top of page
Search

Week 5: AT&T Starrs Mill Preview

Writer: Derek Distin
Derek Distin
Sep 3
4 min read

Hello Jr Cougar Nation!


Quick reminder to all parents.  If you've read the W's already, please feel free to skip below this section to the preview (GREEN HIGHLIGHT)

----


This week we travel to Fayetteville for the AT&T Starr's Mill meet.  Another first time meet for JRCXC, we'll be on a brand new course for our runners.  


Here's what you need to know, all the W's:

Who: all runners are invited.

Where: ONE Church campus. (2130 Redwine Rd., Fayetteville, GA 30215)

When: Saturday, Sep 5 at 10:35am.  Be sure to arrive no later than 9:20 so your runner is checked in, tagged, and ready to warm-up by 9:50.  

What: There are two races in the morning.  All girls will race at 10:35, followed by all boys at 10:55.  There are no separate JV/V races at this meet, but we will select the runners who will wear the Varsity jerseys throughout this week.  Everyone should bring their yellow JRCXC jerseys no matter what.

What's Special this week:  This is the second of our Cougar Nation meets - meaning our high school will also race at the same event!  We will set up tents near each other and encourage everyone who can to come early and cheer on the CHS runners (nearly all of whom are former JRCXC runners) for a fun morning. CHS will begin their races early in the morning this week

Also special this week:  We have preordered Chick-fil-a sandwiches for our runners.  These will be delivered around the start of the first middle school race, so you will be able to grab a sandwich for your runner for the drive home.  

Weather: It's September, it will be another warm Saturday.  We have a heat-mitigation strategy for our runners for warm-ups and during the race.  Bring plenty of water, sunscreen, and I would suggest a camping chair as well.  

(a)Wards: Top 20 runners will receive medals in the chutes, and the top 10 runners for each team 1st-3rd will receive a team medal.  Awards will begin immediately following the last middle school race.

  • $10 per spectator - cash or online via square  

  • Encouraging parents/spectators to purchase admission ahead of time and have the transaction pulled up on phone to speed up the line coming into the parking lot.  You can click on this link:

  • No separate fee for parking. There is ONE fee, per spectator.  Runners do not have to be paid for.

-------


Preview for this week

This is another new course for our squad.  A course review shows a beautiful campus with a large lake that we will loop twice.  Should be ample opportunity for cheering and getting photos.  The start and finish are the highest points of the course, meaning we will have a downhill start and an uphill finish.  

It's another opportunity for a bunch of XC debuts.  Almost 30 of our registered runners have never toed the line before, so we're excited to watch them get out on the course and put some training to work.  Nothing feels more draining than your first race, but nothing says "I do Hard Things" more than completing that first race.  It will be a great day for cheering!!!


Competition-wise, we will once again see some elite club teams in Great Strides, Cherokee Youth Track and the Jr Hawks.  We will be competitive on the boys side, but probably fighting for some 3rd place medals.  Our strong 8th grade pack will challenge for some top-20 finishes.  This will also be our first look at Beacon Hill, a squad we've seen at State several years in a row.


On the girls side, we would traditionally be favored in this race.  However, we have an opportunity to allow a few 8th graders to run in the high school JV race for experience, so we will be down a few runners.  It's an EXCELLENT opportunity for some younger runners to step in to fill the void.  I still expect a top-3 team challenge for this squad.  We will see strong runs from Great Strides, JR Hawks and the Junior Bucs.


I sent this in the GroupMe last week, but posting here as well: 


------


Final Reminders for Saturday:

Address: ONE Church campus. (2130 Redwine Rd., Fayetteville, GA 30215)

First meet?  You will need more time than you think.  Plan on arriving in enough time to have ~10 minutes to park, ~5 minutes to walk, and ~10 minutes for your runner to get checked in and ready.  That's 20-25 minutes BEFORE we start warming-up AT A MINIMUM.  We will head out with the girls for warmups at 9:50.  If your runner is late, they will have to check in at the tent and come find us on the course.


Look for the big yellow Junior Cougars tent and flag, and the neon orange Support Team shirts.

COUGAR NATION ALERT!!!  Chattahoochee HS Cougars XC will race in the morning before us.  Please consider coming early as part of Cougar Nation to cheer them on!  So many of these runners are former JRCXC, and we are finally fortunate enough to have an opportunity to work together alongside the high school coaches and runners.  


Looking forward to a great Saturday!  Cougar On!

-Coach Derek & Coach Cross

Comments

bottom of page