Leon County selected to host 2022 NJCAA XC Championships
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (April 30, 2020) - Leon County's Apalachee Regional Park has been selected to host the 2022 National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division I and Division II Men's and Women's Cross-Country Championships. The event is anticipated to bring 1,000 athletes and coaches to Leon County leading to over $1.5 million in economic impact. The last time the event was held in Leon County was in 1973 at the Florida State University Seminole Golf Course.
"With recent investments at Apalachee Regional Park, our facility continues to be in high demand among national athletic associations," said Leon County Commission Chairman Bryan Desloge. "We look forward to a hopeful future past the COVID-19 pandemic when we can welcome fans, coaches, and student-athletes to experience the most memorable championship of their lives."
Known for hosting world class cross-country events for various organizations including the National College Athletic Association, Florida High School Athletic Association, United States Track and Field, the Atlantic Coast Conference and set to the host the NCAA cross-country National Championships in 2021, Apalachee Regional Park continues to be a premier cross-country venture on the national stage.
"The success of Leon County's Apalachee Regional Park is built on strong community partnerships," said Leon County Administrator Vincent S. Long. "From the County's work with Tallahassee Community College, Florida State University and the local running community through Gulf Winds Track Club, we have created a premiere cross country course that continues to drive sports tourism here in Leon County."
Featuring various course and distance options through rolling hills, lowlands, and pine forests, the 100 plus acre park can host thousands of runners and visitors at some of the nation's largest sporting events. Also, when the cross country trail is not being used for a running event, it is open to the general public for hiking, running, and biking.
"We are delighted that Apalachee Regional Park continues to draw prestigious sporting events from across the country while also standing out as a one of a kind year-round recreation area in our community," said Kerri L. Post, Director of Leon County Division of Tourism. "Blessed with topography unlike any other in Florida, we welcome visitors and residents to explore and discover all that Tallahassee-Leon County has to offer."
"Bringing this event to Tallahassee has been a goal since the day we introduced the program in 2015, and we're very fortunate to have strong partnerships with both Leon County Division of Tourism and the Tallahassee running community, who shared the same vision," said Rob Chaney, Director of Athletics for Tallahassee Community College. "It will be exciting to watch this event come together over the next couple of years, and I'm just as excited to see it raise the profile of cross country at Tallahassee Community College."
In addition to cross country activities, hiking, and biking trails, Apalachee Regional Park has four multi-purpose grass fields with American football field goals, two of which are lighted. The fields are also used for soccer and lacrosse, and the park features a remote control airplane and helicopter airfield.
For more information about the NJCAA visit https://www.njcaa.org/landing/index.
Additional quotes:
"Regarding the selection of Tallahassee Florida's Apalachee Regional Park (ARP) as the site for the 2022 NJCAA Cross-Country Championships, I am happy for so many reasons. Happy because local institutions, including Visit Tallahassee, Florida State University, and the Gulf Winds Track Club have poured years of labor, ingenuity, and funds into making the ARP a world-class cross-country course. Happy because some participants in the 2022 event will go on to race in major competitions at the university and USATF level. Many of these races are scheduled for the ARP, so we are providing 2022 entrants a home course advantage for future races. But mostly, I'm happy because I anticipate that athletes, coaches, and spectators will come away from the 2022 meet knowing that they have just witnessed a cross-country championship that rivals any successful major sport final, in terms of venue, production, and excitement. Brilliant choice!"
Gary Droze, Head Men's & Women's Cross Country Coach, Tallahassee Community College
"Of the strengths I put down in my report, it started with the people. I knew working with Amanda (Heidecker) was going to be a huge plus. Besides her, there was Rob Chaney and Steve Winterling of Pasco-Hernando State College. They were really into getting the meet. I couldn't find anyone better to work with than those three people. The second thing, the course itself is unbelievable. It's one of the nicest courses in the country for sure. When you're looking at course after course, then you look at Tallahassee and what's being done to spruce it up, it's just a phenomenal running venue."
Donald Cox, President of the NJCAA Cross Country Coaches Association and Head Coach, Cuyahoga Community College
"We are honored for the opportunity to partner with Tallahassee Community College to host the 2022 National Junior Collegiate Athletic Association Cross Country National Championships in Tallahassee at the nationally recognized Apalachee Regional Park. We look forward to welcoming fans, coaches and most importantly student athletes to what we believe will be the most memorable championship of their lives. It has been a pleasure working with the community to bring another championship to Leon County which will help the Tallahassee Community College Cross Country program continue to grow and excel."
Amanda Heidecker, Leon County Division of Tourism/Visit Tallahassee Director of Sports
About The Leon County Division of Tourism/Visit Tallahassee: The Leon County Division of Tourism (Visit Tallahassee) is the official destination marketing organization for Tallahassee-Leon County. Tourism is charged with marketing Tallahassee-Leon County nationally as a premier leisure, business and sports destination through direct sales, advertising, public relations, sports and visitor services. Named as one of Southern Living's top 10 Cities of the South, in 2019, Tallahassee-Leon County welcomed 2.4 million visitors who contributed $1.04 billion in economic impact and accounts for more than 16,150 people employed in our community in the tourism & hospitality industry. For more information, go to VisitTallahassee.com or call toll free (800) 628-2866. Engage with Visit Tallahassee on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using #iHeartTally and #Trailahassee.