Meet Information
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS NEW FOR 2019!
SEPTEMBER 13, 2019
Course preview for high school and middle school athletes available anytime after 2 pm
Race packets and meet merchandise will also be available after 2 pm
SEPTEMBER 14, 2019
7:30 am Open Race 5K
7:40 am Coaches Meeting
8:10 am Varsity Girls 5K White Division
8:40 am Varsity Girls 5K Gold Division
9:10 am Varsity Girls 5K Green Division
9:40 am Varsity Boys 5K White Division
10:10 am Varsity Boys 5K Gold Division
10:40 am Varsity Boys 5K Green Division
11:05 am Junior Varsity Girls 5K White/Gold Division Combined
11:50 am Junior Varsity Girls 5K Green Division
12:30 pm Junior Varsity Boys 5K White/Gold Division Combined
1:10 pm Junior Varsity Boys 5K Green Division
1:40 pm Freshman Girls 3K
2:05 pm Freshman Boys 3K
2:35 pm Middle School Boys & Girls 3K Green Division (MSHSAA Sanctioned Schools)
3:00 pm Middle School Boys & Girls 3K While Division (NON-MSHSAA Sanctioned Schools)
**Division note: For the varsity races, green is the most competitive, followed by gold and finally white.**
***If heat poses a threat to athlete safety, we reserve the right to shorten the JV race distances.***
COURSE
In 2019, the meet will be held on Aviation Fields in Forest Park.
2019 Course Map*
*As always, the course may change at any time prior to meet day based on Park recommendations or requirements.
AWARDS
The top three teams in each race will receive team awards. The top 30 individuals in each race will receive custom Forest Park Cross Country Festival medals.
2019 Awards Ceremony Schedule final coming soon
Open Race 8:30 am
Varsity Girls (all divisions) 9:50 am
Varsity Boys (all divisions) 11:05 am
JV Girls (all divisions) 12:50 pm
JV Boys (all divisions) 2:20 pm
Freshmen and Middle School 3:20 pm (or after completion of middle school races)
T-SHIRTS, CONCESSIONS AND OTHER AMENITIES
This is a Festival! We will have a wide variety of food, snacks, and drinks including BBQ, Gus Pretzels and Ted Drewes Frozen Custard at our concession stand. Big River Running Company will be selling official meet apparel on location. Meet apparel will be available Friday afternoon during the course preview and collegiate races, as well as on Saturday. Make your purchases early as meet apparel sells out quickly!
VOLUNTEERS
The Forest Park Cross Country Festival wouldnt be the meet that it is without the help of volunteers. The festival is always looking for volunteers who would like to serve as course marshals, packet pick-up crew, concession stand workers, etc. We have shifts that still allow you to watch races. Interested in helping out? Click HERE to learn more and sign up!
DIRECTIONS/PARKING
The Forest Park Cross Country Festival is a big meet! Be sure to check out recommended parking options, traffic flow and other helpful hints to help you get to the meet on time! Click HERE.
INCLEMENT WEATHER POLICY
The meet organizers reserve the right to alter or cancel the meet due to inclement weather in the case that we deem conditions to be unsafe to compete or complete a given event. In general, the Forest Park Cross Country Festival will follow the MSHSAA weather policy (p. 27 and 30). In the case of lightning, we will delay the start of any event until 30 minutes after the last sighting of lightning. In the case of extreme heat, the event and remaining races will be canceled if the heat index reaches 105 degrees. The Forest Park Cross Country Festival committee will begin to alter race distances if the heat index reaches 95 degrees or we deem conditions to be unsafe to complete the advertised distance.
COMMUNICATION & WEATHER ACTION PLAN
Communication:
We will make announcements over the PA system at the meet. As we are able, we will communicate delays and schedule updates via email to coaches (to this list) as well as on Twitter. Please follow @BigRiverRunning and @SLUHXCTrack for real time updates.
Weather Procedures:
The head starter, head athletic trainer and the Meet Directors will make the call to implementing the Lightning Safety Policy.
If lightening is detected within 20 miles of the venue well enter into a Heads Up mode, finishing the current race and watching the weather pattern to see if the lightening is moving towards the venue.
If lightning is detected within 10 miles or less we will begin safety procedures and initiating participants and spectators to seek shelter. The course and festival area (including the team tent area) must be completely cleared by the time lightning is within 6 miles.
Activities will be delayed until the storm has passed; resumption of activities can begin 30 minutes after the last lightning strike is detected at greater than or equal to 10 miles. Well do our best to communicate a restart time giving athletes adequate time to get warmed up and to the starting line.
SEPTEMBER 13, 2019
Course preview for high school and middle school athletes available anytime after 2 pm
Race packets and meet merchandise will also be available after 2 pm
SEPTEMBER 14, 2019
7:30 am Open Race 5K
7:40 am Coaches Meeting
8:10 am Varsity Girls 5K White Division
8:40 am Varsity Girls 5K Gold Division
9:10 am Varsity Girls 5K Green Division
9:40 am Varsity Boys 5K White Division
10:10 am Varsity Boys 5K Gold Division
10:40 am Varsity Boys 5K Green Division
11:05 am Junior Varsity Girls 5K White/Gold Division Combined
11:50 am Junior Varsity Girls 5K Green Division
12:30 pm Junior Varsity Boys 5K White/Gold Division Combined
1:10 pm Junior Varsity Boys 5K Green Division
1:40 pm Freshman Girls 3K
2:05 pm Freshman Boys 3K
2:35 pm Middle School Boys & Girls 3K Green Division (MSHSAA Sanctioned Schools)
3:00 pm Middle School Boys & Girls 3K While Division (NON-MSHSAA Sanctioned Schools)
**Division note: For the varsity races, green is the most competitive, followed by gold and finally white.**
***If heat poses a threat to athlete safety, we reserve the right to shorten the JV race distances.***
COURSE
In 2019, the meet will be held on Aviation Fields in Forest Park.
2019 Course Map*
*As always, the course may change at any time prior to meet day based on Park recommendations or requirements.
AWARDS
The top three teams in each race will receive team awards. The top 30 individuals in each race will receive custom Forest Park Cross Country Festival medals.
2019 Awards Ceremony Schedule final coming soon
Open Race 8:30 am
Varsity Girls (all divisions) 9:50 am
Varsity Boys (all divisions) 11:05 am
JV Girls (all divisions) 12:50 pm
JV Boys (all divisions) 2:20 pm
Freshmen and Middle School 3:20 pm (or after completion of middle school races)
T-SHIRTS, CONCESSIONS AND OTHER AMENITIES
This is a Festival! We will have a wide variety of food, snacks, and drinks including BBQ, Gus Pretzels and Ted Drewes Frozen Custard at our concession stand. Big River Running Company will be selling official meet apparel on location. Meet apparel will be available Friday afternoon during the course preview and collegiate races, as well as on Saturday. Make your purchases early as meet apparel sells out quickly!
VOLUNTEERS
The Forest Park Cross Country Festival wouldnt be the meet that it is without the help of volunteers. The festival is always looking for volunteers who would like to serve as course marshals, packet pick-up crew, concession stand workers, etc. We have shifts that still allow you to watch races. Interested in helping out? Click HERE to learn more and sign up!
DIRECTIONS/PARKING
The Forest Park Cross Country Festival is a big meet! Be sure to check out recommended parking options, traffic flow and other helpful hints to help you get to the meet on time! Click HERE.
INCLEMENT WEATHER POLICY
The meet organizers reserve the right to alter or cancel the meet due to inclement weather in the case that we deem conditions to be unsafe to compete or complete a given event. In general, the Forest Park Cross Country Festival will follow the MSHSAA weather policy (p. 27 and 30). In the case of lightning, we will delay the start of any event until 30 minutes after the last sighting of lightning. In the case of extreme heat, the event and remaining races will be canceled if the heat index reaches 105 degrees. The Forest Park Cross Country Festival committee will begin to alter race distances if the heat index reaches 95 degrees or we deem conditions to be unsafe to complete the advertised distance.
COMMUNICATION & WEATHER ACTION PLAN
Communication:
We will make announcements over the PA system at the meet. As we are able, we will communicate delays and schedule updates via email to coaches (to this list) as well as on Twitter. Please follow @BigRiverRunning and @SLUHXCTrack for real time updates.
Weather Procedures:
The head starter, head athletic trainer and the Meet Directors will make the call to implementing the Lightning Safety Policy.
If lightening is detected within 20 miles of the venue well enter into a Heads Up mode, finishing the current race and watching the weather pattern to see if the lightening is moving towards the venue.
If lightning is detected within 10 miles or less we will begin safety procedures and initiating participants and spectators to seek shelter. The course and festival area (including the team tent area) must be completely cleared by the time lightning is within 6 miles.
Activities will be delayed until the storm has passed; resumption of activities can begin 30 minutes after the last lightning strike is detected at greater than or equal to 10 miles. Well do our best to communicate a restart time giving athletes adequate time to get warmed up and to the starting line.