Bowdoin Park is where the Federation and NXR Meets are.
McQuaid- the course isn't good but it's a huge meet.
They've had states at CV State Park near Binghamton a few times. It's a really good course. I'm from that Section and have run it in a couple open races.
This is just unequivocally wrong.
Ummm, ever heard of Van Cortlandt Park?
VCP is easily the most famous... BUT, it's far from the best... that'd be Bowdoin Park....spectator appeal, challenging, parking, etc. SM ia also great, about 10 sec easier than Bowdoin although many would argue that.
For NC McAlpine is probably the most famous course. They host Foot Locker South, and they hosted the state meet for a long time. For most famous meet, other than Nike or FL regionals, it's the Great American XC Festival at WakeMed.
It certainly has the longevity, and it is the only venue in WA that pretty much all the big guns run...but if you want to analyze historical results, it is not good, because the course itself has changed significantly several times. Sometime around the turn of the century, they discovered the old 5k course had been long, so they shortened it. Then a handful of years ago they did a more comprehensive overhaul and included a repeated loop (instead of the 2nd half of the race heading far away from where spectators are allowed).
Veteran's Acres (V.A.) in Crystal Lake; it's the home course for all three Crystal Lake schools, I believe (Crystal Lake south, Prairie Ridge, & Crystal Lake Central). It used to be the home course for Northwestern in the 70's, I remember seeing some old articles, Northwestern used to race Wisconsin there. I imagine it was a 30 minute drive in the 70's, on the weekend, Evanston to Crystal Lake? Not anymore!! LOL. too many houses, too much traffic. It's a hilly course, bay bee! Not bad if you know how to run it. But the times are always slow compared to other courses due to the HILLS. I believe they had regionals there this year, they often host regionals there.
UW-Parkside 5k course, the Footlocker/Eastbay regional course
Most longstanding and significant in-state, in-season meet is the Midwest Invitational which has grown to become a sought after alternative to Griak in the recent decades. But the meet was always there and a big deal in previous eras.
VCP is easily the most famous... BUT, it's far from the best... that'd be Bowdoin Park....spectator appeal, challenging, parking, etc. SM ia also great, about 10 sec easier than Bowdoin although many would argue that.
sunken meadow is statistically slower. not by much.
