5,000 prep runners, 600 collegians expected at Nike Twilight meet

The Nike Twilight cross country meet is on the horizon as high school and college athletes will take to LaVern Gibson Cross Country Course on Friday and Saturday.

Jeff Martin, Indiana State associate head coach and coach of horizontal jumps and pole vault and the course director, said Nike putting on the event has just grown the event and is one of the better meets in the country.

Nearly 5,000 high school runners and 600 collegians are expected to compete.

Martin said ISU’s team will be split for weekend events, with some Sycamores going to the Joe Piane Invitational at Notre Dame while others would stay in Terre Haute and compete at the Nike Twilight meet.

Men’s collegiate teams participating in the event include Anderson (Ind.), Austin Peay, DePauw, Eastern Illinois, Florida Gulf Coast, Indiana State, IU Columbus, IU East, IU Kokomo, Kentucky Christian, Parkland College, Rose-Hulman, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, SIU Edwardsville, Southeast Missouri State, Southern Indiana, Spring Arbor (Mich.), Texas Tech and UC San Diego.

On the women’s collegiate side, participating schools include Anderson (Ind.), Austin Peay, Baylor, DePauw, Eastern Illinois, Florida Gulf Coast, Indiana State, IU Columbus, IU East, IU Kokomo, Kentucky Christian, Parkland College, Rose-Hulman, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, SIU Edwardsville, Southeast Missouri State, Southern Indiana, Spring Arbor (Mich.), Texas Tech and UC San Diego.

Martin also noted on the high school side that schools will be coming in from out of state from places such as Kansas, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Missouri among other surrounding states. Martin said it’s awesome that Terre Haute can showcase the course to those from out of state.

Martin acknowledged that a big reason for all the visiting teams from states further away is the NCAA Division I national championship meet coming to Terre Haute in November.

"I think it’s also the 10+ national championships that we’ve hosted before," Martin said.

He said people want to come be a part of that.

Martin praised the Terre Haute Convention and Visitors Bureau.

"Without their support of the course and the facility and the major upgrades that we have done, some of this stuff would not be possible," Martin said. "So their support has been tremendous to continue the growth of the facility and continue with the tradition and history."

Nike XC Town Twilight schedule

Friday

5 p.m., College women’s 6K

5:45 p.m., College men’s 8K

6:30 p.m., High school girls JV

7:15 p.m., High school boys JV

8 p.m., High school girls Friday open

8:35 p.m., High school boys Friday open

9:20 p.m., High school awards

Fireworks to follow

Saturday

5:15 p.m., Boys JV race 1

5:45 p.m., Girls JV race 1

6:15 p.m., Boys JV race 2

6:45 p.m., Girls open race 1

7:15 p.m., Boys open race 1

7:45 p.m., Girls open race 2

8:15 p.m., Boys open race 2

8:45 p.m., Boys open race 3

9:15 p.m., Girls Race of Champions

9:45 p.m., Boys Race of Champions

10:15 p.m., Awards

Fireworks to follow

Source: sports.yahoo.com — article syndicated from the publisher’s feed; all rights remain with the original publisher.