STAFF REPORT
The Eastside and Riverside cross country coaching staffs met with scrunners.com managing editor John Olson today to discuss the upcoming season, including the return of a preseason 15-mile relay event that ended in the late 1990s.
Video: Preview the course
Ed Boehmke of Eastside and Eric Cummings of Riverside met with Olson during lunch Tuesday to develop a meet strategy.
"Having a meet that I ran in high school return is great," said Olson. "I remember running against teams throughout the state and handing off to teammates with a tennis ball as a baton. It is something I was definitely not used to during a cross country meet."
"This meet will allow teammates to cheer for each other, which they normally do not get to do in a cross coutnry race," said Cummings. "With the setup, there will always be someone to chase throughout the 15 miles."
Teammates can slap hands at the exchange zone. A baton is not required.
Each school can have unlimited five-person teams and team members can run up to two legs. Team members can also run on different relay teams (e.g. A, B, C, etc.). Each leg will run three miles.
Unique team awards will be given three deep for A and B teams. C teams will receive awards two places deep. Ribbons will be given to the five team members. A special award, rotating from year-to-year, will be given out to the school with the best boys and girls total time from their top relay.
The meet starts at 8:30 a.m. on Aug. 29 with the girls relay on the Eastside track in Taylors. Boys will start at 9 a.m. Deadline for entry is Aug. 24 at midnight.
Boehmke announced following the original meeting, open or alumni teams can enter. Awards will not be given for open teams or alumni teams.
Spectator admission to the event is three dollars.
For those teams interested and sponsorship information please contact John Olson at jolson@milesplit.us.
"I am glad to be involved with an event that is giving back to the sport and hope we can continue to help host meets in the future," said Olson.
More details (more to be posted as available)
Entry fee: $5 per relay team (can be mailed or brought to the meet). Make check payable to Eastside CC/TF Boosters
Entry deadline: Aug. 24 at midnight (Number of relay teams only)
