Team Maryland set to defend unique high school cross country battle
Bethesda, MD— The battle cry, "This is cross country heaven" was heard loud and clear by the organizers of last fall's inaugural Battle of the Potomac Cross Country (XC) Championship. Thanks to the generous support of Nike , the American Running Association is reprising the XC meet that brought more than bragging rights to one state, in this case Maryland. The 5K cross country races was a new form of both competition and camaraderie for in-season foes and cross state rivals. The new regional post-season cross country meet coined a tag line that has stuck: XC BORDER WAR. High School runners referred to MD vs. VA "Border War", so the descriptor fit. The Battle of the Potomac "Border War" meet brought together in-season rivals on a new state team. It was Team Virginia and Team Maryland fighting it out on the cross country battlefield. Smokey Glen Farm and its rolling hills and groomed landscape were an ideal site.
Last year's male and female winners were undergraduates and are both back on their respective cross country teams: Nick Bax of St Albans (DC but resides in Maryland) and Kristen Malloy of Hereford HS in Baltimore County MD. In last year's competition for the Battle of the Potomac Cup, Team Maryland prevailed. Depth and speed was on their side that November sunny day.
New in 2007 is a 2.5K race for the middle school runners. It will be an "open" race for both boys and girls from Maryland and Virginia. The XC BORDER WAR staff will score the race for individuals. Because Virginia and Maryland public schools do not have uniform middle school programs, if at all, team scoring will not take place. "Adding a race for middle schoolers fits perfectly with our organization's mission, commented Dave Watt, Executive Director of the Bethesda, MD - based American Running Association (ARA). "We see the Battle of the Potomac XC Championship Meet as a perfect event to entice more kids into running.
Here are the tentative criteria* for selection and invitation to run on either boys or girls elite Team Maryland or Team Virginia (applies for both boys and girls). The Battle of the Potomac staff will invite top runners who fit these criteria and desire to compete:
· Top 15-20 finishers in AAA (VA) State meet; Top 10-15 finishers 4A IMD),
· Top 10 finishers in AA (VA) State meet; Top 10 finishers in 3A (MD),
· Top 5 finishers in A (VA) State meet; Top 5 in A and AA State meet (MD)
· Top private school state finishers (1-10 depending on in-season head-to-head matchups
*Remaining slots to achieve 45 runners per gender per state will come from:
>Top 3 teams in state meets;
>Runners who did not qualify out of Regional meets but had outstanding regular
season performances
>Nominated runners
*The ARA and Battle XC staff reserves the right to issue invitations to runners who have had outstanding fall cross country seasons but may not meet final race selection criteria.
The elite races will pit the top or best 45 boys and girls from each state or commonwealth in the double loop 5K course. In addition to the two elite races, the XC BORDER WAR 2: MD vs. VA will host two OPEN 5K races for other varsity and JV runners. Any runner can sign up or register. If a boy or girl is selected for the Elite race, the Battle XC staff will reimburse that runner his or her registration fee. OPEN Races will have a fee of $20 per runner or $120 for a team of 7 runners (discount of one runner for free).
The XC BORDER WAR 2 amenities make this one special cross country battle. Each elite runner will receive a Nike singlet in team colors, a free post-race barbecue chicken dinner. Open race participants will receive a team shirt and the barbecue chicken dinner all for the $20 entry fee. High school teams can save by signing up as a team. Check the event website, www.battlexc.com for registration information.
Race details: Champion Chip timing for all runners. The course is a double loop 5K. There is one significant hills and the terrain is mostly cut grass. Runners may wear spikes. All registered runners must wear the Battle of the Potomac singlet for each team.
Nike is the proud presenting sponsor for the XC BORDER WAR 2: Battle of the Potomac. "Running is at the core of Nike and their support for high school running is unparallel in the running shoe and apparel industry", said Watt. Go to www.nikerunning.oom for more information on their national running programs for high school boys and girls. ARA is proud to team with Nike and will be serving as a final tune-up for XC teams that will attempt to qualify at the Nike Team Nationals Regional meets one week after the XC BORDER WAR 2 meet.
Online registration will be available at the Battle of the Potomac website: www.battlexc.com
The American Running Association is a nonprofit organization founded in 1968 to promote healthy living and active lifestyles among all Americans. It is dedicated to supporting runners through education and specialized programs, as well as encouraging all individuals from youths to adults to run and be fit. For more information about the ARA or to learn more about the Walk and Run programs, visit www.americanrunning.org.