"Oh, yeah, there are alligators in there," commented one coach as his team jogged by the water in The Moat. "Three years ago, two kids were eaten by gators here."
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| The Moat |
It is true that you can occasionally spot alligators in the moat, and whereas AAU Nationals were contested at Apalachee Regional Park four years ago, the USATF Junior Olympic Cross-Country Nationals were at ARPXC three years ago. As for the rest of it, you'll have to decide. The athletes weren't buying it, no matter how many times their coach repeated it.
Most coaches, though, were talking about pacing, or running tangents, or how to attack the hills on the course.
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| Smooth trails in Field #3 |
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, cross-country season in 2020 was, shall we say, different. Most post-season competition was canceled entirely--Foot Locker Nationals, Nike Cross Nationals, and USATF Junior Olympics were all scrubbed. AAU Cross-Country Nationals remained on the schedule, however.
"There are a lot more athletes here than the last time we hosted," said Amanda Heidecker of Visit Tallahassee.
The surge in entries was enough that the schedule had to be expanded to include four five-kilometer races instead of the original two. Athlete from 15 to 18 years old race the 5K distance in the first races on the schedule. After that the distances count down--boys and girls 13-14 race 4K, athletes 11-12 and 9-10 run 3K, athletes 7-8 run 2K, and those six-years-old and under go 1K.
"My kid is finally going to be racing," said Heidecker, who has an entry in the 1K race.
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| Field #2 of Apalachee Regional Park |
With races at five different distances, athletes will be taking five different routes around the park on the day of the Championship. The five-kilometer course at ARPXC is well established from the many high school races that have been run there. Likewise, the three-kilometer course sees a lot of use during middle school competition. 1K is only run at Apalachee Regional Park during AAU meets, and the 2K and the 4K not much more often.
"The 4K map is wrong," grumbled Bill Lott, as he directed people touring the course to make the correct left turn for the four-kilometer course. "I put up a sign, but people keep moving it because of the map."
Signs, course monitors, and lead vehicles should be able to keep all the athletes on track on race day, Saturday, 5 December 2020. Here's the schedule:
- 8:40 AM 15-18 Girls' 5K (Section 1)
- 9:00 AM 15-18 Girls' 5K (Section 2)
- 9:30 AM 15-18 Boys' 5K (Section 1)
- 9:50 AM 15-18 Boys' 5K (Section 2)
- 10:20 AM 13-14 Girls' 4K
- 10:50 AM 13-14 Boys' 4K
- 11:20 AM 11-12 Girls' 3K
- 11:50 AM 11-12 Boys' 3K
- 12:20 PM 9-10 Girls' 3K
- 12:50 PM 9-10 Boys' 3K
- 1:20 PM 7-8 Girls' 2K
- 1:40 PM 7-8 Boys' 2K
- 2:00 PM 6 and Under Boys' and Girls' 1K
- 2:15 PM 3K for Parents and Coaches
- 2:30 PM 5K Open and Masters
Links
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More Trouble Afoot! photos of the eve of the 2020 AAU Cross-Country National Championship Meet
[ COMING SOON! PLEASE CHECK BACK! ]
- Apalachee Regional Park's 2020 cross-country schedule
https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/2020/10/arpxc-schedule-2020.html
- Find a cross-country, road, or track race for your schedule on the Trouble Afoot! calendar
https://troubleafoot.blogspot.com/search/label/calendar?max-results=1
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