TALLAHASSEE, Fl. (WTXL) - The point of any running event is to run fast. This weekend in Tallahassee,some of the country's best, including former Olympians, will run in the United States Cross Country Championships.
If you run fast enough,you could find yourself on the World Championship team for the United States. There is a lot of local talent looking to do just that.
Former Chiles standouts Michael Phillips, a two time state champ in cross country, and Matthew Newland, now running at Syracuse and Florida State respectively, both look to seal up a spot on the Junior team Saturday.
"Just to be back on a course I'm super familiar with and people I haven't seen in a while and that I spend a lot of time with while being here and seeing everybody is pretty sweet," said Phillips.
"High school teammates will be here, people in town, it'll be fun," added Newland. "I'm excited. Not really too nervous, because there's not too much on the line, but definitely excited."
The Junior race starts at 11:40 at Apalachee Regional Park. The competition schedule is as follows:
- 8:30 am - Community 5 km
- 9:15 am - Masters Men 8 km
- 10:15 am - Masters Women 6 km
- 11:00 am - Junior Women 6 km
- 11:40 am - Junior Men 8 km
- 12:20 pm - Senior Women 10 km
- 1:10 pm - Senior Men 10 km
