KTC CROSS COUNTRY PROGRAMS

ELEMENTARY / MIDDLE SCHOOL

AUGUST 2007

Elementary School and Middle School Cross Country Parents and Athletes,

 Thank you for your interest in Elementary School - Middle Schools Cross Country.  Elementary and Middle Schools Cross Country in this area is a sport supported and managed by the Knoxville Track Club Youth Athletics Program and is not a sanctioned sport in the Knox County School System.   It is open to all individuals and schools (public or private) in the East Tennessee Area.  Home schooled athletes are also encouraged to participate. The Elementary School Program guidelines will be similar to the guidelines set forth for the Middle School Program.  The following page will give you the basic information to get started.  For further information, name of the coach for your school, to see if your school has a program or to start a cross country program in your school or are please contact:

Marty Sonnenfeldt
Knoxville Track Club
Youth Athletics Director
865-406-4128
865-470-2486 fx
TennRunner@Aol.com

Eligibility

Open to all boys and girls of Middle school age (grades 6, 7, 8) or Elementary School Age (grades 3,4 and 5).  Open to all public and private schools and home schooled participants.

Distances Run

Middle School - 2 miles for both Boys and Girls / Elementary School - 1 Mile

Practice Times

Vary by school – please contact KTC or your Middle School / Elementary School for more information

Insurance

Practice and Meet Insurance coverage provided through the USATF (USA Track and Field) sports governing body.  Individual accident medical coverage provided as part of Registration Fee.  This coverage covers an athlete as a overage if parents have existing coverage.

Costs

Registration Fee (covers entire season) - $ 13.00 per athlete – made payable to the Knoxville Track Club and due at the first meet.

Meets

Held every Tuesday starting September 4, 2007 and ending with the MC Championship Meet 10/4/07.  Five meets total.  Elementary School Meets will start as per the listed meet schedule.  All Middle School Meets will start one hour prior to the start of the MS races.  Please allow for ample time to get to the meet site and for parking.  If at all possible try to car pool so that we can keep parking problems to a minimum.  Plan for meets to be over by 8:30 PM.

Volunteer Cross Country Invitational – 9/29/07

The 2007 Volunteer Cross Country Classic is a separate meet run in addition to the ES/MS Cross Country Schedule.  This meet brings together 1100 Middle School / High School and Collegiate runners from 10 states to compete at Victor Ashe Park.  Separate entry fee and online entry required.  For meet information click on the following link: http://www.ktcyouthathletics.org/volcrosscountryinvite.html

KTC / Tennesseerunner.com – Tennessee State Middle School Cross Country Championships – 10/20/07

Get ready for the 2007 Tennessee State Middle School Cross Country Championshipsheld at Victor Ashe Park.  Join other Middle School runners from across the state to vie for a state title.  Open Elementary races will also be available.  The regional qualifying meet for our area will be the KTC Middle School Cross Country Championships - 10/4/07 For further information please visit:

http://www.ktcyouthathletics.org/tnstatemsccchampionship.html

ES / MS SCHEDULE  - Please note all Elementary Meets will start one hour prior to the listed MS Meets at the same locations as the Middle School Meets.

Volunteer Cross Country Invite – 9/29 and State MS Championships - 10/20 require separate entry fee.

Course Descriptions / Printed Directions

Melton Hill Park

 The loop road is now secured with barricades and the cable that was stretched on the right side of the loop road has been removed (easier cross over for runners).  We will use the loop road to park buses and team vans only (first in first out).  We will then park cars in sections as we did last year.  We have been granted parking at the model airplane field for late arrivals -- this hopefully will alleviate post race congestion.  Porta-Johns will be on site.  I would rate this course as moderately hilly -- with two major challenges in the last 600 meters.  Course boundaries will be mowed-in with flagging at turns. Directions (from I-40W): Take Pellissippi Parkway to the Hardin Valley Rd. Exit. - Left off exit onto Hardin Valley Rd.   Follow Hardin Valley (west) to Steele Rd. - turn right onto Steele at the Hardin Valley School .  Follow Steele up to the top of hill (4-way intersection) and turn left onto Sam Lee Rd. - Sam Lee will eventually turn into Williams Bend Rd. continue to follow Sam Lee / Williams Bend till you get to the park. Parking:  The loop road inside the park will be used to park buses and team vans only (first in first out).  We will then park cars in sections marked on map.  We have been granted parking at the model airplane field for late arrivals -- this hopefully will alleviate post race congestion.  Porta-Johns will be on available on site.

Victor Ashe Park

 The course will start and finish on the soccer fields just below the concession stands and rest rooms.    Course boundaries will be mowed-in by the City of Knoxville Parks and Recreation Department and most of last years dirt paths are covered in mulch.  A 10 meter path is laid out through all wooded areas.  Wide open starting area with a flat start.  Course will be rolling.  Parking is excellent since we will be using over 300 parking spaces that will be part of the soccer complex at the park.  Rest rooms will be available at the park concession area.  The park is located adjacent to Badget Field access to the park will be off of Bradshaw road and not Badget Field.   Directions:  Off of I-640 take the Western Ave. exit.  Follow Western Ave West (towards Oak Ridge ) .3 miles to Ballcamp Pike - take a right at the light by Wendy's Restaurant and follow Ball Camp to Bradshaw Rd.  Take a right onto Bradshaw and follow 1 mile to the entrance to the park on left.  Bear left when entering park to the XC parking area, please follow parking instructions given by security officers.  

Melton Hill Dam

Used frequently of the past 10-12 years for HS meets.  2005 marked the first time we used this venue for our MS/EL meet.   This venue is located in Oak Ridge. The course is a loop course with one major hill going out on the course.  Surface is predominantly grass. Directions: Take I-40 W past the I-40 / I-75 split to exit 364.  At the end of the exit ramp take a right and follow Rt 95 towards Oak Ridge for 1-2 miles and take the first entrance into Melton Hill Dam follow for ½ mile to signs for parking.

Maryville College

 Run for the first time in 2003, the Maryville College course provides runners a flat start and finish area adjacent to the Maryville College soccer fields.  A majority of the course utilizes single track paths in the woods that border the campus.  The course is fast but tactically challenging with passing space at a premium in the woods.  Directions from Knoxville: Take either Pellissippi Parkway or Alcoa Hwy to Alcoa, TN. on state Rt. 35.   Proceed through Alcoa to 321 (Lamar Alexander Pkwy.),  take a right on 321 and the entrance to the college will be on your left.  Once on campus follow signs for the Athletic Complex.  Parking will be in the lots behind the athletic complex above the cemetery.

KTC's Footlocker / AAU Cross Country Program

 At the conclusion of the Middle School Cross Country Program participants who are interested may continue their Cross Country experience by taking part in KTC's Footlocker / AAU Cross Country Program.  Starting October 12th boys and girls ages 8-18 will practice 3-5 x week at one of six practice sites.  West - Farragut MS,  West Valley Middle School, Northwest - Victor Ashe Park, Blount County - Maryville Middle School,  Hamblin County - Panther Creek Park, Oak Ridge Oak Ridge High School.  The Knoxville Track Club Team will compete in three races leading up to the AAU National Cross Country Championships.  For final practice locations, times and registration forms please check the KTC youth athletics website or call Marty Sonnenfeldt @ 865-406-4128