Cabell Midland To Host 2006-2007 State Cross Country Meets

Cabell Midland has been awarded the bid to host the 2006 and 2007 State Cross Country Meets. Presentations were made by Cabell Midland and Mineral Wells during the November Cross Country Coaches' Committee Meetings. In prior years, the Coaches' Committee would vote on the presentations and make a recommendation to the WVSSAC. If my understanding is correct, the Coaches' Committee no longer votes on the site. The vote goes straight to the WVSSAC Board of Directors, making the Cross Country Site selection similar to the site selection for other sports.

As a result, the awarding of the bid had been held off until this past Thursday, January 26th. On January 22nd, the Mineral Wells group, co-chaired by Dorsey Cheuvront and Mike Taylor, withdrew their bid. In their letter of withdrawal, they offered their endorsement to the Cabell Midland bid.

What Does This Mean?

This means several things.
1. It means that the folks in the Eastern Panhandle who thought they had a long way to go before have even futher to go now. For example, Charles Town to Mineral Wells was a 5 Hour and 40 Minute drive (per Yahoo Maps). Charles Town to Huntington runs 6 Hours and 32 Minutes. Berkeley Springs goes from 4 Hours 33 Minutes to 5 Hours 25 Minutes. Of course, a lot of teams will be closer than they were as well.

2. It means that the State Meet will still be held close to the border rather than in the middle of the State.

3. It meams that the State Cross Country Meet will finish on a track (which I don't like).

4. It means that spectators will have a stadium seating view for the finish (which I like very much).

5. It almost assuredly means the end of the outstanding volunteer help provided by the River City Runners Club, who have been invaluable for the last 4 years at the entry gate and the finish chute.

Whether you think these things are good or bad or you're indifferent to them, they're all outweighed by this one last item.

6. It means that the State Cross Country Meet will remain in the hands of people who are truly passionate about the sport and will give the sport and the meet its proper respect.