When hundreds of cross country runners invade the Norris Penrose Event Center in Colorado Springs on Oct. 31 for the state meet, they will discover some tweaks and changes designed to improve the race.
For decades, the site of the state meet has been switched, changed or modified. Coaches have worried about times for college recruiting. And settling on a course and staying there has proven fruitless.
However, the Norris Penrose course has been generally received well and modifications will be in place to keep it sharp and stable.
“There should be a lot less injuries and that should mean a faster race,” said The Classical Academy coach Alan Versaw.
Basically, some rough spots have been smoothed out while still keeping the course challenging.
“I think it’s better for a larger group of kids,” said Versaw, who also oversees the website Colorado MileSplit.
“Certainly, the grind is there, but it’s a course more kids can be generally successful on.”
