Coaches, ADs, and Principals,
Hi, my name is Tommy Maguire and I’m the head cross-country coach at Cave Spring High School in Roanoke, Virginia. We hope that everyone is staying healthy and safe during this pandemic. I know that many cross-country coaches and athletic directors have started to plan for the fall cross-country season. It also looks like all signs are pointing to a more normal sports season in the state of Virginia this fall. I would like to take a moment to invite you and your team to participate in the 17th Annual “Knights Crossing” cross-country invitational on Saturday September 11th in beautiful Green Hill Park in Roanoke County.
* Fall of 2019 invitational included 80+ high schools, 60+ middle schools, and 6 elementary schools. There were over 2,300 runners participating with 12 out of state teams racing.
* Fall of 2019 race included 27 girls with personal bests faster than 20 minutes for the 5k. 10 of those girls broke 19 minutes and 2 broke 18. There was also a new course record set by Kelsey Harrington of Virginia High in 17:13. There were also 41 boys with personal bests faster than 17 minutes with 2 under 16 minutes.
Our #1 goal with Knights Crossing is to provide a fun atmosphere were runners can race on a fast course and get an early season PR. We pride ourselves with running a professional and entertaining invitational. It is an opportunity for out-state, in-state, and local runners to showcase their early season talents in a large invitational atmosphere.
This year we will continue to make improvements that we feel will help runners, coaches, and spectators have a more enjoyable experience.
1.) Three years ago, for the first time in 16 years we made major changes to the course. We will be working with Roanoke County Parks and Rec to continue to improve the new course design. The new racecourses are posted on knightsrunning.com under the Knights Crossing tab. Also, on knightscrossing.com we have drone video footage of the entire course.
2.) Due to the course being changed there is now even more parking available in the front of the park. Also, the single lane road that has been used in the past as our entrance and exit to the park has become a double lane. We got reports from Roanoke County Parks and Rec along with the police officers controlling traffic that these improvements helped the flow of traffic in and out of Green Hill Park last fall.
3.) New this year we will be renting a much better sound system and will announcing race updates to provide for a more exciting atmosphere. There will also race clocks provided at the 800m, 1 mile, 2 mile, 4k, and 150 meters to go.
4.) We will once again be using IPICO chip timing provided by Laurence Loesel and Snap Timing. 1- and 2-mile splits will also be provided.
5.) We will have a newly adjusted time schedule to move up all high school races an hour to help avoid the heat of the day. Please see attachment for new time schedule.
6.) Please see attachment for additional information on this year’s Knights Crossing Cross-Country Invitational. I am in the process of updating all information on our website: http://www.knightsrunning.com/ Look under “Knights Crossing”.
7.) In the FALL of 2021 Green Hill Park (Cave Spring High School) will once again host the class 1A, 2A, & 3A VHSL State Championships. "Knights Crossing XC Invitational" will serve as the official preview meet. Knights Crossing 5k course is the same as the state meet.
8.) If you and your team are interested in attending, please send me an email ASAP so I can add you to our list. If you did not attend our meet in the fall of 2019, I will also need the following information for the NFHS (National Federation High School) sanctioning process. Each coach please send me the following information.
- school's name, address, city, zip code, phone number, coach's name, & school type. For example: (high school, middle school, or club)
We hope to see you all on September 11th and I will keep everyone updated on restrictions if any are in place this Fall. Please contact me if you have any questions.
Be well and stay safe.
* Coaches good luck with your team's summer training! We look forward to seeing you this fall and please let me know if you have any questions.
For all teams staying overnight here is a list of hotels we recommend.
Hotel Information:
#1 Recommended with team rates of $89.00 dollars. Say you are attending 2017 Knights Crossing.
Comfort Suites Inn @ Ridgewood Farm
2898 Keagy Rd, Salem 24153
(540) 375-4800
* If you have any issues ask to talk with Kim
Comfort Suites Inn
100 Wildwood Rd, Salem 24153
(540) 389-7171
Quality Inn
179 Sheraton Dr. (540) 562-1912
Holiday Inn Express
1535 East Main Street (540) 986-1000
Hampton Inn
1886 Electric Road (540) 776-6500