FHSAA state XC meet could change dates
By Brian Miller, Special to DistancePreps.com

With approximately 5,800 hotel rooms in the Tallahassee community, space hasn't been an issue for housing the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) state cross country meet in Florida's state capital city the last two years.

But with Florida State University and Florida A&M University both hosting respective conference football games on Nov. 8, 2014, the probability of the season's climactic meet moving to a different date is likely and imminent.

"What we're doing now is reevaluating which days best work out for the state meet," said Alex Ozuna, Assistant Director of Athletics for the FHSAA and the cross country Sport Administrator. "The hotels for the schools are pretty much a nightmare. We have a couple different ideas that aren't our favorites, but it's what we have to (explore)."

One idea involves running the race on a weekday, which requires students-athletes to miss school. Another idea tossed around involved running the race on Tues., Nov. 11, which is Veterans Day, though the FHSAA prefers avoiding competition on national holidays altogether.

The most popular and logistically easy option involves pushing the meet back a week to Nov. 15, since FSU will be hosting the NCAA South Regional at Apalachee Regional Park the day before, thereby condensing set-up and course maintenance.

But by lengthening the cross country season a week, it also disproportionately affects the winter soccer season, which would then start two weeks prior to the state XC meet, perhaps limiting participation of multi-sport athletes.

"We're still in the middle of evaluating which way works best," said Ozuna. "There's positive and negative aspects with every opinion and every option, but we'll leave it up to our board of directors to make the final decision."

Ozuna believes a decision will be made by the end of April. If the meet is shifted to the second Saturday in November, district and regional meets would also shift so there would not be a prolonged gap in between. But that also means the season itself would start a week later, increasing the overlap with cross country and soccer, something that may just be the best option the FHSAA has for this upcoming year.

"Tallahassee and Leon County is a running community," said Brian Hickey, Director of Sports for Leon County Tourism, who is in talks with the FHSAA in finding a resolution that benefits all parties. "The state of Florida is, but be it track and field, cross country, distance running, we've had a long history of it. Cross country has emerged recently with the growth of events in significant part to Apalachee Regional Park. This will be the second time we've hosted an NCAA Regional, we look forward to hosting ACC (championships), and (host) the cross country state championship potentially a third year in a row. We'd love to have that back."

Hickey doesn't foresee any problems with Tallahassee hosting on the weekend of Nov. 14-15, especially since both university's football teams will not have home games. It is an economic boon for the city to want to host.

"It is an event that does create a direct visitor spending for our community," Hickey said. "It's pushing over $1 million of impact just that weekend. Having an ability to host an NCAA Regional and the state cross country meet in one weekend would be an incredible visitor impact for our community."

What is widely known is the appeal Apalachee Regional Park has created for runners across the state as a true test involving hills, trails, flat stretches and areas of technical strategy on various terrains. ARP has also hosted pre-state the past two years as part of the FSU Invitational, and FSU cross country coach Bob Braman has worked closely with the Tallahassee Parks and Recreation Department to create a stunning cross country environment for all involved.

"We love that Apalachee Regional Park has been developed for the experience of runners and coaches, first and foremost," Hickey said. "We've really begun to implement the spectator aspect to it, having a Jumbotron, having the ability for coaches to be back on two-thirds of the course, having access for spectators to see the one-mile (mark) and other opportunities. It's a venue that was developed in mind for the athlete and also running events. It's been a great opportunity for our community and Leon County to do this in partnership. We've had great success and hope to continue it."