For the first time in four years, cross country runners in Oglethorpe County will have the chance to compete on their own turf.
The Fast Feet XC Summer Series will host a public 2-mile race at the new cross country course at Oglethorpe County Middle School on Saturday, June 27.
While not a GHSA event, the race serves as a grand opening for the course, which was completed in the spring.
The new venue was a much-needed upgrade for Oglethorpe’s running community and school programs. It replaces the old cross country course at OCHS, which crossed roads and sections of pavement, preventing the school from hosting home meets.
The course has three variants tailored for different levels of competition: a 3.1-mile high school course, a 2-mile middle school course and a 1-mile route designed for the recreation department.
OCHS cross country coach Brandon Adams and assistant coach Darrius Tompkins designed, cleared and built the course using personal and other equipment with help from alumni and others.
“We're trying to keep it cut,” Adams said. “Maybe people from the community want to use it; it's there for people to use.”
The middle and high school teams have begun to train on the course. Saturday’s race will allow athletes to simulate and experience a race environment without having to travel.
“It gives the kids an opportunity to run in a race close to home,” Adams said.
Several other area schools, including Commerce, Hart County and Lincoln County are expected to enter runners. Adams said he’s extended invitations to other schools as well.
“Practice is practice, but being in a race and that adrenaline is different,” Adams said.
The race also remains open to the public.
Adams expects a 50-person field, but said that number could reach 75-100 runners with the addition of local running groups and other runners.
“Part of our goal is to kind of build that (community) and get people outside and spend time together as a family outside and not just sitting at home on screen time and stuff like that,” Adams said.
Saturday's course will utilize a specialized 1-mile loop that weaves different segments from all three course variants. Runners will complete two full laps to cover the official 2-mile race distance.
The race will start and finish on the soccer field. The course exits the field and climbs a hill into the woods surrounding the school.
It continues downhill toward the retaining pond, reaching its lowest point around the one-third mile mark. After circling the pond, the course continues alongside the school’s outer parking lot road back toward the soccer field.
The second lap starts with a loop around the soccer and softball fields, taking runners to the berm parallel to Highway 22. The course then turns right near the school property line before merging back with the first lap’s route.
The race will finish at the south side of the soccer field, and the top 10 male and female finishers will be recognized and receive medals.
“The fact that, even your biggest rivals that you trash talk, might not stand to see them win, but still, at the end of the race, you celebrate together,” Adams said. “You support each other because you know the harder you push them, the harder they push you, the better you make them, the better they make you.”