Sault Area High School’s

26th Annual Elks Lodge #552

Cross Country Invitational

We are pleased that you are running at our 2022 Sault Area High School’s Elks Cross Country Invitational. Please note that there are some changes to the schedule in order to speed the process now that we have gone to chip timing. That being said, we hope you enjoy your trip to the Sault along with the course on our campus and on the Bill Lynn Trail System. It is usually “peak week” for fall colors, making for a pleasant trip and a fast course to run on. Because of the surge of covid we will continue to use chip timing. To be quite honest, we will lose money on this meet, but the safety of the athletes, coaches and spectators must be our first priority.

We spent over $500 on awards this year. These are awards your kids will want to win! Large engraved custom color medals will be given to the first 25 male and female varsity competitors.  We will also give custom medals to the first 10 male and female JV competitors.  Custom ribbons will be given to all middle school athletes.  The top two boys and girls varsity teams in both Division I and II will be awarded large plaques, plus the top boys and girl’s Class D teams. There will be a combined coed middle school team champion and runner up plaques given as well. This year we will have an awards ceremony but ask that you keep some space between your teams and spectators and others. The meet schedule has been tweaked in order to make the meet/awards move more quickly so you will spend less time amongst people who are not on your teams. 

Please park your team busses and cars in the SOUTH lot (closest to the backstop). All spectators are to park in the NORTH lot. Admission fee will be $5 for adults. All students are free. We will have concessions with pizza, water, Gatorade and other goodies (including a really cool T-Shirt to commemorate the 25^th Running of this Invitational) things for sale.

 Coaches’ meeting this year is at NOON at the finish line. Bring any changes to your line-up at that point. Aldridge Timing will be used this year. 

Our goal is to run a competitive and safe meet for Upper Peninsula and Lower Peninsula schools that might not get the chance to compete against each other anywhere else. Directions are attached. If you have any questions, please call me at (906) 632-8222 (home), (906) 440-5301 (cell) or jmartin@eupschools.org  Though the cell number is your best bet to get hold of me. Hope to see you soon……Jim

• 1:00 pm—MS Boys

• 1:25 pm—MS Girls

• 1:50 pm—HS Boys

• 2:30 pm—HS Girls

• 3:30 pm—Awards

• For HS races all will run together but you must declare your top 7 varsity when you post your entries. Varsity/JV will be sorted by the computer. Course maps will be in your packets (about a half a dozen)  Course is behind Sault Area High School. Busses park in the lot by the tennis courts. The reason the MS race is first now is so we have a chance to hand score the teams with our unique co-ed scoring of the MS teams. At this point we are expecting 9 schools (thanks covid) There will be a small and large school division.

• Entry Fee: $100 per school or $10 per athlete (whichever is less).

• Awards are as follows:

•  Custom Ribbons to ALL Middle School Athletes.

•  Custom Medals to Top 10 Male/Female JV Competitors,

•  Custom Medals to Top 25 Male/Female Varsity Competitors.

•  Plaques: Champion and Runner-up Division I and Division II Varsity Boys and Girls Teams.

•  Plaques: Champion and Runner-up Class D Boys and Girls Teams and Middle School Teams.

Directions to the Course:

From the West:

Take M-28 to I-75 North and then follow the directions “From the South”

From the South:

Take I-75 North to exit (#392--Three Mile Road). Turn right and take the I-75 Business Spur to the 5th traffic light (Marquette Avenue) and turn right. Go down the hill to a four way stop. You will see Sault Middle School to your immediate right. Continue about a quarter mile straight ahead and turn right into the high school entrance. Park your bus in any one of the two large parking lots. The starting line is at the backstop on by the skateboard park.

Please Note:  Pick up packets at the finish line. Box assignments will be on envelopes.