The NCAA News - News and Features

The NCAA News -- October 26, 1998

Division II

DOUBLE feature

Divisions I and II cross country teams set to perform on same stage

BY SCOTT E. DEITCH
STAFF WRITER

The advice given to cross country fans this year is to pack a picnic lunch and lawn chairs, pick a spot along Jim Ryun Skyline Bend or Glenn Cunningham Finish, and prepare for twice the amount of exciting cross country action.

That's because the NCAA Division I and Division II Men's and Women's Cross Country Championships will be held together for the first time this year.

The four-race package is set for November 23 at Rim Rock Farm in Lawrence, Kansas. Serving as the host schools are the University of Kansas for Division I and Emporia State University for Division II.

The Division I women's race will kick things off at 10:30 a.m. Central time, followed by the Division I men's event at 11:30 a.m.

The Division II men begin at 1 p.m., followed by the Division II women at 2:15 p.m.

The combined-championships concept was the brainchild of Gary Schwartz, head men's and women's cross country and track and field coach at Kansas, and Dave Harris, head men's and women's cross country and track and field coach at Emporia State.

"A big part of Kansas and Emporia State getting to host the championships was the common site and the combined resources we could offer," said Harris. "Emporia State would not have been given the opportunity to host without having a site such as Rim Rock Farm at our disposal."

Indeed, Emporia State is hosting the Division II Men's and Women's Cross Country Championships for the first time. Kansas has not hosted the Division I championships since a two-year stint in 1965 and 1966.

Combining resources

The key component in which the two hosts will be combining resources is personnel. "The meet officials will work all four races," Harris said. "In addition, both schools will play a part in the course preparation."

Schwartz acknowledged that having double the number of championships in one location has not resulted in twice the amount of work.

"When you prepare a course and personnel for one race, you are ready for two, three, or more," he said.

The combined-site idea is not a new one for Divisions I and II track programs. Since 1995, the two divisions have held their indoor track championships concurrently at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis.

And the success of that experience has prompted Division II coaches and student-athletes to look forward to the cross country opportunity.

"My team and I are excited to compete at a first-class facility on the same day as the Division I championships," said Damon Martin, head men's and women's cross country and track and field coach at Adams State College. The Adams State women have won six consecutive Division II cross country titles, and the Grizzlies placed third in the 1997 men's cross country championship.

"As we have discovered with the indoor track championships, just being at the same site as the Division I championships at the same time really adds to the whole atmosphere for Division II athletes and coaches."

Course conditions

Harris said he's not worried about the possibility of more than 500 Division I men's and women's competitors damaging the course either.

"I have no concerns about the course," he said. "At the International Amateur Athletic Federation World Cross Country Championships, I have seen junior championships followed by seniors and the courses have never been much of a factor."

Schwartz indicated that the Rim Rock Farm course, which has been the site of the Kansas Class 5A and 6A high-school cross country championships, will be able to handle the wear and tear of four races in one day.

"Course conditions are always a worry when you host a meet," Schwartz said. "But in my 11 years at Kansas, I have found that this course can take a beating and always come back strong."

Adding to the excitement of the combined championships is the uniqueness of the site, a working farm owned by former Kansas head cross country and track and field coach Bob Timmons. The course includes portions on pastureland and narrow wooded trails, and competitors also run across a covered wooden bridge.

Timmons also has named several sections of the course, including those for Ryun and Cunningham, after well-recognized University of Kansas cross country and track and field greats. Ryun won five NCAA Division I track and field titles from 1967 to 1969, and became the world outdoor record holder in the 880-yard, one-mile and 1,500-meter runs. Cunningham was one of the world's top middle-distance runners during the 1930s, winning two NCAA Division I championships and setting world outdoor records in the 800-meter and one-mile runs.

Also, John Lawson, Kansas' last NCAA men's cross country national champion in 1965, has a hill named after him on the Rim Rock course.