2011 U.S.A. Cross Country

I think it's decided in December.

That can't be right, can it? Are you suggesting that the date and location for a possible February 2011 National Cross-Country Championships will be decided in December of 2010? Please tell me that ain't so.

Montgomery, Alabama.

And the date?

You'll find out with plenty of time to spare. Check back in with the USATF calendar about September.

Just so I understand, aren't these dates and sites set years in advance? If not, why not? Not only from the perspective of the athletes and coaches, but on behalf of the Meet Organizers, Sponsors, etc., I find it surprising that final decisions may be made within less than 6 months of the event. That can not be optimal for any of the parties involved.

You're not the first with that opinion. It's hard to promote the sport when there is such little notice as to the location.

First off, they can't really set the locations years in advance because there are so few applicants to host the US XC Championships. Honestly, it would not surprise me in a few years if there are no bids for the XC Champs.

From my understanding, the XC Champs are always named at the USATF Conference towards the end of the calendar year. This gives the host just over a year to prepare, as well as observe a US XC Championship event.

Sorry, I obviously didn't make my original question clear enough. If there is to be a X-C Championship in February of 2011, the date and site should be known and announced by now. I realize these Championships are fading away, along with the World X-C., but still, you cannot announce a site and date within a few months of the actual Championships, and expect any else other than a fade-away.

Surely, there must be at least a year of lead time, or not?

I read somewhere it will be in Spain 2011...last one before they go every other year....

9 months. anyone have an idea?

Que?!

They simply need to combine the USATF February Champs with the USATF Club Champs in December and then you'll have a successful and meaningful event.

But of course the term "common sense" and USATF don't always go in the same sentence.

scottt wrote:

Sorry, I obviously didn't make my original question clear enough. If there is to be a X-C Championship in February of 2011, the date and site should be known and announced by now. I realize these Championships are fading away, along with the World X-C., but still, you cannot announce a site and date within a few months of the actual Championships, and expect any else other than a fade-away.

Surely, there must be at least a year of lead time, or not?

Normally the next USATF XC championship site is announced at the conclusion of the previous year's race. This year in Spokane USATF made no announcement.

Talking with a USATF official that night, he indicated they had not received an adequate bid yet and they always try to pick a site that somewhat resembles the climate and terrain of the World XC site. I had heard that they were trying to get the race back to San Diego in 2011, but not sure how that's going.

San Diego was a good spot in 2008. I really think USATF needs to try and run this meet in big ticket locales to give the sport some visibility. Places like NYC. I don't see Montgomery, Alabama (or anywhere in Alabama) hitting the target. If they want to go southeast, go to Atlanta or Florida.

It's actually going to be held in San Diego on Feb 5 on the same course as 2008.

So is it 100% sure that the 2011 usa cross country championships will be in san diego, and not Alabama...? There tends to be confusion about where the champs will be...

That'll be nice to have USA XC again in So Cal, the undisputed T&F Capitol of the World (with the Summer Olympics medals and IAAF Outdoors medals to prove it).

But USATF should know it's a good thing to move our top XC, TF, RR champs around the country to places like Bama, VOA, Tom Sawyer, Ft Vancouver, Mo St, Columbia SC, FSU, Bloomington, VCP, South Bend, etc.

The USA has the #1 team in the world because of the entire USA, not just So Cal.

When was this announced? Is there a link? If not, when will the venue be announced?

scottt wrote:

Will there be a Championship in February in 2011? Does anyone know the location or the date?

It's not officially settled, but will likely be back in Mission Bay Park in San Diego, according to my sources at USATF. I would definitely support that idea.

David Monti, Race Results Weekly