The location of Missouri State University’s
cross country facility makes for an ideal
setting championship competition. Located just
minutes from the MSU campus, downtown
Springfield, Mo. and major hotel areas the
facility is bordered by a four-lane highway and
has multiple highway exits serving the
property.
Many wonder how a property such as this remains
undeveloped and our response is “look a little
deeper”. The Missouri State Cross Country
Facility is uniquely located on the surface of a
2-million square foot underground manufacturing
and warehousing development called Springfield
Underground, Inc. Years of limestone mining
have left the perfect environment for
corporations seeking to develop a high security
and climate controlled headquarters underground
while preserving the surface for cross country.
The accessibility of the facility is unmatched
when compared to other major cross country
venues. The property borders four-lane Highway
65 and is sandwiched between historic Route 66
(Kearney St) and Division St. The facility is
also only one mile from Interstate-44.
Multiple highway exits and gated entrances to
the property allow for the traffic demands of a
major sporting event. In fact as many as
115,000 people have been on the property for an
annual July 4th Festival. For cross
country spectators will enter through the south
side gates of the facility, just 1/10 of a mile
from the Division St. exit on Highway 65.
There, a gravel road leads to admissions areas
and space is available for 4,500 cars to park if
needed. Teams will enter the facility from the
north side using the Kearny St. exit off Highway
65. The team gate is just 9/10 of a mile from
Highway 65. Separate team parking is available
on pavement and gravel.
From a logistical standpoint the facility is
well prepared. A fenced lined area can separate
team camps from the course. Open spaces allow
for meet operations including officiating,
medical and media headquarters as well as
merchandise, concessions and areas for other
spectator amenities. WiFi Internet capabilities
are also available on site when needed.
Missouri State’s course is fan friendly. This
European loop style course features wide open
spaces and unobstructed sites lines; perfect for
both spectators and the demands of live TV
should the demand come. Nearly 90% of the race
can realistically be viewed from one main
spectator area on the course. Both 6K and 10K
courses share the same start, halfway and finish
points. The finish stretch was designed to
allow spectators a full view of the final
stretch.
The Start:
The starting line has a width of approximately
100-meters that is able to accommodate a front
line space for each team’s top five runners of
the NCAA championships required width of
50-centimeter per runner (2.5 meters per team).
A common starting line is used for the 6K and
10K courses. From the starting line the initial
straightaway extends 610-meters before the first
turn. The initial straightaway gradually
narrows from approximately 100-meters wide at
the start line to 20 meters wide at the end of
the straightaway. The starting stretch is of
even footing from all starting positions and is
virtually flat with only a six-foot elevation
change through the entire stretch. The first
turn is gradual and the running path will narrow
from 20-meters wide to 15-meters wide through
the first turn.
Race Routes
6,000-meter Race Route
(2 x Long Loop + Finish)
10,000-meter Race Route
(2 x [Short Loop + Long Loop] +
Finis
The
Course:
The various race routes are achieved by using a
series of loops to allow a course that is simple
to follow for athletes, spectators and coaches.
The “short loop” is 2-kilometers and is an oval
around the perimeter of the course. The “long
loop” includes an 1850-meter portion of the
“short loop” with a 1,000-meter inner path
inside the oval totaling 2,850-meters.
The running path is a 100% rolled grass
surface. The running path width is a minimum of
15-meters wide throughout and will be wider
during the first 800-meters of each loop (from
the common starting line). All turns are
gradual and should not cause significant changes
in running rhythm.
The course includes several gradual uphill,
downhill and rolling terrain sections to add a
reasonable challenge. The course has shown to
have a firm running path even in wet
conditions. The land east of the course
continues to drop in elevation preventing water
from pooling anywhere on the running path. The
courses low spot has been graded so that as
water drains from the property there will be no
concentrated water flow on the running path or
in primary spectator areas.
Split
Locations:
The halfway points for both the 6-K and 10-K
courses are at the same point equally 150-meters
from the starting and finish lines. Split mats
will be placed at this halfway point. Other
split locations may be added.
The Finish:
A common finish line is used for both races.
The finishing straightaway extends 300-meters
from the final turn through the same
straightaway used for the start. The finish
line is located on the outside (west) side of
the course to allow spectators to have an
unobstructed view of the finish stretch and
finish line from the main spectator areas.
Course Description:
Short
Loop Description:
From the start runners will run along a straight
and virtually flat stretch for 610-meters that
is approximately 100-meters wide at the start
and 20 meters wide at the end of the stretch.
At that point the first gradual turn begins.
The path along the turn is 20-meters wide and
extends 180-meters before completing a direction
change from south to east. The path is now
15-meters wide as runners then move straight and
downhill for 182-meters before beginning a
gradual turn that continues downhill moving from
east to north over 164-meters. From there
runners run up a reasonable hill completing the
final portion of the previous turn for
91-meters. The uphill portion continues
straight for an additional 170-meters before
runners run along a straight and rolling stretch
moving north for the next 313-meters. At that
point the course gradually turns to the west
over the next 153-meters. The loop is then
completed after a 137-meter straightaway that
runs directly by the start line.
Short Loop Elevation Maps:
Long Loop Description:
From the start runners will run along a straight
and virtually flat stretch for 610-meters that
is 102-meters wide at the start and 20 meters
wide at the end of the stretch. At that point
the first gradual turn begins. The path along
the turn is 20-meters wide and extends
180-meters before completing a direction change
from south to east. The path is now 15-meters
wide as runners then move straight and downhill
for 182-meters before beginning a gradual turn
that continues downhill moving from east to
north over 164-meters. From there runners run
up a reasonable hill completing the final
portion of the previous turn for 91-meters. The
uphill portion continues straight for an
additional 70-meters before turn to the west
entering the courses inner loop. The inner loop
begins by running along the outside of a natural
bowl for 155-meters before going straight and
virtually flat for 120-meters heading southwest.
From there runners turn north uphill for
155-meters along an old fence line towards the
starting stretch. Runners turn gradually to the
north east along a straight a flat then downhill
stretch for 360-meters. From that point runners
begin working their way downhill back to the
outer loop over a distance of approximately
320-meters. Runners then re-enter the east side
straightaway of the outer loop. At the end of
that straightaway the course gradually turns to
the west over the next 153-meters. The loop is
then completed after a 137-meter straightaway
that runs directly by the start line.
Long Loop Elevation Map:
Finish Stretch Description:
From the end of the loops directly by the
starting line, runners turn left across the
initial straightaway along a flat 300-meter
stretch to the finish line.
Note: Elevation maps are meant to be an
approximate representation of the course and are
not to exact scale.
Course maps
10K Map
6K Map
Kilometer
and Mile markers will be displayed on the
course. Men’s course distance signage in blue,
women’s in red.
