Jim Ryun Invitational by Adidas 2012

Day two of the 2012 Jim Ryun Invitational kicked off at Holloway Park in Lakeland and the general consensus among runners was that the course was tough with the hills and sand scattered throughout. The times might not have been record shattering, but hey this is Florida, and these runners weren't used to a "real" cross country course. Mike HIll and Chris Kail of Elite Timing had the meet on track and rolling along great. Meet director Paul White described the event as a success and thanked God for the great weather. The racing was great as well as two runners won for another week, while several others had breakthrough performances.

The day finally came! After what seemed like forever--but really was only a few months--a new cross country course was born out of nothing. All summer we have covered the plans as they progressed at Central Florida's newest venue and out of an old phosphate mine that laid unused for forty years was born what will in time become one of the finest venues in the Southeastern United States. How did it live up to the hype?

Jacob Thomson lets it out as he crosses the line well ahead of Jacob Burcham in KY!  Arcadia is back and looking very solid while Kaylee Flanagan looks scary good in IL! (Photo by Jonathan Grooms)

The greatly expanded Jim Ryun Invitational goes off this weekend and it is opening day for the highly anticipated new Holloway Park course. Forty-six high schools, seven colleges, and nine middle schools will be competing in Lakeland on Friday and Saturday. It will be some of the top high school competition we have seen to date this season.

Ready or not, here it comes! There is a brand new cross country course springing up in Polk County and its potential is immense. The raw piece of land is starting to take shape, as its opening day quickly closes in. The Jim Ryun Invitaitonal will be held at the not-yet-opened private park on September 14-15, 2012.