are several items for your review on the cross country page of the KHSAA website. The state instructions have been updated, lane assignments will be posted on Tuesday, course maps and directions to the Kentucky Horse Park are available, and the state meet time schedule is posted.  http://khsaa.org/sports/fall/cross-country/  choose “State Meet Information and Instructions”

Practice time is once again available on Friday. This is the only day that this is allowed.  The times available are from 3:30 to 5:30 pm.  SafetyTec will be available for medical needs. Buses shall parking in the lower lot of the Alltech Arena during the practice times as course officials, many student athletes, and KHSAA staff will be walking the area.

Saturday the team packets will be available beginning at 7:30 am.  Please do not arrive earlier than 7:30 am.  

IMPORTANT INSTRUCTIONS ON CHIP TIMING:  We will be using chip timing for all races. This year athletes will be using shoe chips. Shoestrings will run through the chip and athletes will tie their shoes to hold the chip on. The number on the shoe chip will correspond to the athlete’s bib number. When declaring athletes at check-in, turn in the shoe ships that will not be used during the race. That will include no-shows as well as your alternates who will not be running. After finishing the race, athletes will remove the chip at the back of the corral and turn it into the marshals as they leave the finish area. If you have a runner that does not finish the race, please return the shoe chip to the marshals at the rear of the corral. Remind athletes not to bend the chip when they are tying it on. 

Since we are using chips,  please encourage your runners to continue jogging through the corral to the back.  Remind them that they do not have to stay in line after the finish.  Athletes can simply move left or right and around other runners.  This is essential and allows our medical staff to assist any athlete who is in medical distress in the finish area more easily.  

As you have read, two coaches will be allowed on the course this year.  Coaches must be qualified coaches under bylaw 25 (have had all the proper training, including the sports safety course and the online rules clinic). Our officials ask that coaches be aware of the course and not to interfere with any runners.

If your school wants to credential a student for a media pass please use the following form. khsaa.org/forms/si103.pdf

Please remind your parents that the campground is the only part of the KHP where spending the night is allowed, admission gates will open at 7:30 am with the cost being $10 with 10 and under free, and please remind them that dogs will not be allowed at the Horse Park in the area past the admission gate.

We look forward to seeing you at the Kentucky Horse Park this Saturday.

– KHSAA –

The KHSAA staff routinely publishes blog posts to better communicate with its various constituencies and the public. For a list of those blogs, go to http://khsaa.org/news-stats-pubs/sports-blogs/