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2003 cross country

Great American
Sept 26-27, 2003 at SAS Soccer Park, Cary NC
a DyeStat featured meet with on-site coverage

Donna on the Side
by Donna Dye


Part 2 - Race Day
Section 1 - Introduction
Section 2 - Sideline Scenes
Section 3 - Small Schools
Section 4 - Race of Champions and Seeded Invitationals
Section 5 - Other Invitationals

Part 1 - Registration Day

About Cary North Carolina

Cary began as a settlement called Bradford's Ordinary in 1750. About 1850 Allen Francis Page a Wake County farmer and lumberman bought 300 acres near Bradford's Ordinary and established a sawmill, general store, inn and post office. He called the new settlement Cary after General Samuel Cary, a prohibitionist from Ohio that he admired. The area continued to develop and survived devastation during the Civil War, when a detachment of General Sherman's troops stormed through looking for silver.

About the time of the Civil War, the Seaboard Railroad was founded in Cary. By the late 1860's Cary became a junction for railroad activity. Soon after, the town was incorporated and continued to develop in retail and manufacturing. After World War II the area was selected to develop the Research-Triangle Park which brought in high quality research activity that makes Cary what it is today.

The research industry has brought on new housing and retail development to support the growing number of employees. Since 1976 the population has jumped from 17,500 to 100,000. Today, Cary is home to a variety of research employers including IBM, Cisco Systems, Lucent Technology, and SAS Institute.


Charlie Slagle
CEO of the Soccer Association and manager of the park.

SAS Soccer Park

SAS Soccer Park is a $16 million facility built mostly with local tax funds on state-owned land. The SAS Institute in Cary purchased naming rights. The Capital Area Soccer Association manages the park on a lease from the county. The park has been open 16 months, and the Great American is the first cross country meet. More meets are planned, including the NCAA Division II national championship this year.

the races

Opening the ceremonies is the Hillside Durham High School Band
Ryan Deak CO finishing first in the Seeded Invitational race in the fastest time of the day.
Nike Athlete Kara Goucher presenting the Race of Champions award to Saratoga Springs NY, winner for the fourth straight year.
Saratoga Springs NY Fan Club

 

Part 2 - Race Day
Section 1 - Introduction
Section 2 - Sideline Scenes
Section 3 - Small Schools
Section 4 - Race of Champions and Seeded Invitationals
Section 5 - Other Invitationals

Part 1 - Registration Day

 

 

Great American Cross Country Festival

 


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