Great Outdoor Provision Co. presents the Featured Meet of Week 12:

NCHSAA State Championships

(Friday, Beeson Park, Kernersville)

The Meet

The NCHSAA state championship for cross country dates back to 1956, when it was an open-classification meet (all schools competing together); at that time, only boys were allowed to compete. The first 30 years of competition featured a succession of dynastic teams: first Myers Park, then RJ Reynolds, then Chapel Hill. The first championship for girls was contested in 1981 (Chapel Hill won 4 of the first 5 titles), and competition was spllit into separate classifications in 1986. The meet has progressed through four major courses over the years, starting at Finley Golf Course in Chapel Hill for the earliest meets. The competition was shifted to McAlpine Park in Charlotte in 1980, remaining there until relocating to Tanglewood Park in Clemmons for the 2001 season. Beeson Park became the current host three years ago, and the Town of Kernersville hopes to continue holding the meet for the indefinite future.

State Meet History

(via NCPrepTrack.com)

State Meet Records

(via NCHSAA.org)

The Course

In its relatively short lifespan, Beeson Park has become a central part of North Carolina cross country (having the state meet there will do that for a course). It has also been host to conference and regional meets, and will hopefully host more than one invitational next fall. The improvements made on the course by the Town of Kernersville over the past year will be tested this week: after six races this past Saturday, then rain early in the week, the course has to hold up to eight more races on Saturday.

Beeson Park Video Course Walk

(Including course records)

Directions

From the Raleigh area and eastern North Carolina: via Google Maps
From the Charlotte area: via Google Maps
From the Asheville area and western NC: via Google Maps
From Boone and Winston-Salem: via Google Maps
From western Virginia: via Google Maps
From central Virginia: via Google Maps
From eastern Virginia: via Google Maps

Things to Do Outdoors in Winston-Salem

Camping and hiking tips from Great Outdoor Provision Co.
For fishing and wide trails for biking or running, visit Salem Lake (boating not allowed due to construction)
Mountain biking enthusiasts should definitely check out the 7 miles of technical trails at Hobby Park
Paddlers can find interesting runs on the Yadkin River and the Dan River
For boating and fishing, drive south about 30 minutes to High Rock Lake