Ready For Some XC?

This is the big kick-off weekend for not just the NFL, but also most the high school cross country programs in the New York metropolitan area.

Heavy rains brought a change in the schedule down at Freedom Park in Randolph, N.J., which also means that Armory Track will be providing in-person coverage from Van Cortlandt Park, where both the Fordham Fiasco and a CHSAA meet will be taking place.

Initially the plan was to cover the Randolph Invitational on Friday night, but that event is now going to be under the lights on Saturday. Among the runners will be Bronxville's young star Mary Cain, who recently admitted to Kyle Brazeil at MileSplit that she didn't run with the utmost confidence last fall as it was her first season of cross country. She hopes to have "a more competitive cross country season."

Also, we are calling upon you to help us out this fall. If you are at one of the following meets and can help with reporting results or emailing us some photos, the place to contact us is armory@armorytrack.com. Results and highlights from the meets will be available on the event pages when we get them. Here are some links to help you get ready for the season:

• Fayetteville Manlius girls' feature
• Shaker boys' feature
• Christian Brothers Academy boys' feature
• New York State boys' rankings
• New York State girls' rankings
• New Jersey boys' rankings (njrunners.com)
• New Jersey girls' rankings (njrunners.com)

Friday Night

Dash in the Dark

The Dash In the Dark consists of relay races, run at night, under the lights. The races will be run on a spectator friendly course consisting of grass. Each school enters teams of three runners. Each runner will run a 3,200-meter leg (two-1,600 meter loops) and then hand off the baton to their teammate. The magic of this event is in runners of all calibers competing as a team in a unique relay distance at night. Kick off the 2011 season in style.

Randolph Invitational

UPDATE: THIS RACE HAS BEEN MOVED TO SATURDAY DUE TO HEAVY RAIN

Also a night-time event, Randolph runs three varsity races each for boys and girls as well as sub-varsity races. The course consists of two loops around Freedom Park, which is lit by a combination of permanent light structures as well as rentals. Forty-four teams from New Jersey and eight from New York will toe the line on Friday.

Top New York teams competing include St. Anthony''s, Bronxville, North Rockland, Newburgh and Somers. Voorhees, the top-ranked girls'' squad in New Jersey, will be racing in Varsity B while Mary Cain and Bronxville will run in the C race.

Saturday

Blackbird Invitational

The races — featuring varsity and junior varsity squads — will be contested over 5,000 meters of wooded trails and open fields, rolling hills and a moderate uphill that is run twice. Coach and spectator friendly with many opportunities to see the runners during the race, the mile markers are within close proximity to the start/finish area.

Usually about a dozen Section 2 teams kick off their season here and last fall the Mayfield boys and Vooreesville girls won the varsity races.

Central Square Invitational

The course is 3.1 miles of wooded trails with open grass fields and some moderate hills. Spikes are advised for this spectator-friendly course. The host school won both varsity races in a field of 10 last year.

Cherokee Challenge

More than 50 teams will converge in Marlton for 10 races, all separated by grade. The race distance is 3,200 meters, which is a great way to start the season. This year's meet is once again a "who's who" among New Jersey cross country. Last year Mile Schoedler of Ocean City set a course record by running 9:28. Megan Lacy of Cherokee ran 10:53, the best time of the day last year.

CHSAA Practice Meet

Traditionally a boys-only scrimmage style meet for CHSAA teams, the girls' races were added last year. Still just four races — freshman (1.5 miles) and jayvee (2.5 miles) — the meet runs just about an hour, starting at 1 pm. Last year Ryan Phillips of Regis won in 13:43 and Colleen Schmidt of Holy Trinity claimed the girls' race in 17:06.

Dave Forbes Invitational

Two varsity and two junior varsity races make up the schedule on this 2.8-mile course with hills, flats, grass, water, hay bales and little blacktop. Racing flats or short spikes are suggested. Last year seven or eight teams raced here with Maine-Endwell sweeping both varsity races. Maine-Endwell is picked N.Y. State pre-season No. 10 by Armory Track.

East Syracuse Minoa Invitational

The meet was contested last October on a course that is listed as an "interesting, European style 5k." Four races are contested started at 9 am and finishing around 11 am. Last year East Syracuse-Minoa and Tully won the four varsity titles. With the earlier date this year, one can expect some different teams to compete from the 10 or so that were there last year.

Ed Springstead Invitational

Eight races will be contested on the day with both the varsity and junior varsity squads running  the 3.04-mile course. The NYS No. 1 boys from Shaker host the meet, so this will be everyone's first opportunity to see how the mighty Bison look. Last year Queensbury, Shenendehowa and many other Section 2 powers also raced. The Queensbury girls won the varsity title.

Guilderland Invitational

Billed as similar to Bowdoin Park, the site of N.Y. Federations and NXN Regionals, Tawasentha Park will be the site of the 41st running of this invitational. Both the varsity and jayvee competitions are run on a short 2.7-mile course. Eight races will take place from 9 am until after 1 pm, beginning with freshman and finishing with varsity. About 20 teams competed last year and team titles went to Burnt Hills and Thousand Islands on both the boys and the girls sides.

JFK 4K Classic

Located in the middle of Erie County, this meet is easily accessible to most Section 6 Buffalo area teams. The course has been designed as a mix of groomed trails and open fields, which makes it both coach- and spectator-friendly. Four races comprise the schedule with the jayvee girls starting things off at noon. The junior varsity boys, then varsity girls and boys follow every 30 minutes later. The East Aurora boys and girls — each ranked in the Armory Track pre-season polls — won the team titles last year.

New Hartford Invitational

The grassy course brings runners across school grounds and athletic fields with three major hill climbs, two which are steep. Runners do cross pavement, but only briefly. The course is spectator-friendly, bringing runners in view of spectators four times during the varsity race. Leone Timing will be on hand for results. There is an open community fun run, followed by middle school races, jayvee races and, finally, varsity races. The meet is being held five weeks earlier than last year so the field should be expected to be quite different. One would also expect performances to be slower than later in the season. Last year the Saratoga Springs boys' squad edged out CNS, 34-44, while the CNS girls defeated a Saratoga girls' team that was resting most of its top runners. More than a dozen teams competed last year.

Oswego Laker Invitational

Originally a college-only meet, this event added high school races a few years ago and now alternates high school and college races the whole day. Sitting on the shore of Lake Ontario, the course does roll a bit, but the primary challenge can be the legendary Oswego wind. The Ithaca women and Oswego State men won the college races a year ago.

PTXC 3 (Presented by Puma)

Founded by Don Rich of PA Track/XC, this meet continues to grow. With close to 50 Pennsylvania teams attending this year, it will once again be a meet to watch.

Rob Breen Invitational

The meet has been cancelled this year because of storm damage caused by Hurricane Irene.

South Jefferson Invitational

Just south of Watertown off of I-81, this course consists of 12-foot wide mowed grass trails, school athletic fields and fine gravel paths. With flat to hilly terrain, spikes are recommended for all runners. Last year 12 to 15 teams competed and the Beaver River boys took the team title. Canton edged Liverpool in the girls' race.

Stephen A. Warde Invitational

A college meet — held on the campus of SUNY Cobleskill — offers some pretty challenging hills. Last year's meet — with more than a dozen schools in the field — was won by the RIT men and Utica College women.

Washingtonville Wizard Invitational

Eight races will be run on the campus of Washingtonville High School. This early-season meet — offering eight different races — always includes quality teams. Last year Arlington, Pine Bush and Brewster were all there with Arlington sweeping the varsity titles. Holly Cavalluzzo of Valley Central — who placed 12th at NYS Federations last year and ran 4:36 for 1,500 meters this spring — is the defending girls' champion.

Windsor Invitational

This eight-to-10-team Section 4 invitational is contested mostly on grass. The varsity course spans 5,000 meters but the jayvee runners tackle a shorter 2.1-mile path. Last year the Horsehead boys won the team title while Elmira took the girls crown.