Twenty-three high school cross country programs from across Massachusetts, and one from New Hampshire, will compete at the 24th annual Amherst Invitational at Hampshire College on Saturday, Sept. 21.
Close to 1,100 runners are expected to race on the 5-kilometer course.
The varsity boys race is scheduled to start at 11:20 AM. The varsity girls race will start at noon.
Boys and girls teams from Amherst and Northampton High School will be competing in this year’s Invitational.
At last year’s meet, the course had to be adjusted due to weather damage. Feedback on the course change was so positive that the meet’s organizers decided to go with the slightly modified start and finish again this year.
With the new setup, spectators can more easily track where runners are in races and get a better view of contestants around the one and two-mile mark.
“The way we have it now is better,” race director Eric Beal said on Thursday.
Members of the UMass women’s cross country team are expected to volunteer and help run this year’s event.
Last year’s races saw the addition of a timing system that had runners compete with chips that made the administration process and scoring process easier.
This change made the area past the finish line much safer and less congested and will be used again this year.
“These athletes are giving it all they have during races,” Beal said. “Sometimes the tank is on empty when they finish. The chip timing allows them to cross the finish line and get help if they need it. It benefits the athletes.”
Newly appointed Amherst High School athletic director Victoria Stewart helped organize the event for the first time this fall.
“She has been really supportive to help make this happen,” Beal said.
The school that earns the best combined score between the boys and girls races will be awarded the Crowley Cup. The award is named after longtime Amherst High School coach, Randy Crowley.
Last year’s winner of the Crowley Cup went to Concord-Carlisle for the third-straight time.
With the graduation of three-time girls winner, Amherst’s Sophia Jacobs-Townsley, there will be a new champion for the first time since 2015.
“It will be interesting to see who steps up to fill that spot,” Beal said.
Concord-Carlisle’s Eli Nahom won the boys race last year in 15:40, a second-straight win for the Patriots in the race. Lucas Aramburu won in 2017.