State Cross Country Course to Remain the Same
By Traci Neely | Tuesday, October 06, 2009 12:22 PM
The fall season sports of cross country and volleyball are now in the last few weeks of district competition. Another UIL State Championship month is upon us.
The UIL State Cross Country Championships will be held at Old Settlers Park in Round Rock for the 11th straight year. The meet will occur on Saturday, Nov. 14.
The park is in fantastic shape, thanks to some rain and Rick Atkins, director of Round Rock Parks and Recreation. Atkins and his department added many improvements to support the state course including the bridge over the lake and the dam improvement around the drainage area of the lake.
Many coaches have asked us to consider an adjustment to the start line. I have studied the course map with both the UIL staff and RR PARD staff. Our choices are very limited. The state course must be designed to meet the needs of the participants, as well as the mass of spectators. Cross Country draws a large audience and that tends to dictate the choices for the start and finish line.
I have examined the elevation changes across the park and considered all factors. The logistics of moving the start line to the opposite side of the lake (NE corner) will not work for a large meet.
The northeast corner of the course has a wide, open space without trees, however the elevation drop is 16 feet compared to a 4 feet change in elevation across the current start line. Additionally, the NE side of the course does not supply a water or electricity source and it does not allow a viable way to park spectators.
The UIL staff must have electricity and the trainers must have a water source in order to facilitate the meet efficiently and safely. The other major factor is the logistics of several hundred people crossing over the course during competition to move to the finish line area. A move would create a disruption in the race and an unfair situation for the participants. The current state course meets the needs of a fair competition and a fan-friendly venue for everyone involved.
In celebration of the UIL Centennial, Coach Dan Green, who recently retired from The Woodlands cross country programs, will serve as the state meet honorary referee. Coach Green will be honored for his years of service and dedication to the growth of the sport prior to the 5A awards presentation.
The meet will be timed with the electronic chip technology as in previous years. Each individual will wear two chips — one for each one shoe. The use of the disposable chip has become the most efficient method of timing cross country and road races in recent years.
The chip is a small plastic band that is attached to the athlete’s shoe. When the runner crosses the finish line mat, the electronic chip is scanned by a device that automatically loads the finish time and matches it with the participant name and school. On occasion, the finish order has been contested in regards to the rule of the torso, as the first body part to cross the finish line. If this happens, a back-up video system will be used to review the results.
The regional directors have been in contact with me as they prepare their team information packets and design the schedules to meet the needs of the schools. The regional sites have are the same as last year. The sites include: Lubbock-Region I, Arlington-Region II, Humble-Region III and San Antonio-Region IV.
The regional directors also are moving forward with the use of more advanced technology. Each region will utilize online data entry for individuals and schools, electronic timing for races and online posting of final.
For more information about the regional and state cross country meets, please check our Web site. To navigate there, choose fall sports. Then select cross country.