* A resident of Brevard County in Florida sits on a bench after Hurricane Ian passed through Port St. John
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Notes compiled by Cory Mull & Ashley Tysiac
As meet cancelations and postponements continue as Hurricane Ian makes its way up the East Coast, Great American XC Festival is the latest meet to take a hit.
In an email sent to coaches on Friday from the National Scholastic Athletic Foundation, which hosts and manages the meet, director of events Kristi Rieger said the current weather forecast for Cary, North Carolina -- where the meet is held -- left management with "no choice" but to cancel Saturday's races, along with Friday's collegiate HBCU Challenge.
A press release on the Great American XC Festival website cited a worsening storm forecast and Raleigh-area school closures as reasons for the cancelation. NSAF CEO Josh Rowe also provided a statement reiterating putting the safety of coaches, athletes, volunteers, staff and spectators first.
"We have done everything we can to provide a safe and positive experience for all, but the weather has given us no choice. We thank everyone for your patience this week and we look forward to serving our track & field community in big ways next year," Rowe said.
As Hurricane Ian continues to travel from Florida up the East Coast, the storm is proving to be a major disaster.
The Category 4 storm hit landfall on Wednesday in Southwest Florida and battered Fort Myers and Punta Gorda, leaving swells of storm surge across those regions.
As the storm continues driving northeast and up through the east coast, forecasts eventually plot the path of Ian west, hitting southeast South Carolina and then up through the western side of North Carolina this weekend.
That potential impact trajectory has altered scheduled cross country events running during those times.
Below, we have updated you on the adjustments, plans or contingencies those meets have in place for the weekend. We will update new information as it comes to us.
Great American XC Festival (NC)
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Update: Canceled
Where: Cary, North Carolina
On Friday morning, the National Scholastic Foundation, which hosts and manages the event, sent an email to coaches stating that the weather forecast for Cary, N.C. on Friday and Saturday left meet management "no choice" but to cancel Saturday's Great American XC Festival and coinciding collegiate HBCU Challenge on Friday.
HOKA Flrunners Invitational (FL)
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Update: Postponed
Where: Lakeland, Florida
Scheduled to be held at Holloway Park this weekend, the meet has now moved to October 14-15. Flrunners has an updated information on the event.
Wendy's Invitational (NC)
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Update: Canceled
Where: Charlotte, North Carolina
Based on current forecasts, Hurricane Ian is currently moving north, up through Florida and by Saturday could be as high as North Carolina, though the strength of the storm is expected to drop. Current trajectories of the storm have it moving toward Charlotte. We have received confirmation that this meet has been canceled.
Alexander/Asics Invitational (GA)
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Update: Still Active
Where: Fairburn, Georgia
When reached by phone on Thursday, the Chattahoochee Hills Eventing (the host site) said the meet still remains scheduled for the weekend and will go ahead as planned. An official said "we are expecting maybe a quarter of an inch of rain."
Woodmont Invitational (SC)
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Update: Postponed
Where: Piedmont, South Carolina
Current forecasts project Hurricane Ian's path to make its way to the Carolinas by Saturday. We have received confirmation that the invitational has been postponed and rescheduled for Tues., Oct. 4 due to "expected hurricane impacts" in the area.
