History of the Meet
The Mid-East Cross Country Championship race is held each November in Kettering, Ohio. It all began in 1987, when a group of individuals from our neighboring states decided to have a race to see who had the best distance runners in the region. The race has featured various states throughout the years, but the states of Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio have been there since the beginning. The fall of 2016 will mark the 30th annual meet, and we want you to represent Team Illinois!
In the past, Illinois has had many notable participants in the meet. The meet has featured various Olympians, such as Bob Kennedy, Brian Detmer, and Jorge Torres. In the 29 years of the race’s history, the Illinois women have won twice. Both of these wins took place in recent history—2009 and 2011. In 2011, Illinois featured a team that tied for the win, as well as the individual champion in the girls’ race and the individual champion in the boys’ race. Ariel Michalek and Patrick Niyork brought home titles for Illinois! In 2012, the combined team matched Illinois' best overall team finish by taking second place. The boys team tied for first place but lost the tie-breaker to Michigan. We are very excited to continue the upward trend for Team Illinois! We feel that by recruiting more of the top talent in our state, we will better represent the kind of runners we have here in Illinois.
In the past, Illinois has had many notable participants in the meet. The meet has featured various Olympians, such as Bob Kennedy, Brian Detmer, and Jorge Torres. In the 29 years of the race’s history, the Illinois women have won twice. Both of these wins took place in recent history—2009 and 2011. In 2011, Illinois featured a team that tied for the win, as well as the individual champion in the girls’ race and the individual champion in the boys’ race. Ariel Michalek and Patrick Niyork brought home titles for Illinois! In 2012, the combined team matched Illinois' best overall team finish by taking second place. The boys team tied for first place but lost the tie-breaker to Michigan. We are very excited to continue the upward trend for Team Illinois! We feel that by recruiting more of the top talent in our state, we will better represent the kind of runners we have here in Illinois.
Perks and Benefits
_The Illinois Track and Cross Country Coaches Association will pay
for travel, food, and accommodations for the athletes. This means
that as a member of Team Illinois, all of your expenses are paid.
You will travel with the team on a coach bus and enjoy some team
building and bonding experiences you can’t get anywhere else. Many
athletes who represent Team Illinois go on to run in college and
become teammates at their school of choice, or compete against one
another in various meets. The
experience truly mirrors what competing on a college team is like,
and it’s a great opportunity to experience while in high school.
Participating in the Mid-East Cross Country Meet is also a recruiting
opportunity. Many college coaches stop through Ohio on their way to
the NCAA Cross Country Championships.
The MidEast Meet Experience
_The weekend begins Friday morning at the Hinsdale Oasis. There is
also a pickup near Indianapolis along the way. We pack the bus and
head off to Kettering, Ohio. Once there, we check into the hotel and
head to the course for a pre-meet practice. We review the course and
allow athletes their traditional warm-up. Following practice, we
return to the hotel, where we have dinner delivered and spend some
time socializing as a team. The race takes place Saturday morning,
after which there is a banquet and awards ceremony. We typically
leave to return to Illinois around 1:00 pm. You will be issued a
Team Illinois uniform for the race. While the uniform will have to
be returned, you will get to take home some merchandise, varying from
t-shirts to spike bags.
How to Get Involved
Make sure to register before the 2016 Cross Country Season ends! Visit the following link to register!
https://goo.gl/forms/soRWg5qEp4DAafZs2
https://goo.gl/forms/soRWg5qEp4DAafZs2
Notification of Participation
During the 2016 cross country season, the Team Illinois coaches will keep posted on your performances. The final roster is determined by an athlete’s time and place at the IHSA State Meet. If selected, you will be notified in the days following the State Meet.
If you have any questions, please email Coach Lisa Cook at [email protected].
If you have any questions, please email Coach Lisa Cook at [email protected].
More Information
_More information about the meet can be found at the following link:
http://www.oatccc.com/crosscountry/Mideast/WebPages/mideast5.html
http://www.oatccc.com/crosscountry/Mideast/WebPages/mideast5.html