Knights Crossing Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Where can I get a W-9 form for my bookkeeper?
2024_knights_booster_foundation_w9.pdf
Course Preview: Is the course open to preview on Friday?
We will still be putting the finishing touches on the course but the course will be open to preview on the Friday before Knights Crossing (weather permitting) after 1 pm. Please be courteous to other teams on the course as well as the public who may be walking the park.
Gate: What does it cost for spectators?
Nothing. Spectators of all ages can attend Knights Crossing FREE of charge! Spectators need to enter through gate #2.
Gate #3 by the Polo Monument will be the handicap entrance.
Parking: Does our team or spectators have to pay for parking?
No. All parking for both teams and spectators is FREE.
* The buses that are staying at Green Hill will park closest to the course in the front row on the left side of the road (please see the map). Handicap parking will be on the right side of the road closest to the course near the Polo Monument. Buses that are dropping off and leaving will drop off near the handicap parking and loop back out of the park through the main entrance. The spectators will be able to park on both sides of the road. Please encourage people to carpool. Between 9 am and 11 am will be our busiest time for traffic. We also have an overflow parking area at the "Green Hill Church of the Brethren" (please see the map) which is the next right past the entrance way we will be using. We have people directing traffic starting at 6:30am from Roanoke County Parks & Rec. Please look for the bright RED Cave Spring Volunteer Shirts. We will also have 1 Salem and 6 Roanoke County police out helping move traffic. There will be pedestrian walkways beside the entrance road and coming from overflow parking (please see the map).
Races: Which race do I put my athletes in?
If you have questions about which race to put your athletes in, please see below. As a reminder to all Virginia public school coaches, you cannot enter a team in both the RED and BLACK races. This is unfair to teams that are trying to go for the private school/smaller public school championship race.
Open Race "Joe LaRocco 5k”: Runners of all ages are welcome, along with coaches, and adult XC clubs/teams. No runners high school teams are allowed in this race.
Elementary Race: This race is for all Pre-K to 5th graders.
Girls & Boys Middle School Races: This race is for 6th-8th graders (unlimited entries/team).
Girls & Boys Red Race: These races are for all out-of-state public high schools and Virginia public high schools that choose to race. Each school will be allowed to enter up to 10 runners per race. All runners must be in the (9th -12th grades).
Girls & Boys Black Race: These races are for all private in-state and out-of-state high schools. Also any Virginia high public schools that choose to race. Each school will be allowed to enter up to 10 runners per race. All runners must be in the (9th -12th grades)
Girls & Boys White Race: These races are for all public high school and out- of-state runners not in their team's top 10. This is not a JV race. Runners must be in grades 9-12. Each school has unlimited entries.
Girls/Boys Gold Race (Combined): These races are for all private high school runners not in their team's top 10. This is not a JV race. Runners must be in grades 9-12. Each school has unlimited entries.
Are unattached, club teams, or homeschool teams allowed in the high school races?
No I have been told for sanctioning reasons that all three can't race in the high school events. All three can participate in the "Joe LaRocco 5k" open race at 8 am for times and a team trophy. Please go to the open race registration
The invoice on milestat indicates a balance of $0.00 after I enter? We do not use the milesplit paying system so it will say zero. Please let us know if you need an official invoice. We know more and more bookkeepers are asking for them.
Packet Pick-Up: Where is packet pick-up?
Please enter through gate #1 you can pick-up your team packets under the new 10x10 RED tent at the Gate #1 Entrance. Please look for large blue flag with Packet-Pickup on it. Your packet will include numbers, pins, team rosters, starting boxes, time schedule, course records, trash bags, and course maps. This 10x10 RED tent is also where all pre-registered open race participates will check-in and pick-up their race numbers.
Where are teams allowed to set up their tents and camp areas?
When you entre through gate #1 walk into the park set-up your team camps on the left side of the gravel road near the tree line. The gravel road will be lined with red and black pennant flags and yellow rope. This gravel road is part of the course and will be roped off. We like to keep the view of the course as open as possible so someone will direct you where you can set-up camps. Please do not put your tents in areas marked off by orange property flags. That area will be for our EMS crews and food trucks. If you have any questions just look for the RED volunteer shirts.
8:30 am Coaches Meeting: As a coach must I attend this meeting?
No, All team packets will have a summary of what will be discussed in meeting. This meeting will serve as a time when coaches can ask the meet director questions if they have any.
Where can my runners warm-up for their races?
At no time can runners warmup on the park roads. Its too dangerous with traffic. Please tell them to use the Roanoke River Greenway that runs parallel to the Roanoke River about 1400 meters long. The can also warmup on the course itself as long as they don't interfere with active races and stay off the gravel road to the equestrian center.
Will there be restrooms for runners, coaches, fans, and officials? Restrooms: (40 port-a-johns)
We will have 25 port-a-johns located near the parking area and Gate #1. There will be 14 more port-a-johns located near the starting line across the gravel road near the tree line where the team tents are located. There are also several random port-a-johns located all over the park. There will be one port-a- john located by the finish line and one at the CSHS equipment trailers. Please let your runners know these 2 port-a-johns is for volunteers, officials, and EMS crew only!
Where do we purchase Knights Crossing Apparel and how much?
Invitational t-shirts will be on sale for $25 at the Fleet Feet Roanoke Tent. They are really nice-looking shirts for a great price. Please tell runners and parents to get their early because they sell out fast.
Will there be food available at this event?
Our team's concession stand will be marked with a Orange Swooper Flag.
We will have a good size concession stand located near awards stage under the blue and white tents. We will be selling bake goods, snacks, and pizza. There will also be a lot of water, coffee, and Gatorade for sale! We will also have several food trucks will be onsite.
What is the course like and is it marked well? The course is Flat & Fast racing a grass and gravel roads.
Coaches in your packets you have two maps of the course. One will be the map of the 5k course the other will be the middle school 4k course. The colored flags match up with the colors on the map. The first mile is yellow, second blue, and third red. The course is clearly marked with red and white spray paint. The one mile is down towards the equestrian center and the 2 mile is where the old 1-mile marker was. The course has been wheeled, biked, and run with a GPS. Coaches, please have your runners take a look at the culvert crossing area and equestrian center when warming up. This is the tightest area of our course will be the out and back road to the equestrian center. Coaches, please remind all runners not to touch any equipment in the equestrian center or enter any of their buildings. If we find out about runners doing this, they will be disqualified. Coaches also look at how the last mile finishes. We have two course paths that run straight through where the tall grass use to be. Runners keep the pink rope as a boundary to run beside. Once again, the finish line will be in the center of the field like in years past.
** This year we will once again have working race clocks at both the 1 and 2 mile marks along with the finish line. There will also be a race clock at the 800 / 3-mile area and the 4k. Tell your runners there is a clock to get your 800 split and to know where you stand going into the last 200-meter kick! New this year we will be providing splits for both the 1 mile and 2 mile through "Blue Ridge Timing".
Coaches only will have access to the equestrian center and access road once races begin. There will be signs and volunteers only allowing coaches to have access to that area. Please tell your fans to stay out. There are plenty of areas in the front polo fields to see runners.
** Please see the Maps page for 5k and 4k maps along with the drone video.
Is this the same course as the VHSL State 1-3A meet being held this November?
This was the state meet course from 2019-2023 when Cave Spring High School was proudly the host school. This year's meet director has developed a new course to host the 1-3A VHSL state meet. Please see the VHSL website or va.milesplit.com for more information.
Where do we go to find out our team's starting box number?
The RED, BLACK, WHITE, GOLD and Middle School race assignments and box numbers will be in your packet. You will notice the starting line is in the shape of an arch. Every spot on the line is 320 meters from the first turn. No team as an unfair advantage. Officials will spread your team out after everyone has reported to the line. I think we should be able to get 4 people on the line for each team.
Team Race Box Numbers will be posted on knightsrunning.com 2 days before the invitational. This will also be emailed out to coaches.
Will there be LIVE results for the races and where do I find them?
Yes all live results can be found at Blue Ridge Timing
Top 5 team scores along with top 5 individual runners will be announced at both the 1 mile and 2 mile marks.
What kind of individual and team awards will be handed out for this year's invitational?
We will be giving out awards after every race. Instead of at the end of the invitational. If you know you have earned an award, please do not go too far away from the awards area after your race. Because we will be doing ongoing awards please tell your runners to pay attention to the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd call sheet in your packets. The races will run on time.
Here is a list of awards for each race.
RED and BLACK Championship Races:
Top 25 runners get a medal, top 3 teams a trophy, winning coach a plaque, & the winner of each race a unique trophy.
WHITE and GOLD Races:
Top 25 runners get a medal & top 3 teams a trophy
Middle School Championship Races:
Top 25 runners get a medal & top 3 teams a trophy, winning coach a plaque, & the winner of each race a unique trophy.
Elementary Race:
Every runner gets a medal that finishes and the school that bring the most runners gets to take home the championship trophy.
Joe LaRocco 5k Open Race:
Top 3 Overall Finishers along with the top Master finisher (40+) per gender. Championship trophy plus fastest coach per gender.
Where can I get a W-9 form for my bookkeeper?
2024_knights_booster_foundation_w9.pdf
Course Preview: Is the course open to preview on Friday?
We will still be putting the finishing touches on the course but the course will be open to preview on the Friday before Knights Crossing (weather permitting) after 1 pm. Please be courteous to other teams on the course as well as the public who may be walking the park.
Gate: What does it cost for spectators?
Nothing. Spectators of all ages can attend Knights Crossing FREE of charge! Spectators need to enter through gate #2.
Gate #3 by the Polo Monument will be the handicap entrance.
Parking: Does our team or spectators have to pay for parking?
No. All parking for both teams and spectators is FREE.
* The buses that are staying at Green Hill will park closest to the course in the front row on the left side of the road (please see the map). Handicap parking will be on the right side of the road closest to the course near the Polo Monument. Buses that are dropping off and leaving will drop off near the handicap parking and loop back out of the park through the main entrance. The spectators will be able to park on both sides of the road. Please encourage people to carpool. Between 9 am and 11 am will be our busiest time for traffic. We also have an overflow parking area at the "Green Hill Church of the Brethren" (please see the map) which is the next right past the entrance way we will be using. We have people directing traffic starting at 6:30am from Roanoke County Parks & Rec. Please look for the bright RED Cave Spring Volunteer Shirts. We will also have 1 Salem and 6 Roanoke County police out helping move traffic. There will be pedestrian walkways beside the entrance road and coming from overflow parking (please see the map).
Races: Which race do I put my athletes in?
If you have questions about which race to put your athletes in, please see below. As a reminder to all Virginia public school coaches, you cannot enter a team in both the RED and BLACK races. This is unfair to teams that are trying to go for the private school/smaller public school championship race.
Open Race "Joe LaRocco 5k”: Runners of all ages are welcome, along with coaches, and adult XC clubs/teams. No runners high school teams are allowed in this race.
Elementary Race: This race is for all Pre-K to 5th graders.
Girls & Boys Middle School Races: This race is for 6th-8th graders (unlimited entries/team).
Girls & Boys Red Race: These races are for all out-of-state public high schools and Virginia public high schools that choose to race. Each school will be allowed to enter up to 10 runners per race. All runners must be in the (9th -12th grades).
Girls & Boys Black Race: These races are for all private in-state and out-of-state high schools. Also any Virginia high public schools that choose to race. Each school will be allowed to enter up to 10 runners per race. All runners must be in the (9th -12th grades)
Girls & Boys White Race: These races are for all public high school and out- of-state runners not in their team's top 10. This is not a JV race. Runners must be in grades 9-12. Each school has unlimited entries.
Girls/Boys Gold Race (Combined): These races are for all private high school runners not in their team's top 10. This is not a JV race. Runners must be in grades 9-12. Each school has unlimited entries.
Are unattached, club teams, or homeschool teams allowed in the high school races?
No I have been told for sanctioning reasons that all three can't race in the high school events. All three can participate in the "Joe LaRocco 5k" open race at 8 am for times and a team trophy. Please go to the open race registration
The invoice on milestat indicates a balance of $0.00 after I enter? We do not use the milesplit paying system so it will say zero. Please let us know if you need an official invoice. We know more and more bookkeepers are asking for them.
Packet Pick-Up: Where is packet pick-up?
Please enter through gate #1 you can pick-up your team packets under the new 10x10 RED tent at the Gate #1 Entrance. Please look for large blue flag with Packet-Pickup on it. Your packet will include numbers, pins, team rosters, starting boxes, time schedule, course records, trash bags, and course maps. This 10x10 RED tent is also where all pre-registered open race participates will check-in and pick-up their race numbers.
Where are teams allowed to set up their tents and camp areas?
When you entre through gate #1 walk into the park set-up your team camps on the left side of the gravel road near the tree line. The gravel road will be lined with red and black pennant flags and yellow rope. This gravel road is part of the course and will be roped off. We like to keep the view of the course as open as possible so someone will direct you where you can set-up camps. Please do not put your tents in areas marked off by orange property flags. That area will be for our EMS crews and food trucks. If you have any questions just look for the RED volunteer shirts.
8:30 am Coaches Meeting: As a coach must I attend this meeting?
No, All team packets will have a summary of what will be discussed in meeting. This meeting will serve as a time when coaches can ask the meet director questions if they have any.
Where can my runners warm-up for their races?
At no time can runners warmup on the park roads. Its too dangerous with traffic. Please tell them to use the Roanoke River Greenway that runs parallel to the Roanoke River about 1400 meters long. The can also warmup on the course itself as long as they don't interfere with active races and stay off the gravel road to the equestrian center.
Will there be restrooms for runners, coaches, fans, and officials? Restrooms: (40 port-a-johns)
We will have 25 port-a-johns located near the parking area and Gate #1. There will be 14 more port-a-johns located near the starting line across the gravel road near the tree line where the team tents are located. There are also several random port-a-johns located all over the park. There will be one port-a- john located by the finish line and one at the CSHS equipment trailers. Please let your runners know these 2 port-a-johns is for volunteers, officials, and EMS crew only!
Where do we purchase Knights Crossing Apparel and how much?
Invitational t-shirts will be on sale for $25 at the Fleet Feet Roanoke Tent. They are really nice-looking shirts for a great price. Please tell runners and parents to get their early because they sell out fast.
Will there be food available at this event?
Our team's concession stand will be marked with a Orange Swooper Flag.
We will have a good size concession stand located near awards stage under the blue and white tents. We will be selling bake goods, snacks, and pizza. There will also be a lot of water, coffee, and Gatorade for sale! We will also have several food trucks will be onsite.
What is the course like and is it marked well? The course is Flat & Fast racing a grass and gravel roads.
Coaches in your packets you have two maps of the course. One will be the map of the 5k course the other will be the middle school 4k course. The colored flags match up with the colors on the map. The first mile is yellow, second blue, and third red. The course is clearly marked with red and white spray paint. The one mile is down towards the equestrian center and the 2 mile is where the old 1-mile marker was. The course has been wheeled, biked, and run with a GPS. Coaches, please have your runners take a look at the culvert crossing area and equestrian center when warming up. This is the tightest area of our course will be the out and back road to the equestrian center. Coaches, please remind all runners not to touch any equipment in the equestrian center or enter any of their buildings. If we find out about runners doing this, they will be disqualified. Coaches also look at how the last mile finishes. We have two course paths that run straight through where the tall grass use to be. Runners keep the pink rope as a boundary to run beside. Once again, the finish line will be in the center of the field like in years past.
** This year we will once again have working race clocks at both the 1 and 2 mile marks along with the finish line. There will also be a race clock at the 800 / 3-mile area and the 4k. Tell your runners there is a clock to get your 800 split and to know where you stand going into the last 200-meter kick! New this year we will be providing splits for both the 1 mile and 2 mile through "Blue Ridge Timing".
Coaches only will have access to the equestrian center and access road once races begin. There will be signs and volunteers only allowing coaches to have access to that area. Please tell your fans to stay out. There are plenty of areas in the front polo fields to see runners.
** Please see the Maps page for 5k and 4k maps along with the drone video.
Is this the same course as the VHSL State 1-3A meet being held this November?
This was the state meet course from 2019-2023 when Cave Spring High School was proudly the host school. This year's meet director has developed a new course to host the 1-3A VHSL state meet. Please see the VHSL website or va.milesplit.com for more information.
Where do we go to find out our team's starting box number?
The RED, BLACK, WHITE, GOLD and Middle School race assignments and box numbers will be in your packet. You will notice the starting line is in the shape of an arch. Every spot on the line is 320 meters from the first turn. No team as an unfair advantage. Officials will spread your team out after everyone has reported to the line. I think we should be able to get 4 people on the line for each team.
Team Race Box Numbers will be posted on knightsrunning.com 2 days before the invitational. This will also be emailed out to coaches.
Will there be LIVE results for the races and where do I find them?
Yes all live results can be found at Blue Ridge Timing
Top 5 team scores along with top 5 individual runners will be announced at both the 1 mile and 2 mile marks.
What kind of individual and team awards will be handed out for this year's invitational?
We will be giving out awards after every race. Instead of at the end of the invitational. If you know you have earned an award, please do not go too far away from the awards area after your race. Because we will be doing ongoing awards please tell your runners to pay attention to the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd call sheet in your packets. The races will run on time.
Here is a list of awards for each race.
RED and BLACK Championship Races:
Top 25 runners get a medal, top 3 teams a trophy, winning coach a plaque, & the winner of each race a unique trophy.
WHITE and GOLD Races:
Top 25 runners get a medal & top 3 teams a trophy
Middle School Championship Races:
Top 25 runners get a medal & top 3 teams a trophy, winning coach a plaque, & the winner of each race a unique trophy.
Elementary Race:
Every runner gets a medal that finishes and the school that bring the most runners gets to take home the championship trophy.
Joe LaRocco 5k Open Race:
Top 3 Overall Finishers along with the top Master finisher (40+) per gender. Championship trophy plus fastest coach per gender.