Once I heard that the State Course was returning to Elkins, I was very disappointed. Being a long distance runner in West Virginia is difficult enough even with having a fast course, let alone probably the slowest state course in the nation. Elkins is a great course, don't get me wrong, but not a state caliber course. It is great because it is what a cross country course should be, but with the trend of faster state courses, the return to Elkins leaves us even more in the dust of the rest of the nation's distance runners. Just picture this, a coach is going through all the state results, not knowing how extremely difficult our course is, except for a small section that says difficult course or water crossing. What do you think that coach will think? I've talked to some college coaches in and out of the state and they said if they didn't know how difficult that course is, they probably would just skip over the times. How fair is that to the hard working distance runners in the state? I haven't trained to be overlooked. From what I have heard, the return to Elkins was a two year bid, but I think it should be under serious consideration to change it to one year and move it to a faster course for the 2001 Cross Country Season. A move back to Williamstown, in my opinion, would probably be the best choice, because Williamstown is the closest course that is as fast as other state courses. Williamstown is even considered hilly to out of state coaches, so what would they consider Elkins as? I personally have heard the concern over why Elkins was chosen. I've been told that they had a very good presentation. I'm hoping this decision wasn't based on politics, because the future of distance running in West Virginia is hanging in the balance.

If anyone has anytime please check out my suggestion for a change in qualifying standards for Track.

Click here to see the suggestion.

Thanks for Listening

Keith Rand
Morgantown High School