National Class Meet in CT

[sisyphus]

I posted something about this in the NTN NE section but wanted to let the New Englanders know too. After a couple of years wondering why "top" meets in Connecticut are mis-measured, mis-scored and mis-marked, a small group of coaches and actual running fans have started the Hartford Cross Country Festival which will be September 15 at Riverfront Park in Hartford. The course for boys will be a wheel measured 5000 meters and - believing that girls deserve the same opportunities as boys - the girls' course will be the same 5000 meters. The course is real cross country and has no pavement or traffic. It is my understanding that two nationally ranked teams and several of the regions best individuals have already registered for the meet. I am very excited to see who else shows up on race day. There will also be an all-comers race on the 5k course for coaches, parents and all other non high school runners to run in and see how they stack up against the best high schoolers in the North East. I'm on the other side of the country now but am very excited about Connecticut finally getting a quality meet to match the huge surge in the quality of its athletes. For more info, the web page is:
http://www.hartfordxcfestival.com/
Entry and contact info are there.

[longdistance55]

No matter which meet these top teams are training for at the end of the season, the Hartford Riverfront Cross-Country Festival has the potential of being the best "first week" meet CT has ever had. Looking on the boys side, it will be the first time a CT team like Danbury has had such a national ranking and runs in state; (keeping in mind I am only sure of recent history) the first time any two national top 20 teams run in CT in a non-championship race; and the meet could be the host of possibly fifteen sub-16:00 runners.

People could be talking about this meet for a long time...

[ForrestMisenti]

Woo, i'm going!

[jacksparrow34313]

I heard the Bekeles have booked their plane tickets.

[mattfahey07]

Finally an actual Cross Country Invitational for Connecticut. It’s about time! (A little to late in my case)

[Demetri]

Finally an actual Cross Country Invitational for Connecticut. It’s about time! (A little to late in my case)

QFEAT.

[swellgirl]

Is the meet open to private schools? What about out of state private schools?

[swellgirl]

Germantown Friends (PA) is going so I guess private schools are ok?

[longdistance55]

In-state private schools are usually alright. Apparently there can be special considerations for out-of-state private schools.

Either way, any non-public school needs to send an intent to enter and eligibility will be checked with CIAC. Germantown Friends (an independent school) has been approved to attend the meet.

[Warrior]

Hope your summer is going well.

[swellgirl]

Hope your summer is going well.

It is going quite well. We're looking very strong for the fall.

[longdistance55]

Correct me if I am wrong, but with Bloom's rankings the Hartford Riverfront Cross-Country Festival will be the first meet in CT history to host a #1 nationally ranked team.

With Glastonbury boys (ranked 11th) and Germantown Friends (ranked 4th in Northeast) and verbal committments from some of the areas top girls' teams this meet could make all others pale in comparison.

Total number of teams will be limited so interested coaches should be sending an intent to enter within the next week or so.

Meet website: www.hartfordxcfestival.com

[cbcxc&t]

I had the opportunity today to see the course. The course is a true XC course. Grass fields, trails, and running by the shore of the Ct. River. More work is being done to the course at this time and I think everyone will enjoy the course. It should produce some very fast times. The meet director, Scott W. , is making sure that all details are being taken care of. This will be a 1st class course and meet. With the teams that are already committed to going it should be a great early season meet to see where everyone stands at this point. Hopefully more schools will join in to make this even more outstanding. A lot of time and effort has been put in to make this meet successful and enjoyable for all of the athletes. There is also an all comers race part way through the meet. A great way to see where you stand against some of the best high schools and runners in the nation!

It'll be great to see some of the nations top teams run in Ct.

[sisyphus]

It looks like the #1 and # 11 ranked boys teams in the nation in one race with a strong supporting cast. I think there is a good chance - not a slam dunk - that both the individual and team State Open champions could come from the girls race as well. The course is being built specifically for this race which is exciting. I heard there will be chip timing and possibly a few frills to add to the "festive" atmosphere of the festival. I wish I could be there for this one. Good luck to all who go; cross country has finally arrived at the top level in Connecticut!

[dstance12655]

can you run this individually or do you need a team

[sisyphus]

can you run this individually or do you need a team
Depends on a couple factors. Either PM me or contact the race director with particulars if you'd like.

[longdistance55]

Both of the state's #1 teams girls/boys, as voted by coaches on mysportsresults poll, will be attending the Hartford Riverfront Cross-Country Festival. Not to mention the nationally ranked boys teams...


Hartford Riverfront Cross-Country Festival Race Line-Ups

Girls’ Varsity Open Race
Box 1 Lewis Mills
Box 2 Capital Preparatory Magnet School/SMSA
Box 3 University High School
Box 4 East Hartford High School
Box 5 Rockville High School
Box 6 Classical Magnet
Box 7 Newington


Girls’ Varsity Invite Race
Box 1 Immaculate High School
Box 2 Glastonbury
Box 3 Rocky Hill
Box 4 South Windsor
Box 5 Coginchaug
Box 6 Lewis Mills – 1 girl
Box 7 Ellington – 2 girls

Boys’ Varsity Open Race
Box 1 Newington
Box 2 Immaculate High School
Box 3 Capital Preparatory Magnet School
Box 4 AI Prince Technical
Box 5 Rocky Hill
Box 6 Ellington B
Box 7 Sports Science Medical Academy
Box 8 East Hartford High School
Box 9 Rockville High School
Box 10 Classical Magnet
Box 11 University Magnet

Boys’ Varsity Invite Race
Box 1 Germantown Friends
Box 2 Xavier
Box 3 Glastonbury A
Box 4 Glastonbury B
Box 5 Danbury A
Box 6 Danbury B
Box 7 Rocky Hill – 1 runner
Box 8 Ellington A – 2 runners




JV Girls
Box 1, 2 Coginchaug (12)
Box 3, 4, 5 Newington (27)
Box 6, 7 Glastonbury (16)
Box 8 Rocky Hill (9)
Box 9 South Windsor (5)
Box 10 Ellington (9)
Box 11 Classical (3)

JV Boys
Box 1, 2, 3 Newington (26)
Box 4 Immaculate (8)
Box 5, 6, 7 Xavier (17)
Box 8, 9, 10, 11 Glastonbury (31)
Box 12 Rocky Hill (5)
Box 13, 14, 15 Danbury (21)
Box 16 Ellington (8)
Box 17 Classical (4)

Freshmen Girls
Box 1 Coginchaug (6)
Box 2 Newington (11)
Box 3 Glastonbury (4)
Box 4 Rocky Hill (4)
Box 5 South Windsor (3)
Box 6 Classical (11)
Box 7, 8 Prince Tech (14)

Freshmen Boys
Box 1, 2, 3 Newington (26)
Box 4 Immaculate (4)
Box 5, 6 Xavier (12)
Box 7 Prince Tech (5)
Box 8 Glastonbury (7)
Box 9 Danbury (7)
Box 10 Classical (8)
Box 11 Rockville (6)

[Warrior]

Are those all the entries? Surprised more teams didn't enter if it is.

[sisyphus]

Are those all the entries? Surprised more teams didn't enter if it is.

You're surprised. Apparently dodging traffic is a sport whose time has come.

[CT_Runner]

You're surprised. Apparently dodging traffic is a sport whose time has come.


Ok, we get it. It's been a year. Can we drop it now?

[Demetri]

Ok, we get it. It's been a year. Can we drop it now?

I don't think the issue should be dropped until it isn't an issue anymore. It's not like it's some random issue that only sisyphus cares about; this is a legit concern for the safety of high school runners.

[proud dad]

Are those all the entries? Surprised more teams didn't enter if it is.

This meet has already been successful in accomplishing its goals.

It was established to provide a venue for attracting the best teams and individuals in CT. and lure talent from outside CT. That has been done. There are going to be a lot of talented runners at this meet.

Second, provide a venue that is a true cross country course, with no paved roads, with a good start and finish area. Anyone that was at the run through will agree that this course will be fun.

Third, have a 5K course for both boys and girls.

Fourth, limit the size of the Invite Race to have an appropriate quantity for a fair, competitive race.

Its going to be a great first year that can only improve as word of mouth spreads that this is the place to go. Thank to Glastonbury, Danbury, and Xavier for leading the way. Without them, the event could have been first and only Hartford Invite. And thanks to the organizers at Capital Prep for taking the risk of scheduling an event up against both Windham and Wilton, events that have been around for many years.

[JASofPHI]

I know i'm excited. I wish i could be in attendance

[sisyphus]

From the front page.

"John Nepolitan at Hartford CT Riverfront XC Festival ... "

Pretty cool.

[Ash Ketchum]

From the front page.

"John Nepolitan at Hartford CT Riverfront XC Festival ... "

Pretty cool.

As it should be. Three of the better teams in the country competing on one course, as well as some top individuals.

[open]

From the front page.

"John Nepolitan at Hartford CT Riverfront XC Festival ... "

Pretty cool.

Wow I feel so honored to be mentioned in a thread

I am looking forward to coming up for the meet and should be a great meet to open the season.

[sisyphus]

Wow I feel so honored to be mentioned in a thread

I am looking forward to coming up for the meet and should be a great meet to open the season.

I believe we met at Yale last year. Very happy you'll be there. Very bummed I won't be. I hope you guys take lots of pictures. I'll try to experience it vicariously.

[wilson]

I believe we met at Yale last year. Very happy you'll be there. Very bummed I won't be. I hope you guys take lots of pictures. I'll try to experience it vicariously.

Why aren't you going? Or did I read that wrong?

[ForrestMisenti]

It is a tad hard to come up for one race when you have a team of your own and also when you don't happen to be in the same state. :)

on another note- me = bed time = fun race tomorrow.

see all in the AM

[sisyphus]

Good luck to all tomorrow. I anxiously await word on everyone.

[JASofPHI]

Me also

[CasLoxsom]

Any results up?

[s2fan]

Any results up?

http://www.plattsys.com/results/res2007/hrxc07.htm

friends come close to an upset.

[xavierbeatsyou]

Danbury came in 4th!:eek: there B team that is, they are just too good but even though they only beat germantown friends by 1 point Terry did not run so thats still a good victory I think, but good racing all around

[reee]

Well it's imaginable that it would be close with a fairly small field.

Also without Terry, but Ahearn put up a good time today.

[sisyphus]

Wow, what a day yesterday was. I was trying to follow meets in Manila, Washington and Connecticut. Very exciting but draining.

Great races by Donn, Will and Forrest. Danbury looks very imposing once Matt jumps back in the lineup. Germantown gave some excitement as well as an exotic flare. Kristin had a killer time in a field with two sub 11 3200 runners. Glastonbury girls might have just earned themselves a regional ranking with 4 under 20 on a legit 5k without perfect footing. Scott is the man for pulling this whole thing off. It was the whole Emerson/Thoreau thing. I said I believed it could, and should, be done. Scott did it. Just awesome! I'd like to thank everyone who came and helped make such a great impression at this meet. I have received emails from spectators who said they've never seen anything like this in Connecticut. Danbury and Xavier especially. It is so awesome to see front page coverage of a CT meet on Dyestat. With two teams ranked regionally and one girls team probably about to be moved up, the state has certainly improved its reputation since three years ago. Schools like Danbury, Xavier, Glastonbury and Ridgefield have really helped put Connecticut in the national consciousness. This meet will give them - and others - a place within the state to prepare for the way the rest of the nation runs cross country.

[Vesuvius]

Wow, what a day yesterday was. I was trying to follow meets in Manila, Washington and Connecticut. Very exciting but draining.

Great races by Donn, Will and Forrest. Danbury looks very imposing once Matt jumps back in the lineup. Germantown gave some excitement as well as an exotic flare. Kristin had a killer time in a field with two sub 11 3200 runners. Glastonbury girls might have just earned themselves a regional ranking with 4 under 20 on a legit 5k without perfect footing. Scott is the man for pulling this whole thing off. It was the whole Emerson/Thoreau thing. I said I believed it could, and should, be done. Scott did it. Just awesome! I'd like to thank everyone who came and helped make such a great impression at this meet. I have received emails from spectators who said they've never seen anything like this in Connecticut. Danbury and Xavier especially. It is so awesome to see front page coverage of a CT meet on Dyestat. With two teams ranked regionally and one girls team probably about to be moved up, the state has certainly improved its reputation since three years ago. Schools like Danbury, Xavier, Glastonbury and Ridgefield have really helped put Connecticut in the national consciousness. This meet will give them - and others - a place within the state to prepare for the way the rest of the nation runs cross country.


A championship race with 4 schools with full teams and 42 runners - a varsity race where the winning time probably won't qualify for the state open. Yup, Scott whoever really pulled it off!

[CoachK]

A championship race with 4 schools with full teams and 42 runners - a varsity race where the winning time probably won't qualify for the state open. Yup, Scott whoever really pulled it off!

What is your problem? Do you have any idea the amount of time and effort that goes into putting together a meet? You had 3 of the top 4 teams in the NTN Northeast rankings together to run in a race in Connecticut. When do you think might be the next time that happens? Could be quite a while. Not only did it provide the opportunity to run against top level competition, but it provided a safe and fair course as opposed to another race that day where the amount of pavement far exceeds the allowable amount for a cross-country race, not to mention the danger issue. In addition, it also gave the female runners the opportunity to run a 5k distance, which is a tremendous benefit when it comes to races like Brown Invitational, New Englands, Foot Locker, etc.. (oh yeah, and college).

I give the race director all the credit in the world for trying to improve the state of cross-country in Connecticut. Obviously, this was the first year, but I bet that many of the larger invitationals started much smaller at their inception. I'll finish with this question, what have YOU done to contribute to and improve the overall state of the sport in the area lately? And no, constantly b!tching in front of a computer does not count?


"Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they've been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. its an opinion.
- Laila Ali, Adidas campaign

[ForrestMisenti]

A championship race with 4 schools with full teams and 42 runners - a varsity race where the winning time probably won't qualify for the state open. Yup, Scott whoever really pulled it off!

I like your red dots.. where did you get them?

[breng77]

Originally Posted by Vesuvius
A championship race with 4 schools with full teams and 42 runners - a varsity race where the winning time probably won't qualify for the state open. Yup, Scott whoever really pulled it off!
Were you refering to the race of smaller teams, that was not the championship race? I thought the meet was a great first year for an invite, or at least the first year it was really talked up. I think more schools would have gone with more notice. I know New Milford had already decided to go to Amherst. We talked about going to Hartford instead, but stuck with our original plan.

[longdistance55]

A championship race with 4 schools with full teams and 42 runners - a varsity race where the winning time probably won't qualify for the state open. Yup, Scott whoever really pulled it off!

First of all, I am really proud of the "varsity race where the winning time probably won't qualify for the state open". Unfortunately a lot of invitationals do not give the slower varsity teams a chance to compete in a forum that cares about them as much as the faster teams. Every athlete received a time and no race was started with a slower runner still on the course from the previous race. Not only did this make for a coach friendly meet (they could see the finish and start of every race without missing a thing) but each athlete was given the chance to have their day in front of the crowd at the finish line. I don't know about anyone else's team but my athletes ran great yesterday because of the confidence they gained from Saturday's meet.

Second, the reason why the Invite race was small was because of the "eliteness" of the race. That race will NEVER have more than 7-10 full teams with several individuals from others. Simply put, with both team's A and B teams the Invite race was the most elite ever run in Connecticut (I am hard pressed to think of another one that matched the talent...). We were extremely lucky and are honored to have been given a chance to provide those teams with the chance to just run against each other in a safe, competitive environment.

We are currently working on a date for next year. I will post when everything is solidified.

[breng77]

Invite race was the most elite ever run in Connecticut (I am hard pressed to think of another one that matched the talent...).
I assume you are not counting state meets because they ahve had more talent then the elite race at hartford before. Maybe not as many highly ranked teams (I'm not sure that all of those teams should be ranked as high in the nation) but a lot more depth.

[Demetri]

I assume you are not counting state meets because they ahve had more talent then the elite race at hartford before. Maybe not as many highly ranked teams (I'm not sure that all of those teams should be ranked as high in the nation) but a lot more depth.

State meets aren't invites, so I'm guessing your assumption is correct.

[sisyphus]

I assume you are not counting state meets because they ahve had more talent then the elite race at hartford before. Maybe not as many highly ranked teams (I'm not sure that all of those teams should be ranked as high in the nation) but a lot more depth.

I'd say this was open to debate. A returning Footlocker finalist, three highly ranked regional teams, a guy with a 15:35 5k pr getting 8th. I'm not sure if any meet besides the New England's at Wickham could match that. Either way, no #1 ranked team in the nation has ever raced in Connecticut to the best of my knowledge.

[sisyphus]

So I just took an online rules course required of all coaches in my state. Connecticut should really do this. The course marking requirements were a part of the clinic. Having taken this clinic and test a coach might avoid making an embarrassing comment which is clearly in direct conflict with the rules like this:

"I challenge you to find a course where you're not a little unsure. That's why you walk the course. If you've run that course before, you(sic) got to take some of the ownership for that. Don't blame it on the meet director. It's part of my athletes' responsibility."

Challenge accepted. No one at Hartford was unsure. That's why the rules are there.