by John Nepolitan

Subject: World XC Update 1
Date: Friday, March 28, 2003 12:48 PM

With all the talk of the war and people pulling out of trips getting to and
around the airport was a breeze. I had never seen Newark so empty, this
does not mean lack of security but simply lack of people traveling. I do
not see why this has to be.

Once we landed it was off to the city of Lausanne, a fast pick up of press
pass, and then to the Olympic Museum. If you ever find yourself in or near
this city you must make this a stop.

Lastly at 2pm it was off to see the course. A short 45 min ride and we
arrived at the site. The course is simply difficult is the only way to
describe it. Within the first 800 meters the runners will hit a 2 to 3 foot
ditch, a short man made hill(2 steps up then right down) another ditch, a
banked -YES I SAID BANKED 30m dirt turn, 2 more ditches, and another larger
wood man made hill-bridge.

There is not 150m of the course where you are not going up, down, jumping
over a ditch, or making a turn. To top this off the footing is not the best
- a true horse track.

In all the course cannot be described as a smooth run or track.

It was great seeing many stars of the sports past & present around town, in
the Olympic Museum and of course out at the site.

The weather is great and it seems that spring arrived a few weeks ahead of
the Northeast USA. If anything it may be a little warm for racing.

Tomorrow the racing starts.

Oh just to tell all of you - I am the hero of the press center - the one who
was able to figure out how to get this whole affair on line.

From: "John Nepolitan" <[email protected]>

World Cross Country Championships