From October to December, 10,000 Runners Will Compete in the Capital County
National and State Cross Country Championships Highlight Leon County’s Apalachee Regional Park
Leon County’s Apalachee Regional Park boasts its most ambitious schedule yet with more than 10,000 runners competing in cross country meets this fall. Three national championships and seven additional meets are attracting competitors ranging in age from youth to masters divisions.
In addition to the 10,000 runners competing in these meets, nearly 21,000 visitors are expected – using 11,600 hotel room nights and generating $8.4 million of direct spending in Leon County.
The season opens October 7 with the Florida State Cross Country Invitational and concludes December 10 with the USA Track & Field (USATF) National Club Cross Country Championships. In between those meets, the award-winning facility will host events that determine high school state championships and which teams advance to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) national meet.
Other national championship events taking place at Apalachee Regional Park include the November 6 USATF Masters 5km Cross Country Championships and the December 3 Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Cross Country Championships.
The complete schedule includes:
• October 7 – Florida State Cross Country Invitational (University/College Men and Women) followed by Middle School AAU Boys and Girls; High School Junior Varsity Boys and Girls
• October 8 – Florida State Cross Country Invitational High School Pre-State Meet (Boys and Girls divisions)
• November 4 – National Junior College Athletic Association Region 8 Championship (Boys and Girls Divisions)
• November 5 – Florida High School Athletic Association Cross Country State Championship (Boys and Girls Divisions)
• November 6 – USATF Masters 5km Cross Country Championships & preview race for the USATF Club Cross Country National Championship
• November 11 – NCAA South Regional Championship (University/College Men and Women)
• November 19 – USATF Youth Region 4 Cross Country Regionals and Florida Athletic Coaches Association All-Star Race
• December 3 – AAU Cross Country National Championship (youth)
• December 10 – USATF Club Cross Country National Championships
For more information on the meets, go to www.visittallahassee.com .
For more information about Apalachee Regional Park, visit the Sports Tourism section of VisitTallahassee.com.
About the Leon County Division of Tourism Development/Visit Tallahassee:
The Leon County Division of Tourism Development (Visit Tallahassee) is the official tourism marketing organization for Tallahassee–Leon County, Florida, promoting tourism to the area through direct sales, advertising, public relations, sports, film, product development and visitor services. For more information, visit www.VisitTallahassee.com .
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