Spectators Stay Off the Course

Stephanie Brown runs for Abbeville High School.

A son (or daughter) runs by and that mother (father, etc.) has seen their son (or daughter). Ok, that's fine, they cheered them on, but walked onto a course, around some barriers, setup not just for safety issues, but to keep each section of the course clear from the start until the last runner crosses the line.

Then it happens. A runner is working his or her way through not other runners, but spectators that are on the course prefer to get in the way instead of getting out of the way. Instead of paying attention to the runners the spectator(s) show little or no respect for the runners. Little regard was given to volunteer officials that tried to prevent these types of situations.

The day started off at 6:15 a.m. for the meet coordinators. The course was set up, inspected, bathrooms unlocked, tables placed for officials and ticket sellers.

The first race started at 9:30 a.m. and spectators rolled onto the campus shortly after the buses started to arrive. Shortly following the 9:30 a.m. start spectators ran from section to section of the course to either see their team or their individual son, daughter, grandchild, nephew or niece accomplish their individual or team goals.

Throughout the day the ribbons were broken, but more importantly the ribbons, flags, metal poles did not seem to make spectators stay off the course at Eastside.

The concept behind course set up includes making the runners feel that they can run the course and only concentrate on the race and not have to avoid colliding with spectators that are on the course during each race.

As stated in the handout given to all coaches, cooperation of all coaches, runners and spectators is needed to have a successfull meet. One item that was emphasized in the letter was to pass the information to the fans and athletes. Another item mentioned is all runners are to remain off the course after the start of the first race.

The letter also mentioned that athletes could warm up on any of the fields on the campus except the field where the starting line is and the football field in the stadium, provided they do not cross any part of the course.

Also in the letter given to coaches for reading to spectators and runners is that ALL SPECTATORS ARE TO REMAIN BEHIND THE ORANGE FENCING AND OTHER FLAGGED/ROPED AREAS DURING EACH RACE. NOTE: A race is not over until the last person finishes.

With the tight time schedule it would have been best for each spectator to stay off the course or look before crossing a section of the course. Crossing the course was fine, but with the well marked course there should have not been any reason for any spectator to stand on the course during any one of the races.

Due to the fact that the letter was passed off as having little importance the officials had to make a change while frantically getting ready for the finish. Around 100-meters from the finish there is a spot on the Eastside course that consists of a sharp turn where runners are going in while some are coming out of the same gate.

This mass confusion area of the course did not run smoothly for the officials thus causing the runners to become disoriented on the course.

When pushing the body beyond the limits any runner will not stop for a spectator, so the best thing to do is stay off the course at all times.

Runners that do not have any importance in one spectators life is treated as they do not exist.

Time and time again cross-country is mentioned as a team sport that can start at ones team's organization, to the whole state, or the whole nation while making the sport spectator friendly.

Stephanie Brown is a sophomore at Abbeville High School. The Panthers of Abbeville participated in the A/AA Upper State meet at Eastside High School in Greenville on Saturday. The reason I am mentioning Stephanie Brown is because she is in her first year of running cross-country and had a difficult time in the A/AA race on Saturday. Well, I cared, watched her run and cheered her on.

But, was I the only one? Yes, her team cheered her on, but did anyone else? Instead of cheering Brown on as the front pack was cheered on, the spectators that demand a spectator friendly course did not seem to understand the course setup concept. I saw spectators walking in front of Stephanie and behind Stephanie as if she was a spectator and not a competitor.

The next meet is the state meet. Everyone that qualified and to stay on the subject as well as those who did not qualify worked hard throughout the season to reach their goals. When at Fort Jackson on Saturday, please watch for runners, cheer other runners on, encourage them to do their best, and I am reminding you and runners that cross-country is a team sport at all levels and the number one reason the sport is in existence is for the athletes and coaches to work together to achieve personal and team goals.

I ask, please do not do what happened at Eastside on Saturday when fans congregated around one section of the course and prevented each and every runner from doing their best.

If course markings do not prevent spectators going to prohibited locations the other option is to make the course more of a cross-country atmosphere where runners will only be seen for the start and finish while the rest of the time is spent on places only accesible for the participants. But, that won't happen because the spectator importance has overcome the idea of making cross-country true cross-country.

THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR NOT KNOWING THE RULES.