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
Venue Records: McIntosh Nature Preserve
Meet Records
Virtual Meets
- Using 2024 Stats: High School Girls High School Boys
- Using 2023 Stats: High School Girls High School Boys
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
Venue Records: Larry McAfee Course At McAlpine Park
Meet Records
Virtual Meets
- Using 2024 Stats: High School Girls High School Boys
- Using 2023 Stats: High School Girls High School Boys
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
Venue Records: Bleckley County Elementary School
Meet Records
Virtual Meets
- Using 2024 Stats: High School Girls High School Boys
- Using 2023 Stats: High School Girls High School Boys
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
Venue Records: Lamar Murphy Park
Meet Records
Virtual Meets
- Using 2024 Stats: High School Girls High School Boys
- Using 2023 Stats: High School Girls High School Boys
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
Venue Records: Ridge Ferry Park
Meet Records
Virtual Meets
- Using 2024 Stats: High School Girls High School Boys
- Using 2023 Stats: High School Girls High School Boys
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
Venue Records: Roper Park
Meet Records
Virtual Meets
- Using 2024 Stats: High School Girls High School Boys
- Using 2023 Stats: High School Girls High School Boys
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
Venue Records: Strong Rock Christian School
Meet Records
Virtual Meets
- Using 2024 Stats: High School Girls High School Boys
- Using 2023 Stats: High School Girls High School Boys
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
Venue Records: Monroe County Rec. Department
Meet Records
Virtual Meets
- Using 2024 Stats: High School Girls High School Boys
- Using 2023 Stats: High School Girls High School Boys
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
Venue Records: South View HS XC Course
Meet Records
Virtual Meets
- Using 2024 Stats: High School Girls High School Boys
- Using 2023 Stats: High School Girls High School Boys
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
Venue Records: Sumter County Parks & Recreation Sports Complex
Meet Records
Virtual Meets
- Using 2024 Stats: High School Girls High School Boys
- Using 2023 Stats: High School Girls High School Boys
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
Venue Records: Heritage High School
Virtual Meets
- Using 2024 Stats: High School Girls High School Boys
- Using 2023 Stats: High School Girls High School Boys
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
Venue Records: Athens YMCA
Meet Records
Virtual Meets
- Using 2024 Stats: High School Girls High School Boys
- Using 2023 Stats: High School Girls High School Boys
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
Venue Records: Elinor Klapp-Phipps Park
Meet Records
Virtual Meets
- Using 2024 Stats: High School Girls High School Boys
- Using 2023 Stats: High School Girls High School Boys
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
Venue Records: Westside Augusta HS
Virtual Meets
- Using 2024 Stats: High School Girls High School Boys
- Using 2023 Stats: High School Girls High School Boys
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
Venue Records: Smiths Station High School
Meet Records
Virtual Meets
- Using 2024 Stats: High School Girls High School Boys
- Using 2023 Stats: High School Girls High School Boys
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
Venue Records: Marist HS
Meet Records
Virtual Meets
- Using 2024 Stats: High School Girls High School Boys
- Using 2023 Stats: High School Girls High School Boys
Teams Entered
- Marist
- Paideia
- St. Pius X
- West Forsyth High School
Ga Tech 5K Run
Venue Records: Atlanta
Virtual Meets
- Using 2024 Stats: High School Girls High School Boys
- Using 2023 Stats: High School Girls High School Boys
Teams Entered
- Creekland Middle School
- Luella High School
Kowboy XC Invitational
Venue Records: Osceola High School (Kissimmee)
Meet Records
Virtual Meets
- Using 2024 Stats: High School Girls High School Boys
- Using 2023 Stats: High School Girls High School Boys
Teams Entered
- Mill Creek High School
Rabun County Home Meet
Venue Records: Rabun County HS
Meet Records
Virtual Meets
- Build a Virtual Meet: High School Girls High School Boys