USATF State Cross-Country Championships
November 5 at Bridger Creek Golf Course
(By Dave Skelton, Youth Athletics Chair)

The state cross-country championships are back in Bozeman as the Montana Association of USA Track & Field prepares to host the 2005 State Cross Country Championships on Saturday, November 5, 2005.

Hosted by the Bozeman Track Club the venue for the cross-country championships will be the familiar captivating Bridger Creek Golf Course laying at the base of the Bridger Mountain Range and headwaters of the East Gallatin River.

This will be the second year the championships will be held at Bridger Creek Golf Course and the four courses are eagerly awaiting the pounding feet of cross-country runners. The golf course is noted for its variety in terrain, groomed turf and trails, ponds and spectacular setting. Pictures and results from last year's competition are available on the Association's website at www.mtusatf.org.

Age divisions include "Junior Olympic" (18-and-under), "Open" (19+), and "Master's" (40+) with six age divisions in Junior Olympics and ten-year age increments in Masters. This year there will be the first that the Association's youth committee has elected to host a "Sub-Bantam" age group for runners 8 years old and younger.

Medals will be awarded to the top three finishers in the "Open" and "Masters" divisions, and the top ten finishers in each "Junior Olympic" age group. Free water bottles for the first 100 entries received with hats, T-shirts, ribbons, prizes and USATF apparel available at the venue on the day of competition.

The top cross-country team and top ten individuals in the "Junior Olympic" division also qualify to advance to the National Cross Country Championships at Bryant University in Smithfield, R.I., December 10, 2005.

USATF membership is required. If you do not have a 2005 membership card you should apply immediately by going on-line at the national website at www.usatf.org. However, if you apply after November 1, 2005 your membership is valid for the entire 2006 season. Make sure to review the information outlined in guidebook posted on the Association's website.

Membership may be completed on-site at the competition Friday evening or Saturday morning, prior to the start of competition. Deadline for postmarked entries without a late fee is Saturday, October 29, 2005. You may submit your entry without a USATF membership, but must have your USATF membership prior to picking up your packet. No late entries received the day of competition!

For more information contact Dave Skelton, P.O. Box 651, Bozeman, MT, 59771-0651, e-mail address bztkclub@mcn.net, or visit Association's website at www.mtusatf.org.

See all of you in Bozeman in November!

(Article by Dave Skelton, October 3, 2005)