The Berry Invitational seems ready to roll, all things status quo with Coach Deaton back in charge of all the festivities after a couple of weeks of uncertainty. I and the community here at gatfxc.com are relieved to hear the good news. This has always been a special meet with the backdrop of the Appalachian Mountains clearly in sight and might I add a few reputedly haunted areas within a warm down.
Rumor is, a few teams that make the annual trek have pulled out, but, the competition will be as intense as ever as teams from all over the state, as well as our neighbors in Alabama and Tennessee who will be in attendance seeking to take home Georgia bounty. According to posts on the Forum there have been course changes which may make an already fan-friendly venue even more so with the mile-markers being within very close proximity to each other. Most of the major powers in the state will be competing excluding Collins Hill and a few others. Berry has always been a good measuring stick of a team's summer conditioning. One really should not be too swayed by a team's performance other than this factor, as many programs are geared solely to peak at State.
If you have never ran at Berry, you are certainly in for a treat of color, music blaring over the pa throughout the races, an army of volunteers, including alumni of Georgia HS Cross Country now representing Berry serving as course monitors. Revel in it, if you are senior in your last run at Berry or a freshman experiencing the pageantry for the first time. Most importantly, relax, have fun and compete. Results should be posted on the site after 8pm on Saturday. We welcome images being submitted from this meet and reports on the Forum.