Track & Field and Cross-Country Bulletin for Sep 28, 2017
Two Loudoun Valley Viking runners are among the leading finishers during last year's GAXC Nike ROC. Loudoun Valley HS, 3rd last year, is the anticipated pre-race favorite in '17.
GAXC and HBCU Challenge harriers preparing to take off
We're less than two weeks away from the 2017 Great American Cross Country Festival and Cedric Walker HBCU Challenge! The festivities are set for Saturday, October 7 at WakeMed Soccer Park 
in Cary, N.C. | REGISTER NOW
GAXC, in the 2nd year of its renewed partnership with Nike, is the Official NXN Southeast Pre-Regional Meet. Top teams from many of the NXN SE states will be competing in the boys' and girls' Nike Race of Champions and testing themselves on the challenging layout before the Nov. 25 NXN SE meet.
We are pleased to welcome the squads from Kingwood HS in Texas, which were displaced by Hurricane Harvey and should contend in both Nike ROC races. Check out their story HERE.
The boys' Nike ROC field is led by the nation's early-season #1 team: Loudoun Valley HS (VA), which was 3rd here last year and has been paced by transfer Sam Affolder. But also look for local powerhouse Green Hope (NC), a perennial contender here, to fight for their first title -- as well as top Florida power Bolles HS. Individually, NBN All-American and Penn Relays mile champ Dalton Hengst is one of the top individuals, as is Georgia champ Jacob McLeod.
The girls' Nike ROC field is led by the always strong squad from Blacksburg, VA - which captured the '16 ROC title and could repeat - as well as Lawton Chiles FL, Cardinal Gibbons NC, Bolles FL and Huntsville AL. Among the top individuals: '16 3rd-place finisher Sasha Neglia (17:39) and new sub-18 performer (on this course) Natalie Tyner (17:47).
In the Cedric Walker HBCU Challenge, all four defending team and individual champions will be in the house to try and retain their crowns: North Carolina A&T State's men and individual champ Trey Simons (Morehouse), and Hampton's women and individual champ Darroneisha Lott (Coker College).
The NSAF is very grateful for its title sponsor - Nike - as well as the other generous supporters for whom our races have been named: The Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance, the Town of Cary, Primo Water, Roll Recovery, Agogie and the Bone and Joint Surgery Clinic.
They will be joined by two of our newest sponsors; Gatorade, which will be providing recovery drinks and other product at the meet; and CyroMAX, which will be handing out ice packs at the finish line. All are huge forces behind the success of this event.
Dunamis and NSAF launching indoor Super Meet in Georgia
The NSAF announced last month it has partnered with Dunamis Sports Group and LakePoint Sports to host the new indoor Dunamis Super Meet in Georgia -- set for Feb. 8-11, 2018, in Emerson, GA (30 min. NW of Atlanta) | PRESS RELEASE
Top athletes from around the country will compete in high school, collegiate, youth, open and master's events. The full schedule, entry fees and other details will be announced soon. This will be the first major indoor meet in Georgia since the USATF meet at the Georgia Dome in 2001.
Cedric Walker Development Grants available
Calling all coaches ... especially those in the hurricane-stricken areas of Texas and Florida: We have extended the deadline through this week (Sept. 30) to submit your application for a 2017 Cedric Walker Development Grant, honoring the late, great NSAF board member, coach and mentor. Can your team or club use some $$$ for equipment, and other needed resources? Go HERE to read about the grant and Cedric. Then apply HERE!
Project Javelin, Triple Jump clinics continue
The NSAF's Project Javelin Gold and Project Triple Jump athletes -- which got off to a great collective start for 2017-18 at our Sioux Falls clinic with Sanford POWER -- are continue to prepare for the season ahead with their respective fall and winter clinics.
Project Triple Jump held its annual Bahamas clinic in Nassau over Labor Day weekend, with great beach and ocean workouts the highlight, and happily finishing up before the onset of Hurricane Irma. Next up for the jumpers is a return to IMG Academy in Bradenton, FL for a November 2-5 clinic that will get athletes ready for the indoor and early outdoor campaigns. We're thrilled that Olympian and former world-record holder Willie Banks will be joining us again.
Project Javelin, meanwhile, is preparing for another clinic at East Stroudsburg, PA -- home of our American JavFest and a favorite fall training spot. Joining our great coaching staff on the Oct. 12-15 weekend will be Kimmo Kinnunen, the 1991 World Champ from Finland and host of our clinics in that nation. Then before the '18 outdoor season commences, we will head back to Baton Rouge and the outstanding LSU facilities for a January clinic.
The clinics are open to all throwers, jumpers and coaches and we look forward to seeing you there!
Great deals from NSAF partners
- Coaches: You can participate in the ALTIS Foundation Course at a discounted rate. Sign up now using Discount Code NSAF17 | More Details
- Agogie wearable resistance pants strengthen & supports your natural movements. Become stronger, faster, and more explosive while doing what you love. Check them out!
Ask an Expert with Sanford Sports Science Institute
The National Scholastic Athletic Foundation's new partnership with Sanford Health and the Sanford Sports Science Institute now includes a new online educational feature called "Ask an Expert." Check out the full story and how to get your question answered HERE.
