Foot Locker Info

The event referred to as Foot Locker is held on Thanksgiving weekend (Saturday,

November 25th this year) at Van Cortlandt Park, Bronx, New York. It is the Northeast

Regional qualifying race for the Foot Locker Cross Country National Championships at

Balboa Park, California on December 9th. Unlike every cross country race you have been

to this year (except the Mud Run), this is a race for individuals in grades 9 through 12.

Every serious cross country runner in the Northeast will be there. Many college coaches

will be there or will check out the results online. This races gives them a chance to

compare runners from different states head-to-head. The Northeast Regional includes

Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New

York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, D.C. and U.S. Overseas Military

Installations.

There are five races for girls: Freshman Girls, Sophomore Girls, Junior Girls, Senior Girls

and Seeded Girls — and the same for boys. The on-time entry fee is $12.00 by November

10th. You do not specify which race you are entering on the entry form: you simply line

up for that race. You can pick up your number the morning of the race. But get there

early; the lines are long. The seeded races include runners from every grade; the grade

races do not. The top 24 runners in each race receive a medal. Only ten runners from

each seeded race qualify for Nationals. Their trip to California is paid for, and they receive

uniforms and many other wonderful things.

For more information, go to footlockercc.com and click on Northeast, then choose from

the drop-down menu items. Information about Van Cortlandt Park can be found here.

The best place to stay is in a small town north of the Bronx called Elmsford. It is just

across the Hudson River off of 287. There are two motels there: the Extended Stay

America White Plains-Elmsford for about $139/night and the Hampton Inn White Plains/

Tarrytown for about $129/night. Make your reservations early. There are two wonderful

restaurants nearby — a diner and an Italian restaurant (takeout available). From Elmsford,

it is just a twenty minute drive down 87 to Van Cortlandt Park. Parking is on-the-street

only (you will probably have to park several blocks away). The course is hard-packed small

stone and the weather is usually cold. Plan to be outside for hours, as there is no inside.

This is a famous cross country course. Many championships are held here, including the

NCAA Regionals.