Masters Cross Country Championships to be held at John Hunt Park
MADISON – The best of the best and all the rest will be here in the Tennessee Valley this Saturday as the Huntsville Sports Commission is hosting the USATF Masters Cross Country Championships at John Hunt Park. Participants from all across the country will converge onto the manicured running trail in southwest Huntsville for what promises to be a spectacular day of trail running.
The 5K distance race will feature both individual and team competition with the women’s division starting at 8:30 a.m. and the men’s division sprinting from the start line at 9:30 a.m.
Fresh off his fantastic performances at the Senior World Championships in Utah, Madison’s Drew Bell is scheduled to take part in this elite runners’ extravaganza and encourages others, no matter what talent level, to register and have fun with this event so close to home.
“You don’t have to quality, you don’t have to travel, it’s here,” said Bell, the 60year old who won one gold medal, three silver medals and one bronze medal at the Huntsman Senior World Games last month. “This event is a great chance to meet people, represent Alabama, take the family and impress your kids and grandkids.’
The cross country course at John Hunt Park is more flat than not, and is in pristine condition. There are many diverse, open areas for spectators to catch the action. Parking is plentiful and easy access to both the course and parking is one of the advantages of hosting this event at John Hunt Park.
For Bell, the longtime educator and coach at James Clemens High before he retired last year, participates in numerous races around the world and many of his events are on a track setting while others are road-type courses, which, many times includes off-road trails. He added, “I can do both cross country and track courses and I’m ready for this event. I’ve done many repeats of the course in my training, plus it’s my birthday weekend, so what a great birthday gift this would be if I can run well in my hometown area.”
Bell indicated the first 800 meters can be difficult on runners, but the middle mile of the course is the toughest as runners will have to really work on their concentration as there are many turns that lead to what could be considered a big hill just after the two-mile point of the course. At the top, runners will drive home the final 1,000 meters of the course that is slightly downhill.
“That’s my plan and the way I’ve coached for this layout and have been very successful with many of my student-athletes running well on this course,” said Bell, who’s now retired, but works part-time at Running Lane in Huntsville.
The Masters Cross Country Championships were held in Boulder, Co. in 2024 and in San Francisco last year. North Alabama will present the participants and their families a positive experience they won’t soon forget.
