TALLAHASSEE, Fla. --- The Florida High School Athletics Association (FHSAA) cross country championship returns to Leon County’s Apalachee Regional Park for the next two years.
The announcement was made this week by FHSAA Executive Director Dr. Roger Dearing and Leon County Division of Tourism Development (Visit Tallahassee) Executive Director Lee Daniel.
The 2015 FHSAA state championships for boys and girls will be held November 7. Apalachee Regional Park has hosted the event for the past three years. Dates for the 2016 championship meet will be announced later.
“Apalachee Regional Park is one of the nation’s premier cross country facilities that provides a fantastic experience for our student athletes and we are pleased with the continued partnership with Visit Tallahassee and Leon County Schools,” Dr. Dearing said.
Last year, the event attracted 221 teams, 1,480 participants and more than 5,000 visitors to the 140-acre facility.
The FHSAA championship is one of four major cross country meets planned for Apalachee Regional Park in 2015. Others include the Florida State University (FSU) Cross Country Invitational on October 2, the FSU Cross Country Invitational Pre-State Meet for high schools on October 3 and the Atlantic Coast Conference Cross Country Championships on October 30.
“We are delighted that the FHSAA is returning to Apalachee Regional Park,” Daniel said. “We are quite proud that this event showcases some of the state’s finest athletes, our community, Apalachee Regional Park and the sport of cross country.”
The park has already secured the 2016 NCAA South Regional championship meet. It hosted the NCAA South Regional championship last fall.