It's a go! The inaugural HERSHEY XC Invitational is September 22nd...

http://www.milesplit.com/article/14171

should be an awesome race. Who thinks/knows their coach is trying to get them into the meet?

mine is. Lake- Lehman for AA boys and girls

trying to figure out if your team is going to this meet isn't as easy as one might think -- the state has dragged it's feet on this issue for WAY TOO LONG -- and now we're told it's going to be another week -- while the state might be able to just drop everything at the drop of a hat, that's not the way that school districts work -- and to limit the entrants to this is just absolutely ridiculous

It's an issue of the start being able to handle a certain number, and you can book your hotels, because the meet is an absolute. It is the entry form which is delayed from Friday until tomorrow or Tuesday.

don -- i understand that completely -- which is why they shouldn't limit how many teams should be able to enter -- just run more races -- we have to have something in writing before we can do any of that -- and if we end up not being in the first 40, well, that's just not right...

If they're limiting entrants than this meet has gone from OK to really sketchy IMO. The whole idea is to make it fair for the whole state to get a competition on that course and now they limit the entrants? They should be obligated to run races all day from dawn to dusk if that's what it takes to get everybody who wants to race on the course.

and again, on this line i will say that no d3 team should be permitted to run in this invite at the expense of any other team that's trying to get in and isn't able to get their things in quickly enough -- btw -- i know for a fact that somebody from d7 who has an unbelievable amount of experience in running BIG meets/races offered the piaa his services to run as many races as are needed on this day so that all teams have the opportunity to run on the course -- and his offer was rejected...

Hershey has other events, and I believe there is a concert that day... so dawn to dusk is not an option. This is a first for PA, and an important step.

Yes,it is a first and an important step.So why not do it RIGHT from the start.I've coached for over 30 years; I also own a road racing business. I was a member of the coaching group that was consulted the year the meet moved to Hershey.Not knowing all the facts ,I'm still tempted to say that this meet has not been well thought out.It is a shame that the PIAA didn't ask a group of six respected, knowledgeable coaches to put this meet together.I hope that I am wrong but the meet is six weeks away and all we know is the date.

One item that may limit participation is the fact that the 22nd is a jewish holiday and many school districts will not schedule events or allow their teams to enter events that weekend.

Napoleon - sort of agree with d3 should not be included in racing pre-states. I know it's a race so team can prepare for states if they make it. We (d3) obviously race it the week before. I think, however, we would use the opportunity to race pre-states to prepare for districts rather than looking ahead at states. Our district has 55+ AAA teams viaing for 5 spots. That's 50+ teams never making to the "Holy Race".

I'm sure d1 and (I don't know the other district that Lehigh University is in [d7?]) would use the Lehigh course if pre-states were still there.

It's a chance for d3 teams to race the district course before hand just as much as it is for other districts to prep-up for state qualifier hopefulls.

If it's offered to the state, it's offered to d3.

I will agree that the late entry timing stinks a little as I had to decide on invitationals by last May. We are already committed to other races. I'll be watching Pre-states closely. Hopefully some teams will pull out of the invites we are registered for so they are not as crowded. I welcome Pre-states for that reason alone.

there is a concert there that day. its at hersheypark stadium. toyota concert series i believe and it starts at 5 oclock. bottom line is simple. the hershey company will make more money off that concert than the cross country race. everyone has to realize that while we are dealing with this course the hershey company will have final say and not the PIAA.

is this invite for PIAA teams only or open to every team??

good question, but unfortunately, none of us know the answer to this -- knowing that it's being limited, this is how i would set this up -- just one man's opinion (and i'm trying to be as fair as possible)

keep in mind that i wouldn't limit the number of participants if i were running this, however, this is how i would do it knowing that it's being limited...

1. no team that is ineligible to participate in the piaa meet would be permitted to participate in the pre-state invite
2. no team from d3 is able to participate
3. once all teams not meeting the criteria of (1) and (2), then i would open it up to d3 teams first, then teams outside the piaa

What about teams to enter PIAA next year, ie the PCL???

i wouldn't allow them to run it this year -- but next year would be open game...

The PCL should be game for this year not next. They are on a trial year this year with the PIAA. So what better way to prove we can conform by competing in the same type of races? It also give them a chance to experience the state course so that it will kind of level the playing field for those teams who have already run on it.

Why can only teams race? Why can't an individual race. My school has less than 5 girls on the team. We are not allowed to race at pre-states. How fair is that? So now we won't have a chance to run on the course prior to the State meet. Who makes up these guidelines. It should be available for all or none!