A new start for Clipper Cross Country Series
Trending
COLUMBIANA -- Columbiana's new cross country course will be on display when the Clipper Cross Country Series opens Wednesday.
"I'm excited about it and the kids are, too," Columbiana cross country coach Crystal Siembida Boggs said.
Due to construction at the school and the Ward Athletic Complex, the course will have some new twists and turns.
"Pending the weather Tuesday, our team will be out because we haven't had a chance to run it," Siembida Boggs said. "We're going to have a walkthrough and Wednesday, we are planning on leading the race with the quad so nobody gets lost."
The most exciting change is at the finish. Since there is a new fence where the old finish line was, runners will enter onto the track and run clockwise for the last 200 meters before finishing in front of the stands.
"It doesn't matter the weather is, it will be a fast finish," Siembida Boggs said.
The Clipper Cross Country Series, in its 28th year, runs four straight Wednesday nights behind Columbiana High School. Races start at 7 p.m.
Runners compete in seven age divisions and all compete in the same race.
Cost is $10 per week. Runners who compete in all four races receive a T-shirt. Runners can preregister or sign up before the race beginning at 6 p.m.
The July 22 and Aug. 5 races are on the middle school course and the July 29 and Aug. 12 races on the high school course.
Siembida Boggs said both courses for the series will be a little short due to construction -- with the middle school course at 1.8 miles and the high school course at 3 miles.
The courses will be at 2 miles and 3.1 miles when the middle school and high school seasons open.
The new course has runners starting on the other side of the barn, running downhill and joining the original course.
Runners will now run to the right of the junior high practice football field because part of a new baseball field is on the old course, Siembida Boggs said.
She said the finger loop in front of the school has been eliminated in anticipation of future building there.
Runners will go through the old playground toward where they started.
She said the 2-mile mark in the back end of the course is in the same spot.
An overall series male and female champion will be honored based on their finishes in the four races.
Proceeds benefit the Columbiana cross country and track programs.