The Week Ahead: Big Invitationals Get Going In Georgia XC

Georgia XC Coverage
Ryan McClay

The boys varsity race from Bob Blastow last year

Believe it or not there was a time when cross country teams did most of their racing via dual meets, tri meets, and quad meets. They'd pick some schools down the road and line up and duke it out at some local park for bragging rights. The sport more resembled other sports with head to head records being kept and things like that mattering to coaches. But like all sports, things evolved over the years and now we have a situation where most of the racing is done via big invitationals. Part of that in Georgia is the result of the metro Atlanta area expanding very quickly in the 90's and early 2000's. But it's also been a noticeable shift in all states over the same time period. Why invitationals? They tend to be more fun and you get to race so many more teams. The atmosphere is just more electric, and each invitational kind of has it's own vibe to it. Many of the big invitationals are on courses with plenty of history, which gives coaches some data to focus on to see how their team stacks up to previous teams.

So now that we're well into August, we are starting to see some bigger invitationals. Last weekend was more of a taste and this weekend we get our first big invitational in Georgia via Bob Blastow. But it's not the only one, and several teams go pursue other invitationals that still give them what they're looking for with slightly fewer teams. A lot of teams also take advantage of this time of year to go out of state and hit up some local invitationals in the neighboring states in the southeast. Either way to goal is usually simple, see how your team does in a bigger field. you can learn quite a bit from that. And it's also why this weekend is the one that feels like it really kids off the season, now that we've got big invitationals, things are starting to matter a little bit more.

Featured Meets

Bob Blastow

McIntosh Nature Preserve Whitesburg, GA
Aug 24, 2024
Last Year's Meet

Venue Records: McIntosh Nature Preserve

Meet Records

Virtual Meets

Teams Entered

  • Alexander
  • Berean Athletics
  • Berkmar High School
  • Bremen High School
  • Brookstone
  • Cambridge HS
  • Cartersville High School
  • Central Fellowship Christian Aca
  • Central Gwinnett
  • Chamblee
  • Chapel Hill High School
  • Clarke Central
  • Coosa HS
  • Decatur High School
  • Deerfield-Windsor School
  • Douglas County
  • Dunwoody
  • Fayette County
  • Fellowship Christian School
  • Galloway
  • George Walton Academy
  • Haralson County HS
  • Heard County HS
  • Hebron Christian
  • Heritage Prep
  • Hiram High School
  • Holy Innocents' Episcopal School
  • Intensity Athletics
  • Johnson Ferry Christian Academy
  • Jones County High School
  • KIPP Atlanta Collegiate
  • LaGrange Academy
  • LaGrange High School
  • Lovett
  • Maynard H. Jackson High School
  • Midtown
  • Milton High School
  • Mount Pisgah Christian School
  • New Manchester High School
  • Newnan High School
  • North Atlanta
  • North Springs
  • Northgate
  • Oak Mountain Academy
  • Oak Springs Eagles
  • Oconee County High School
  • Pace Academy
  • Riverwood International Charter
  • Sequoyah High School
  • Shiloh High School
  • South Paulding HS
  • St. Mary's Academy
  • Starrs Mill High School
  • The Mount Vernon School
  • Trailblazers Athletics
  • Trinity Christian - Sharpsburg
  • Veterans HS
  • Vidalia
  • Whitewater High School
  • Woodstock High School
  • Woodward Academy

More Meets

Providence Cross Country Invitational

Larry McAfee Course At McAlpine Park Charlotte, NC
Aug 24, 2024
Last Year's Meet

Venue Records: Larry McAfee Course At McAlpine Park

Meet Records

Virtual Meets

Teams Entered

  • A.L. Brown
  • Ardrey Kell
  • Ballantyne Ridge High School
  • Butler
  • Cardinal Newman
  • Cedar Ridge
  • Charlotte Catholic
  • Charlotte Christian
  • Clover
  • Davidson Day School
  • Davie County
  • East Mecklenburg
  • East Rowan
  • First Flight
  • Green Hope
  • Hammond School
  • Heathwood Hall
  • Hickory Ridge
  • Hopewell
  • Hough, William A
  • Independence
  • Indian Land
  • James Island
  • Kings Mountain
  • Lake Norman
  • Lake Norman Charter School
  • Langtree Charter Academy
  • Lincoln Charter
  • Mallard Creek
  • Marvin Ridge
  • Millbrook
  • Mooresville
  • North Lincoln
  • Northwest Guilford
  • Northwestern
  • Olympic
  • Palisades High School
  • Pine Lake Preparatory
  • Pinecrest
  • Providence
  • Queen's Grant
  • Ridge View
  • River Bluff
  • Sanderson
  • South Iredell
  • South Mecklenburg
  • South Pointe
  • Wakefield
  • Webb School of Knoxville
  • Weddington High School
  • West Cabarrus
  • West Forsyth
  • West Iredell
  • West Stanly
  • York

Bleckley County Clash of the Classes

Bleckley County Elementary School Cochran, GA
Aug 24, 2024
Last Year's Meet

Venue Records: Bleckley County Elementary School

Meet Records

Virtual Meets

Teams Entered

  • Alcovy
  • Ben-Hill Middle School
  • Berrien County MS
  • Bleckley Co. MS
  • Bleckley County High School
  • Carrollton Middle School
  • Coffee HS
  • Coffee Middle School
  • Crawford County HS
  • Crawford County MS
  • Creekland Middle School
  • Dodge County High School
  • Dodge County Middle School
  • Dublin High School
  • Dublin MS
  • East Laurens High School
  • East Laurens MS
  • Fighting Beavers
  • Fitzgerald
  • Greenbrier MS
  • Houston County
  • Irwin County
  • Jones County Middle School
  • Perry High School
  • Snelson Golden Middle School
  • Southeast Bulloch Middle School
  • Statesboro High School
  • Swainsboro High School
  • T J Elder Middle School
  • Telfair County HS
  • Toombs County HS
  • Toombs County MS
  • Trailblazers Athletics
  • Treutlen
  • Turner County HS
  • Vidalia Heritage Academy
  • Warner Robins
  • Washington County
  • Wayne County Middle School
  • West Laurens High School
  • West Laurens Middle School
  • Wheeler County HS
  • Wilcox County HS
  • William James Middle School

North Georgia Championships at Lamar Murphy

Lamar Murphy Park Jefferson, GA
Aug 24, 2024
Last Year's Meet

Venue Records: Lamar Murphy Park

Meet Records

Virtual Meets

Teams Entered

  • Apalachee High School
  • Archer HS
  • Athens Academy
  • Athens Christian
  • Banks County HS
  • Barrow Arts & Sciences Academy
  • Bethlehem Christian
  • Brookwood
  • Collins Hill High School
  • Denmark High School
  • Discovery HS
  • Duluth High School
  • East Hall HS
  • East Jackson High School
  • Elbert County High School
  • Flowery Branch
  • Forsyth Central
  • Franklin County High School
  • Grayson High School
  • Greater Atlanta Christian
  • Habersham Central High School
  • Hart County
  • Jackson County
  • Johns Creek HS
  • Lakeside HS, DeKalb
  • Lakeview Academy
  • Lanier Christian Academy
  • Loganville HS
  • Lumpkin Co. High School
  • Madison County HS
  • Monsignor Donovan Catholic HS
  • North Hall
  • North Oconee
  • Oglethorpe County HS
  • Providence Christian Academy
  • Rockdale Co.
  • Seckinger High School
  • Stephens Co.
  • Tallulah Falls
  • Walnut Grove HS
  • Winder-Barrow HS

The 32nd Ridge Ferry Invitational

Ridge Ferry Park Rome, GA
Aug 24, 2024
Last Year's Meet

Venue Records: Ridge Ferry Park

Meet Records

Virtual Meets

Teams Entered

  • Adairsville MS
  • Armuchee
  • Armuchee MS
  • Berry Middle CC
  • Calhoun
  • Calhoun MS
  • Carrollton Middle School
  • Cartersville High School
  • Cass High School
  • Cass MS
  • Cedartown
  • Central High School
  • Cornerstone Prep Academy
  • Dalton Middle School
  • Darlington School
  • Hillgrove
  • JR Hawks
  • Jr Wildcats
  • Junior Hoyas
  • Junior Raiders XC
  • Kell High School
  • Lyndon Academy
  • Marietta High School
  • Midway Covenant Christian School
  • Model
  • Mount Paran Christian School
  • North Cobb High School
  • North Paulding HS
  • Northwest Classical Academy
  • Pope High School
  • Rockmart
  • Rockmart Middle School
  • Rome High School
  • Rome MS
  • Saint Mary's Catholic School
  • Sprayberry High School
  • Sprayberry Jr Jackets XC/Track
  • The King's Academy
  • Unity Christian School
  • Woodland

Pickens Preview

Roper Park Jasper, GA
Aug 24, 2024
Last Year's Meet

Venue Records: Roper Park

Meet Records

Virtual Meets

Teams Entered

  • Alpharetta
  • Campbell High School
  • Centennial
  • Cherokee High School
  • Chestatee
  • Creekview
  • Dawson County
  • East Forsyth High School
  • Etowah
  • Fannin County HS
  • Fideles Christian School
  • Fulton Science Academy
  • Gainesville High School
  • Kennesaw Mountain
  • Killian Hill Christian School
  • King's Ridge Christian School
  • Lambert HS
  • Lanier HS
  • Lassiter High School
  • Mount Bethel Christian
  • Norcross High School
  • North Cobb Christian
  • North Forsyth
  • North Gwinnett
  • Northview High School
  • Osborne High School
  • Pace Academy
  • Paulding County
  • Pickens
  • River Ridge HS
  • Roswell High School
  • South Forsyth High School
  • St. Francis
  • Union County HS
  • Walker
  • Walton High School
  • Wesleyan School
  • Wheeler High School
  • White County High School

Strong Rock Patriot Cross Country Invitational

Strong Rock Christian School Locust Grove, GA
Aug 24, 2024
Last Year's Meet

Venue Records: Strong Rock Christian School

Meet Records

Virtual Meets

Teams Entered

  • Beacon Hill MS
  • Berean Athletics
  • Briarwood Academy
  • Calvary Christian School
  • Covington Academy
  • Creekside Christian Academy
  • Eagles Landing Christian Academy
  • Eastside
  • Eastside Christian School
  • Grace Snell Middle School
  • Hampton HS
  • Heritage High School
  • Holy Spirit Preparatory
  • Hull MS
  • Jonesboro HS
  • Konos Academy
  • Landmark Christian School
  • Locust Grove High School
  • Locust Grove MS
  • Loganville Christian Academy
  • Morrow High School
  • Newton
  • Northbrook Middle School
  • Ola High School
  • Ola MS
  • Pinecrest Academy
  • Providence Christian Academy
  • Riverdale High School
  • St John the Evangelist
  • St. Benedicts Episcopal School
  • Strong Rock Christian School
  • The Cottage School
  • The Stonehaven School
  • Trinity Christian - Sharpsburg
  • Union Grove HS
  • Whitefield Academy
  • Woodland HS Stockbridge
  • Young Americans Christian School

Mary Persons Bulldog Distance Classic

Monroe County Rec. Department Forsyth, GA
Aug 24, 2024
Last Year's Meet

Venue Records: Monroe County Rec. Department

Meet Records

Virtual Meets

Teams Entered

  • Pinckneyville Middle School
  • ACE Charter
  • Bonaire Middle School
  • Carson MS
  • Central Georgia Athletics
  • Cherokee Christian Schools
  • Eagle's Landing High School
  • East Coweta
  • Fighting Beavers
  • Griffin
  • Henderson Middle School
  • Jasper County HS
  • Jasper County MS
  • John Hancock Academy
  • Jones Middle School
  • Lakeview Academy
  • Lamar County High School
  • Mary Persons
  • McConnell Middle School
  • New Creation Christian Academy
  • Northside, Warner Robins
  • Pike County High School
  • Pike County MS
  • Providence Classical Christian S
  • Rock Springs Christian Academy
  • Sandy Creek
  • Skipstone Academy
  • Social Circle MS
  • Spalding High School
  • St. George's Episcopal School
  • Stratford Academy
  • Trailblazers Athletics
  • Upson-Lee High School
  • Upson-Lee MS
  • Westfield School

The Jungle Run Experience

South View HS XC Course Hope Mills, NC
Aug 24, 2024
Last Year's Meet

Venue Records: South View HS XC Course

Meet Records

Virtual Meets

Teams Entered

  • Cape Fear
  • Cape Fear Academy
  • Cary
  • Cary Fire Homeschool
  • Croatan
  • E.E. Smith
  • Fayetteville Christian School
  • Fayetteville Flyers
  • Fuquay-Varina
  • Grace Christian School (Sanford)
  • Gray's Creek
  • Harnett Central
  • Heide Trask
  • Heritage Leadership Academy
  • Hilltop Christian School
  • Leesville Road
  • Middle Creek
  • North Raleigh Christian Academy
  • Northern Nash
  • Overhills
  • Rolesville High School
  • Sandhills Highlander Homeschool
  • South Johnston
  • South View
  • St. Thomas More Academy
  • Swansboro
  • Topsail
  • Triton
  • Union Pines
  • West Rowan
  • Western Harnett
  • Westover
  • Without Limits Triangle

9th Annual Furlow Fast Feet Invitational

Sumter County Parks & Recreation Sports Complex Americus, GA
Aug 24, 2024
Last Year's Meet

Venue Records: Sumter County Parks & Recreation Sports Complex

Meet Records

Virtual Meets

Teams Entered

  • Baconton Charter
  • Chattahoochee County
  • Colquitt County
  • Colquitt County MS
  • Cook County High School
  • Cook MS
  • Crisp Academy
  • Crisp Co.
  • Dougherty
  • Fullington Academy
  • Furlow Charter School
  • Highland Christian Academy
  • Lee County
  • Marion County HS
  • Marion County MS
  • Monroe Comprehensive High School
  • Pataula Charter Academy
  • Peach Co.
  • Providence School of Tifton
  • Schley County High
  • Sherwood Christian
  • Southland Academy
  • Southwest Georgia STEM Charter H
  • Terrell Academy
  • The Lakeside School
  • Westover High School
  • Westwood Schools
  • Worth County HS

NGXCL 1 Frontrunner 5 Star Stride

Heritage High School Ringgold, GA
Aug 24, 2024

Venue Records: Heritage High School

Virtual Meets

Teams Entered

  • Adairsville High School
  • Baylor School
  • Bradley Central High School
  • Calhoun
  • Chatt. School for the Arts & Sci
  • Chattooga HS
  • Christian Heritage School
  • Coahulla Creek HS
  • CSLA
  • Dade County HS
  • Dalton High School
  • Darlington School
  • East Hamilton High School
  • East Paulding High School
  • Gordon Central High School
  • Gordon Lee High School
  • Heritage HS, Catoosa
  • LaFayette High School
  • Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe
  • North Murray High School
  • Northwest Whitfield High School
  • Notre Dame High School
  • Ringgold High School
  • Silverdale Baptist Academy
  • Sonoraville HS
  • Southeast Whitfield High School
  • Trion
  • Walker Valley High School

North Georgia Youth Cross Country League Meet #1

Athens YMCA Athens, GA
Aug 24, 2024
Last Year's Meet

Venue Records: Athens YMCA

Meet Records

Virtual Meets

Teams Entered

  • Banks County Jr. Leopards
  • Barrow County Rec Dept.
  • Bremen City Track Club
  • Commerce Middle School CMS
  • Couch Middle School
  • Creekland Middle School
  • Dacula MS
  • Hart County MS
  • Jefferson Parks & Recreation
  • Junior Blue Devils
  • Legacy Knoll MS
  • Mill Creek Junior Hawks
  • Monsignor Donovan Catholic HS
  • Osborne Middle School
  • Piney Grove MS
  • Providence School of Tifton
  • Rabun County Rec Department
  • Sirius Athletics
  • Sola Fide Academy
  • St. Joseph Catholic School
  • Summerour Middle School
  • Tapestry Public Charter School
  • Trickum Middle School
  • Trojan Elite
  • West Jackson MS
  • White County Parks and Rec
  • William & Reed Academy

Dueling Summits

Elinor Klapp-Phipps Park Tallahassee, FL
Aug 24, 2024
Last Year's Meet

Venue Records: Elinor Klapp-Phipps Park

Meet Records

Virtual Meets

Teams Entered

  • 1T1D Elites
  • Bainbridge High School
  • Cairo
  • Christ Classical Academy
  • Community Christian School (Tall
  • Community Leadership Academy
  • Cornerstone Learning Community
  • Gadsden County High School
  • Grace Christian Academy
  • Holy Comforter Episcopal School
  • MacIntyre Park MS
  • Maclay School
  • Marianna Middle School
  • Seminole County HS
  • Southwest Georgia Academy
  • Suwannee Speed
  • Tallahassee Classical School
  • Thomas County Central High Schoo
  • Thomasville High School
  • Tift County High School
  • Tift Middle Schools
  • Valley Coast Running
  • Whigham MS

Westside Speedway Invitational

Westside Augusta HS Augusta, Ga
Aug 24, 2024

Venue Records: Westside Augusta HS

Virtual Meets

Teams Entered

  • Aquinas
  • Augusta Christian Schools
  • Augusta Prep HS
  • Bradwell Institute
  • Briarwood Academy
  • Community Christian Academy (Mar
  • Cross Creek
  • Curtis Baptist School
  • Greenbrier High School
  • Grovetown HS
  • Harlem HS
  • Howard High School
  • PAC Panthers
  • Riverside MS
  • Silver Bluff
  • South Effingham High School
  • Thomson High School/ Middle Scho
  • Washington-Wilkes High School
  • Westminster Schools of Augusta
  • Westside, Augusta
  • Without Limits Columbia

Smiths Station Panther Stages

Smiths Station High School Smiths Station, AL
Aug 22, 2024
Last Year's Meet

Venue Records: Smiths Station High School

Meet Records

Virtual Meets

Teams Entered

  • Auburn
  • Auburn Junior High
  • Beauregard High School
  • Beulah High School
  • Harris Co. High School
  • Harris County Carver MS
  • Lee-Scott Academy
  • Long Cane MS
  • Opelika High School
  • Smiths Station
  • Smiths Station Junior High
  • Tallassee HS
  • Valley High School
  • William H. Spencer High School

Marist Twilight

Marist HS Atlanta, GA
Aug 23, 2024
Last Year's Meet

Venue Records: Marist HS

Meet Records

Virtual Meets

Teams Entered

  • Marist
  • Paideia
  • St. Pius X
  • West Forsyth High School

Ga Tech 5K Run

Atlanta Atlanta, GA
Aug 24, 2024

Venue Records: Atlanta

Virtual Meets

Teams Entered

  • Creekland Middle School
  • Luella High School

Kowboy XC Invitational

Osceola High School (Kissimmee) Kissimmee, FL
Aug 24, 2024
Last Year's Meet

Venue Records: Osceola High School (Kissimmee)

Meet Records

Virtual Meets

Teams Entered

  • Mill Creek High School

Rabun County Home Meet

Rabun County HS Tiger, GA
Aug 22, 2024

Venue Records: Rabun County HS

Meet Records

Virtual Meets