Competition to showcase athletes from across the U.S.

 

LEHIGH VALLEY, PA (September 19, 2019) — Lehigh Valley is gearing up to welcome top-caliber athletes back to the Lehigh University cross-country course for the USATF Club Cross-Country Championships as the event returns on December 14, 2019. The event was previously hosted in Lehigh Valley in 2014, an event that set American participation records for a post-collegiate cross-country race, attracting 1,930 athletes and 170 USATF clubs.

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.

At the Open level, the meet attracts a fair number of elite runners, as well as a considerably larger number of cross-country enthusiasts. Participation in the Open race has climbed noticeably over the last 3-4 years, especially in the women’s race. Awards are made to the top 10 runners in each race, as well as to the top five teams.

The Masters races may arguably claim to be the most competitive age-group races in the nation, and annually feature the top runners in the country in every age division. Age divisions begin with the 40-44-year old division, and going upwards in five-year increments. Individual awards will be made to the top three finishers in each five-year division, as well as to the top three teams in each 10-year division (40+, 50+, 60+, etc.).

“The local organizing committee is very excited to host this national event,” notes Loretta Dodson, Chair of the Local Organizing Committee. “We are hoping to have another record turnout in 2019.”

“We are excited to welcome this event back to the area,” said Bree Nidds, Vice President of Sales for Discover Lehigh Valley. “Athletes will find it easy to drive here as we are within a day's drive for 40% of the U.S. population at just 90 minutes west of New York City, 60 minutes north of Philadelphia, and less than three hours from Washington, D.C. The Lehigh Valley International Airport (ABE) also offers visitors an opportunity to fly directly into the region.”

The race schedule for the event on Saturday, December 14, 2019 is as follows: 

8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Packet Pickup

9:30 a.m. Opening Ceremonies 

10 a.m. Masters Men (60+) 8 km

11:15 a.m. Masters Women 6 km

12:15 p.m. Masters Men (40-50) 10 km

1:15 p.m.    Open Women 6 km

2 p.m. Open Men 10 km

 

About USA Track & Field

USA Track & Field (USATF) is the National Governing Body for track and field, long-distance running and race walking in the United States. USATF encompasses the world's oldest organized sports, some of the most-watched events of Olympic broadcasts, the country’s No. 1 high school and junior high school participatory sport and more than 30 million adult runners in the United States. For more information on USATF, visit www.usatf.org.


About Discover Lehigh Valley Sports

A division of Discover Lehigh Valley, Discover Lehigh Valley Sports represents the region in the national and international sports marketplace. serving as the primary resource for procuring and planning sporting events in Lehigh Valley. Discover Lehigh Valley Sports is a nonprofit organization funded by public and private grants, individual donations, and corporate sponsorships.  For more information, visit www.DiscoverLehighValley.com/sports.