NSSF PRESS RELEASE

2003 GREAT AMERICAN CROSS COUNTRY FESTIVAL

The National Scholastic Sports Foundation (NSSF) is pleased to announce that the 2003 Great American Cross Country Festival (GACC) has chosen SAS Soccer Park located in Cary, North Carolina as the future home of the most successful in-season high cross country meet in the United States for elite teams and individuals. Cary is located in the beautiful Research Triangle Region of central North Carolina. The NSSF is the premier organization presenting high school cross country/track events in the United States. With over 17 years experience, the NSSF also presents the Nike Indoor Championships and the Adidas Outdoor Track&Field Championships events as showcases for the high school student athlete.

GACC will be held on Friday September 26 and Saturday September 27, 2003 and again looks forward to the top teams and individuals from across the country competing. The primary reason supporting the decision to move the site was based upon the need to establish a permanent event site at an in-place cross-country course. The new SAS venue has been designed to host both major high school and collegiate races and will provide the runner the most spectacular running location in the United States. Course details include a large starting grid, sweeping turns lined with 100 foot pine trees, various course loop choices, stadium finish with state-of-the–art facilities and will provide teams and individuals the opportunity to be challenged/tested along with the ability to run fast over 5K.

In conjunction with Nike, the Town of Cary and our long-time partner, the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau (www.raleighcvb.org)
, the NSSF will build upon the reputation established for GACC by expanding the race schedule and including several exciting social and cultural experiences for those attending. They include:

• Attendance/Presentations by elite Nike distance runners
• Roving performers and music during the races
• Tent City for runners to relax and socialize
• Midway activities and vendor displays
• Improvements to the ever popular Friday Night Pasta Dinner and Saturday Harriers Ball including attendance by Nike athletes, relocating to the award winning Regency Park outdoor amphitheater and exciting entertainment
• Special coaches gifts and awards for those teams in the Nike Race of Champions
• Races for local grammar school youth, community members and corporate entities

With an expanding presence and participation in the collegiate segment, high school athletes will have the opportunity to see and be seen by the top programs in the country. GACC provides the only such venue where the top programs and individuals in the country are on display for in excess of 50 colleges and universities from around the country all at one location.

The NSSF has meticulously planned the 2003 event with emphasis being placed upon:

• Course design, management and marking
• Improved officiating and organization
• Reasonable entry fees and related costs
• Expanded on-site medical services
• Results reporting and timing
• Expanded restrooms facilities throughout the site
• Competitor refreshments at race completion
• Pre-meet and post-meet warm-up and warm-down course availability
• Reasonable transportation and housing options
• Aggressive event promotion and expansion
• Parking and hotel transportation systems
• Streamlining registration and check-in
• On-site concessions
• State-of-the art site facilities

The NSSF is committed to providing the highest level of competitive opportunities to the high school student athlete through its series of events held over the scholastic year. As the only group in the sport providing 3 season challenges on a national level, and with anticipated participation in our 2003 events from over 40 states and 10,000 competitors, the NSSF looks to continually improve the state-of-the sport in the United States on the high school level.

Extensive detailed event information is now available on our NSSF website at www.nationalscholastic.org. Entry, housing, transportation and event specifics will be continually updated throughout 2003.

For specific information regarding invitations for high school boys/girls or collegians, please e-mail the appropriate party:
• [email protected]
• [email protected]
• [email protected]

We look forward to seeing you in Cary in 2003.