On-time registration for this event is $40.00 and is open until 12/1/2019 at 11:59 p.m. PDT. Sign up by this date to avoid late fees during late registration. Late registration is $65.00 and will be open until 12/6/2019 at 11:59 p.m. PDT.
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The 2019 USATF Club Cross Country Championships will be contested on December 14, 2019 on the Lehigh University cross country course. The Lehigh course is one of the best-known cross country venues in the nation and the site of the annual Paul Short XC Invitational and three previous NCAA Championships. The Championships consist of five separate races: Masters Women at 6 km, Masters Men 60+ at 8 km, Masters Men (40-59) at 10 km, Open Women at 6 km and Open Men at 10 km. A total of $40,000 in prize money will be awarded to winning athletes and teams. For questions, please contact CrossCountry@usatf.org
2:00 PM: Sunset (Approx. 4:36 p.m.), Lehigh University XC course Start/Finish area located behind Murray Goodman Stadium. Free parking available in Stabler Arena lots. No parking adjacent to start/finish. 150 Goodman Drive, Bethlehem, PA 18015
2:00 PM – 7:30 PM: Packet pick-up in the Foundry Room 7:30 PM: Technical meeting, host hotel
Lehigh Valley Hotel & Conference Center 300 Gateway Drive Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, 18017-9076
Approx. 11:40 AM: Begin Master Men’s 60+ 8 km Award Ceremony – on site Approx. 12:40 PM: Continue with Master Women’s Award Ceremony – on site Approx. 1:40 PM: Continue with Master Men’s 40+ 10 km Award Ceremony – on site Open Race Individual Award Ceremonies for the top 10 individuals from each race will immediately follow the finish of each Open race and will interrupt the Masters ceremonies if necessary. Open Race Team Award Ceremonies will follow the conclusion of the Masters Awards. The Masters Year-End Team Grand Prix and Individual Grand Prix Award Ceremony will take place beginning at 5:00 p.m. at the host hotel. Runners are advised that there will be NO bag check facilities at this meet and are strongly cautioned against bringing any valuables other than small amounts of cash to the starting/finish area.
The 2019 USATF Club Cross-Country Championships will make use of the existing 6 km course for the women’s races. The 10 km course for the men’s races will consist of two shortened loops of the women’s course. The 8 km course is a truncated (and somewhat easier) version of the 10 km course. The course distances are accurate to within ± 1%. The course is 100% grass, except for road crossings, and spikes are recommended, especially in wet conditions. There are three macadam road crossings on each loop. The Lehigh course is characterized by long, gradual ascents and descents rather than short, steep segments. Footing on the course is generally good, with the exceptions noted below. The women’s 6 km (Brown) course is marked at every kilometer and every mile. The men's 10 km course will be marked every kilometer. The starting area for the course is located in a large grassy field immediately to the north of the football stadium. The photo at right shows the starting area. The course proceeds to the west across a level expanse towards the Steel Trees (you’ll know them when you see them). The course makes a gradual 180° turn just in front of the trees at about 950m and heads back to the east. In wet conditions, serious mud may be expected at around 1100m. At around 1500m (5600m for the second 10 km loop), the course begins a gentle 400m ascent before making the first paved road crossing. At 2100m (6200m), the course swings right and makes a second paved road crossing, turning left immediately for a short segment paralleling the road before turning left again and crossing the road, heading north. The course then runs along the periphery of several athletic fields. It is here that the men’s 10 km course deviates slightly from the women’s course, with the men’s course cutting diagonally across the athletic fields instead of keeping to the periphery. At around 3200m (7300m), the course makes a short descent to a wooden footbridge that crosses a small creek. Protruding roots on this section pose a trip hazard. Crossing the footbridge, the course begins to ascend and passes in front of the starting line, curving to the left towards a line of trees. The course passes through the tree line at around 3800m (7900m) and turns left for a short descent before turning to the right just prior to the 4000m (8100m) mark. The most difficult climb on the course begins at 4000m (8100m), ascending to a tree line, turning right, and continuing to climb before topping out at around 4700m (8800m). At this point, the M60+ 8 km course will deviate from the 6 km and the 10 km courses in that the 8 km course will turn sharply left downhill to rejoin the 10 km course. The 6 km and 10 km courses then turn left, flatten, and after another left turn, begin a long descent down to around the 5300m (9400m) mark. It is at this point that the second loop of the men’s 10 km course begins when the men’s course turns abruptly right just before a tree line, hops over to the other side of the tree line, and continues about 50m before rejoining the previous course. The 6 km course will continue on into the finish on level terrain, with a slight rise at the finish, with a slight rise at the finish. In the event of snow (hardly impossible in Pennsylvania in the middle of December), the race may, at the discretion of the Local Organizing Committee, default to 2 km loops around the football stadium. 6 km Course Map 8 km Course Map 10 km Course Map
Free parking is available around Stabler Arena – only a short walk to the start/finish. Follow directions and attendants during on meet day.
USATF Championships Medals will be awarded to the top 10 individual finishers in the men's and women's open races and to the declared members of the men's and women's first-, second-, and third-place teams.
A total of $26,250 in team prize money will be awarded to the top Open men's and women's teams as follows:
USATF Individual Championship Medals will be awarded to the top 3 men's and women's individual finishers in all 5-year age divisions from 40-44 to the age group of the oldest finisher. Championship patches will be awarded to the winners of each 5-year age division. USATF Team Championship Medals will be awarded to the declared members of the top 3 men's and women's teams in the following age divisions: 40+, 50+, 60+, 70+ and 80+.
A total of up to $13,150 in Master team prize money will be awarded as follows:
Masters team prize money is pro-rated for the number of scoring members. In addition, individual prize money will be awarded to the top Age-Graded Masters Male and Female in the Masters Championship races as follows: 1st Age-Graded Masters Male 10 km (40+) - $200 1st Age-Graded Masters Male 8 km (60+) - $200 1st Age-Graded Masters Female 6 km - $200
Bethlehem, PA is a popular tourist destination in December. Be sure to book your hotel rooms early if you want to stay within close proximity of the race location.
300 Gateway Drive, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, 18017-9076, United States Amenities: Free breakfast, Free wifi, Free shuttle to/from Lehigh Valley Int. Airport There is no shuttle between host hotel and race site. Hotel Block: SOLD OUT
3800 West Drive | Center Valley, PA 18034 http://www.marriott.com/ABECV To Make Reservations: Call 1 (888) 236-2427 and request a reservation for the USATF Club XC National Championship Group Room Block or go here. In order to get the special group rate, please make your reservations by 12/5/2019
1.15 miles from race start 2201 Cherry Ln., Bethlehem, PA 18015 610-838-6110
3 miles from race start 77 Sands Blvd., Bethlehem, PA 18015 877-726-3777
5 miles from race start 45 W. North St., Bethlehem, PA 18018 610-625-0500
7.2 miles from race start 200 Gateway Drive, Bethlehem, PA 18017 610-868-2442 *USATF Hilton Honors discount
8.1 miles from race start 2160 Motel Dr., Bethlehem, PA 18018 610-317-6200 8.1 miles
8.1 miles from race start 2140 Motel Dr., Bethlehem, PA 18018 610-867-8681 Homewood Suites by Hilton* - 9 miles from race start 2031 Avenue C, Bethlehem, PA 18017 610-264-7500 *USATF Hilton Honors discount
9 miles from race start 3375 High Point Blvd., Bethlehem, PA 18017 610-882-2255 Post-race showers facilities will be available for all runners in the stadium house located across the footbridge immediately south of the starting line and at the north end of the football stadium. Bring your own towel and soap.
Technical Instructions
Travel Grant
Masters Registration Form
Open Registration Form
Open Status of Entries
Masters Status of Entries
Local Information