Before the meet

• Be sure to sign up on SportsEngine - for each meet.

 

What events to participate in?​

• In Cross County, the event distance is based on age division. (8U - 2000m, 9-14 - 3000m) 

 

What to wear?

• Athletes should wear their Walton-Pope uniform singlet to all meets with blue shorts.  (Tip: pack your bag the night before)  You can also wear your Walton-Pope tech shirt or pullover over your singlet to keep your body temperature up.  Wearing our gear also makes us look like a team!  We’ll sit together and in most cases have our team tent up.

  • Early in the season you may not have a uniform, and that's OK!  

  • We try to maintain a small stock of uniform singlets. 

• Please make sure that your athlete does not show up to the meet wearing only their uniform and their spikes or racing shoes.

  • In cool weather, they should have the team warm-up or, at minimum, another t-shirt or shorts to wear over their uniform.

  • They should also have their racing shoes along with their (optional) spikes.

• They should warm up in their running shoes and then put their (optional) spikes on when they’re ready to race.

• Once the race is over, remove their spikes (if wearing) and put on their regular training shoes.

 

Day of the meet

• You’ll want to arrive about an hour before your estimated start time. ​

  • Take into account the time it takes to park and walk to the team area. We want you in the team area (tent, grand stands, etc.) an hour before your estimated start time. At some meets parking can be a mess and it may take you a little while to get into the venue and find us.

• There will be a Schedule of Events for each meet on our meet information page.​

  • In Cross Country, the event estimates are usually much closer to reality.  Each race takes 10-45 minutes, depending on age division and distance.

• Some families will arrive for their event and leave right afterwards.  Other families stay and cheer for their teammates.

• Some families will arrive late for their event and rush like crazy to get their athlete ready and to the starting line (sometimes wondering why the coaches don't drop everything to help them.)  Don't be that family.

 

Meet Logistics

• Prepare to start driving early to arrive on time.  Please arrive 1-hour before your event to give yourself time to find the team tent or flag, get your packet/bib#, and to give your athlete time to warm up.

• Parents can help by listening for the calls for each event and making sure their athletes are where they need to be

• Find your coaches when you arrive. A coach will almost always be at the meet to guide athletes and get them checked in.  

• Check-in with the coaches to get your bib # and timing chip (if applicable for the event/meet).  The coaches will pick up the team packet of bib #'s.  Find the team tent, team banner, or a coach, to get your bib #.

• Find the team tent.  Look for the Walton-Pope flag.  Look for your teammates.  In Cross Country, there is usually a "team tent area" where you can find us.  

• Bring an extra chair or two just in case

• Bring something to do (read a book, listen to music, or other quiet activities)

• Bring sunscreen, water, snacks. You can also bring some money for concessions. 

 

Warm-up!

• Athletes need to warm up before they race. They should have little beads of sweat on their heads before they actually race if they want to have their best performance.

• Perform the same warm-up that we do in practice.  You don't have to do all the drills we do; do the ones that make you feel ready to run fast!

• Coaches, if available, will gather the athletes prior to their event to help them warm up.  Ultimately, athletes should learn how to warm up on their own.  This warm-up starts 30-45 minutes before the scheduled start of their event.

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Nutrition

• Athletes should also start hydrating the day before the event.  Make sure they drink plenty of fluids and please no energy drinks like Red Bull!  Athletes should be sure to hydrate the week of a meet but not overdo it the day of a meet. A small bottle of water the day of a race is adequate (and more afterward).  Athletes should eat their last meal a couple of hours before a race and only have healthy snacks up to race time.

• Meet days can be long.  Bring snacks and drinks.  There may not be a concession stand at every meet.

• When not competing, athletes should be resting (in the shade!) for their next event.