Unrated, perhaps even unheard of XC Courses that could hold a national championship

dghn wrote:

Penna wrote:

Gettysburg

High school or college?

I'm not sure if the High School course has the capacity to do it but the college course does. College course runs along the battlefields which is pretty cool. Lots of open hotel rooms at this time of year too.

NCAA 1 and 2 cross championships held at Rim Rock Farm in 1998 ? A tremendous course but travel in and out was a problem on small roads, but that was awhile ago. A great course for any championship race..

I second Iowa State. I ran on that course twice (once in hs and then in college) and it was hard. It has plenty of room for big fields and has enough scenery to not be boring.

Absolutely Iowa State. Beautiful course that I don't think really gets used much for anything anymore??? (could be completely wrong)

For high school, Thetford Academy up in Vermont.

Belmont Plateau, Philadelphia. It's a tough course, with most of the first and last mile in full view of spectators.

Wakemed would be terrible. Imagine all those fairly evenly matched teams going after the hole shot at the bottom of the start line hill. Utter destruction.

Winthrop really is a nice course, and the start area could manage those teams. The Charlotte area would be a nice host city.

Oatlands in Virginia is a great 5k course. It has a huge invitational there so it can accomadate big races, with a wide, long, straight start, some challening hills, and pretty scenery (not that thats the most important thing.) Its also pretty close to D.C. for transportation and is spectator freindly. There might be one narrow section, but that is like 2 miles in, so its pretty spread out by that point.

Oatlands Plantation in Virginia. Relatively hard course, spectator friendly, has a bit of a theatrical element (names every hill on the course, runs through a creek, plays music, and starts its invitational with a shotgun), it has a great finish, and has cold but not brutal conditions in December.

Les Bolstad Golf Course (host of Roy Griak invitational)

Tough course, spectator friendly, and can hold a large field. Has a 5k, 6k, 8k, and 10k course.

Running on Empathy wrote:

Hangman Golf Course, Spokane WA. Site of the '74 NCAA XC championships, aka the famous race where Pre caught and passed Nick Rose with less than a mile to go.

This was the first place that came to mind. My favorite course of all time. Although, in December it's likely to be covered in snow, and you'd still have the weaklings whining about course conditions.

CRYSTAL SPRINGS in California. My favorite XC course as a High Schooler hands down!

Derryfield Park in Manchester, NH. Great scenery, challenging hills, and hosts several big XC meets each year.

Furman has hosted before.

Thetford, VT...you are out of your mind...incredibly narrow 95% of the course (starting less than 200m in), really hilly, always muddy, did I mention it's 3.3 miles long, not even 5k...it completely sucks in every way except the scenery.

Derryfield, NH...too hilly, has some narrow parts, far too much pavement

Paul Short...ABSOLUTLEY!!! It would be great, it does get a little muddy sometimes, but late in the season it would be pretty dry...

I have run thetford, derryfield and paul short.

Oatlands in Leesburg, VA. Has a massive start that can accommodate up to 100 teams and stays wide for about 1200 meters. The course is plenty wide (some races have 800-900 kids in it) and has lots of room to pass people. Also goes through a ankle to calf deep creek twice and has three tough hills (two after your feet are heavy and soaked with water). The course is extremely spectator friendly and there is ample space for parking and team areas along with port-a-johns, concessions, and food stands.

Oatlands Is a true cross country course that has been able to accommodate large and successful meets in the past and would certainly be able to provide an enjoyable venue for a national meet.

The UW Zimmer Championship course in Verona, WI. They hosted high school races the same day as the huge college invite for two years there and the 5k course was amazing. Perfect place for an HS national championship.

Blue Mountain in Collingwood Ontario

Sunken Meadow, on Long Island NY. It has some challenging hills for sure.

There is a course in Springfield, MO that was established by Missouri State University. One or two regional meets where held there. It's a pretty bland course, but meets all the requirements of a big meet like nationals. It's really kinda similar to Terra Haute, just a little bit more elevation change.

Wakemed would be hilarious for a national meet. Everyone would go out in