PHOTOS: Mt. SAC Has World’s Largest XC Track Meet

October 29, 2019 - 08:48 AM

For the past two weekends, Mt. SAC played host to the world’s largest Cross Country Track Meet for the 72^nd time. 

 

And they're off! 

 

The Mt. SAC Invitational  is one of the best known races in the country.

More than 100 races were held over the weekends of October 18^th and the 25^th.  

This past weekend, 12,000 high school students from more than 450 high schools across the country traveled to run Mt. SAC’s iconic cross country race course.

 

 

On the 18^th, 111 elementary and middle schools throughout the country, representing 4,000 students, brought their 3^rd to 8^th grade runners to compete.

“The new stadium was built around the existing cross country course,“ said Doug Todd, the Director of Athletics Special Events, explaining how the event has been held during the construction phase.

The iconic course has remained unchanged since the 1970’s, according to Todd.

“Wherever you go around the country,” explained Todd, “if you wear a Mt. SAC Invitational shirt, people will know you ran this course.”

 

 

Spectators could tell the runners were on the way by the dirt cloud kicked up in these dry and dusty conditions.

The course is three miles long.

And includes a famous climb up to the water tanks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The temps on Friday were reaching 90 degrees.

It's a tough race, for sure. 

And runners were exhausted by the time they crossed the finish line.

That's a wrap for the 72nd Annual Mt. SAC Invitational. Until next year, keep up the pace...