Meet Information
Important Registration changes for 2024:
ALL REGISTRATION FOR THIS EVENT WILL BE COMPLETED via MileSplit ONLY. There will not be any actions for coaches to take on DirectAthletics for this year's meet.
NOTE: The races will be counted towards the FHSAA post season qualifying requirements for your athletes. The TFRRs IDs for the athletes will be imported to ensure that verything is correct on MileSplit and Direct Athletics. This will insure the athletes FHSAA compliance.
2024 Meet Program
Welcome to the 25th FLRunners.com Invitational!
The largest cross country meet in Florida is back at Holloway Park for the eighth year. Please read through the information below.
Because of the nature of this event, there will not be an onsite coaches meeting. All information will be sent via email. Please make sure that you have an email listed for both coaches if your school has separate boys and girls coaches.
Race Selections
All Saturday varsity race assignments will be determined by meet management based on teams rank in relation to competition in the field for the Race of Champions, Jason Byrne Invitational, and unseeded invitational. If you would like to be considered for competition in the Race of Champions or Jason Byrne Invitational, select the Elite division during registration.
General Parking
No Parking Fee. There will be a $5 admission fee for all adults. Spectators please use the Lakeland Highlands entrance: 3050 Lakeland Highland Rd. Lakeland, FL 33803
Spectator Admission Fee
There will be a $5 admission fee for all adults. Purchase spectator admission tickets online in advance at the following link.
Purchase Event Tickets - Polk County Public Schools (polkschoolsfl.com)
Hotel Listings
Buses/Team Vans
Only use the Hwy 98 entrance: 2402 Holloway Park Dr. Lakeland, FL 33803
Team buses and vans parking will be on the left side of the park road after going through the gates, across from lake.
Tent Area
There will be signs located in the big field just to the right of the finish line straightway. Please keep all tents in this area. There is plenty of room for tents. Please help us by cleaning up after your team, you can leave your trash bag by one of the many trash cans around the grounds.
Warm Up Area
If you go to the right of the start line and about 200m up there will be trails that you can run and use to warm up before all races.
This trail is plenty long enough, so you do not have to worry about having enough area to warm up. Athletes will not be allowed to warm up on the course once races have started.
Food Trucks
Food vendors will be announced closer to the meet.
Schedule
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4th
1:00 PM - Gates Open
2:00 PM - HS, MS, ES Packet Pickup Opens
4:25 PM - Boys High School (Varsity + JV Combined)
4:50 PM - Girls High School (Varsity + JV Combined)
5:25 PM - Boys Middle School
5:50 PM - Girls Middle School
6:15 PM - Boys Elementary
6:30 PM - Girls Elementary
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5th - *UPDATED SCHEDULE AS OF 9/29*
6:00 AM - Gates Open
6:15 AM - Packet Pickup
7:15 AM - National Anthem
7:20 AM - Boys Race of Champions
7:50 AM - Girls Race of Champions
8:20 AM - Jason Byrne Boys Invitational + Unseeded Boys
8:50 AM - Jason Byrne Girls Invitational + Unseeded Girls
9:20 AM - Boys JV
9:50 AM - Girls JV
Entry Fees
Registration ends at 11:59 PM EST on September 29, 2024. THERE WILL BE NO ADDITIONS OR CHANGES AFTER THAT.
Awards
INDIVIDUALS
Race of Champions: 1-30 will get medals
All other races: 1-15 will get medals
TEAMS
Race of Champions: 1st-3rd team awards
Friday Varsity / Jason Byrne Invitational / Unseeded / Middle School: 1st-2nd team awards
JV Saturday / Elementary: 1st place team award
Results will be available on elitetiming.net.
Registration
FloSports W9 for meet: flosports_w9.pdf
Payment Options
WE ARE ONLY ACCEPTING ONLINE PAYMENTS THIS YEAR ON MileSplit. After you enter, you'll be able to print an invoice and pay online with a credit card. If you have not paid by 11:59 PM EST on September 29, 2024 your entries will not be accepted.
Entry Into the Meet
*** All high schools MUST be members of their states association in order to compete ***
You may run up to ten (10) in the Saturday Varsity races and unlimited in the Friday high school races, middle school, elementary and Saturday JV races.
Chips are disposable and can be discarded after your race. When you pick up your packet please make sure you have all your chips and bibs for your athletes.
Race of Champions
Team participation in the ROC is by invitation only. Approximately 35 teams will be invited to participate.
All individuals invited to participate in the ROC will be done so by the Selection Committee. There is no need to email the Race Director to let us know that an athlete is interested. We will contact you if they are invited. Individuals who run under 16:00 boys/19:00 girls will automatically qualify for the ROC. Individuals are only invited to the ROC. Otherwise, they are expected to run with their team in their race.
Jason Byrne Invitational:
Participation in the JBI is by invitation of teams that pre-select the "Elite Races" during registration. Approximately 40 teams will be assigned to the JBI. The race committee will communicate with teams on the appropriate division.
Friday Afternoon Races:
Participation in the Friday races is selected by the coach during the registration process.
"B Teams"
If you are interested in having a "B" team in the Jason Byrne Invitational you will need to directly email the Meet Director for approval.