2020 Shore Coaches Invitational Canceled


It was announced Friday afternoon that the Shore Coaches Invitational, the largest cross country invite in New Jersey held yearly at Holmdel Park, has been cancelled.

The news was sent to NJ MileSplit by Meet Director Brian Decker and Shore Track Coaches Association President Todd Briggs in a joint statement. 


Statement From STCA

Given the current restrictions placed on outdoor gatherings, regretfully, the Shore Track Coaches Association is canceling the Shore Coaches Invitational, originally scheduled for October 3, 2020.

To be clear, the STCA does believe even under current state guidelines, the cross country season and smaller meets can and should proceed. The Shore Track Coaches Association will continue to monitor the state guidelines. If at some point, it becomes possible to host an Invitational at Holmdel Park throughout the 2020 season, the association will do all it can to set one up. The STCA thanks all the schools who have raced the Shore Coaches Invitational in the past and we look forward to hosting the meet next Fall, on its traditional weekend, hopefully without restrictions.

With Regards,

Brian Decker, Shore Coaches Invitational Meet Director

Todd Briggs, President, The Shore Track Coaches Association


The Shore Coaches Invitational, which would have celebrated its 49th meet this year, has been a staple in New Jersey since 1970. Usually run on the first Saturday in October, this is the first year since 1976 that the meet won't be held. It also wasn't held in 1971. 

2019 Results & Meet Coverage

Outside of Monmouth County, this is the one chance for teams in New Jersey to gain racing experience on the NJSIAA State Championship course at Holmdel Park during the regular season. Last fall, over 4,800 athletes recorded times over the 27 races. 

The Shore Coaches meet has used three different sites since its inception. It began in 1970 at Ocean County Park in Lakewood before moving to Brookdale Community College in Lincroft from 1974-1978. In 1979, it moved to Holmdel Park and has remained there ever since.

The meet not only attracts most of the state's top teams and runners, it often brings in talent from outside New Jersey's borders as well. The girls course record was destroyed in 2018 by New York's Katelyn Tuohy when she ran a course record 16:21 on the historic Holmdel Park 3.1 mile course. The boys course record also came from the Shore Coaches Invitational back in 2011 when Edward Cheserek, running for St. Benedict's Prep, clocked 14:53.