This summer, it was brought to the attention of the NJSIAA Cross-Country Committee that Holmdel Park had made several alterations to the long-standing cross-country course. About a six-foot wide strip of macadam runs through the starting line, another crosses the course about 10 yards before the entrance to the woods, and a concrete sidewalk crosses the course just before the entrance to the woods.
Another problem that may not exist at race time in November, is a raised manhole cover to the right of the course about 30 yards before entering into the wooded area. To avoid some athletes from starting on macadam and some on grass, the starting line would have to be moved forward sixteen meters, with a corresponding change in the finish line. If the raised manhole was still there, a cone would be placed there, warning the athletes of the hazard. This would shorten both the starting line and the distance to the entrance of the woods where the course narrows to a few feet wide.
The Committee thought that the compression of the starting "funnel" would make a fair start a lot harder and the hard surfaces, especially in foul weather, could cause problems. These new problems, coupled with the other problems and demands of the Park led the Committee to recommend that the NJSIAA should consider moving the Group Meet and Meet of Champions to another location.
To gather more input, the Committee convened on July 7, 2007, at 10:00 am at the Holmdel Park, after posting on several websites the time, place and purpose of the meeting, and inviting interested cross-country coaches to attend. In addition to the Committee, the following schools were represented:
Cherokee, Colts Neck, Haddonfield, Highland Regional, Hillsborough, Hopewell Valley, McNair Academic, Notre Dame, Randolph, Raritan, Saint John Vianney, Saint Rose, Scotch Plains-Fanwood, Somerville, and Westfield.
After looking over the changes and discussing the possible repercussions with the coaches and the Committee, based on the coaches recommendations NJSIAA will keep the Group Meet and Meet of Champions at Holmdel for 2007, but will continue to monitor the situation.
Don Danser
Assistant Director
Cross-Country Tournament Director.