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Back to USATF National Junior Olympic Cross Country Championships

Athlete Info

Table of Contents

  • Athlete Check-In
  • Awards
  • Bibs, Hips, & Chips
  • Course Information
  • Eligibility Requirements
  • Opening Ceremony
  • Packet Pick-up
  • Protests
  • Uniforms

Athlete Check-In

All athletes must report to the staging area 30 minutes before the start of their races; only competing athletes are allowed in this area. Please observe all areas that are roped off and please obey all course monitor directions. Individuals and teams will have designated starting positions.

Awards

Individual awards will be given to the top 25 athletes in each event. Team awards will be given to the top 3 teams in each age division. The awards ceremony will be held on Saturday, December 13 at 6:30pm at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center.

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Bib Numbers, Hip NUmbers, and Chip Timing

Each athlete will be assigned a bib number, one hip number (to be worn on the left hip), and two data tags at packet pick-up. Athletes in all races will be required to wear all of these identifiers to ensure the races are properly scored.

Athletes must wear the bib number, hip number and data tags assigned to them. If any of these are lost or forgotten, replacements can be supplied at packet pick-up on the day of the race for a fee.

The bib number must be worn on the front of the athlete's outer layer of race clothing and cannot be folded or altered in any way. Each number will have a pull tab at the bottom. Do not remove the pull tab on the bottom of the bib or put safety pins through the tab. The hip number (worn on the left hip) should also be worn on the athlete’s outer layer of clothing.
 
Each athlete must wear one data tag on each shoe. One data tag may be kept as a souvenir and athletes must return the other data tag to the event organizers in the finish line area immediately after their race. Unreturned data tags will incur a charge of $25.

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Course Information

Whispering Pines Golf Course played host to the 2011 USATF National Junior Olympic Cross Country Championships to rave reviews. The golf course is carved out of 200 acres of towering pines and mature hardwoods, with no backyards. The cross country course starts on the spacious driving range before winding along the tree lined fairways and up and down elevated tee boxes and rolling hills. Expect fast times and fantastic finishes coming down the 18th fairway towards the clubhouse.

  • 2 km course (PDF)
  • 3 km course (PDF)
  • 4 km course (PDF)
  • 5 km course (PDF)

Note: Course maps will be included in the Complimentary Official Championship program.
 
Course Preview

Thursday, December 11: 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Friday, December 12:   9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Saturday, December 13:   7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m.


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Eligibility Requirements

Only U.S. citizens, aliens living in the United States, and foreign exchange students are eligible to compete in these Championships. See the USATF Rules for more information and exceptions, by visiting usatf.org/About/Competition-Rules.aspx.

The competition will be conducted in six age divisions as follows:
 

Age Division Year of Birth* Distance of Race
Age Division8 & Under Year of Birth*born 2006 + Distance of Race2k
Age Division9-10 Year of Birth*born 2004 - 2005 Distance of Race3k
Age Division11-12 Year of Birth*born 2002 - 2003 Distance of Race3k
Age Division13-14 Year of Birth*born 2000 - 2001 Distance of Race4k
Age Division15-16 Year of Birth*born 1998 - 1999 Distance of Race5k
Age Division17-18 Year of Birth*born 1996 - 1997 Distance of Race5k

* Per USATF Competition Rule 300.1 (c), Athletes must be at least seven (7) years of age on December 31 of the current year in order to compete in the Junior Olympic National Cross Country Championships.
 
A competitor must compete in his/her age division only. There will be no "moving up" in any event.

All athletes must be 2014 members of USATF in good standing.

USATF memberships may be purchased online by visiting  usatf.org / Products---Services/Individual-Memberships.aspx or through your local Association Office.

All clubs must be a 2014 USATF member organization.

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Opening Ceremony

The Opening Ceremonies, a ‘Myrtle Beach Experience’, will be held at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center on Friday, Dec. 12.  Athletes should arrive at the South Carolina Hall of Fame area by 4:30 p.m. so they can be staged prior to parading into the venue, by Region, beginning at 5:00pm. The ‘Myrtle Beach Experience’ begins at 4:30 p.m. for families and friends.

Packet Pick-up

 
Date Times Location
DateThursday, December 11, 2014 Times4:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. LocationMyrtle Beach Convention Center
DateFriday, December 12, 2014 Times9:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. LocationMyrtle Beach Convention Center
DateSaturday, December 13, 2014 Times7:00 a.m. - 1:00 a.m. LocationWhispering Pines Golf Course
 

Protests

Protests relating to matters which developed during the conduct of the compe­tition must be made to the Referee at once and not later than 30 minutes after a result has been announced, except in the case of long distance races, where the time period shall be 24 hours, and cross country races or the Professional Section of road races, as defined in the race material (website, entry form, etc.), where the time period shall be one hour.  The fee to file a protest is $100.  This fee will be returned if the protest is upheld. Please note USATF Rule 119.4 when considering the use of video /photo footage for protests.

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Uniforms

Each competitor on a qualifying team must have a jersey or singlet that is basically identical in color and style to those worn by his/her teammates. The team jersey must be clearly visible throughout the race. This means the team jersey should be worn as the outside layer of clothing if other garments are worn during the race. Athletes who are unattached or who compete for a team not in team competition may wear any apparel as long as it is safe, not offensive, and has the athlete's bib number attached to the outside layer.

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