Walnut – The 76th annual Mt. SAC Cross Country Invitational is set to take place over two action-packed weekends, starting with the Community College, Elementary and Middle School Divisions on October 18, 2024.
The Community College Division will kick off with the Women’s Invitational at 10:00 AM, followed by the Men’s Invitational at 10:45 AM. The Mt. SAC Men’s Team, currently ranked No. 1 in the state and the defending champions, is seeking their third consecutive title. Meanwhile, the Mt. SAC Women’s Team, also defending champions and ranked No. 2 in the state, is pursuing their fourth consecutive championship. Approximately 20 teams and 430 athletes are registered to compete in the division.
In the afternoon, the Middle School Division will compete from 2:00 PM to 4:40 PM and the Elementary School Division will compete from 4:05 PM to 6:00 PM. These events will feature over 4,500 athletes from more than 115 schools. This incredible turnout highlights the growing popularity of cross country among young athletes and local communities.
The following weekend, October 25 and 26, will showcase the High School Division, with over 13,500 athletes from more than 450 high schools registered to compete. A live webcast of the High School Division will be broadcast by RunnerSpace+, showcasing the best cross country runners and teams on the challenging Mt. SAC course. This includes CIF Division 3, 4, and 5 races on Friday from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, with the Division 3, 4, and 5 Sweepstakes Races scheduled from 4:55 PM to 6:00 PM. On Saturday, CIF Division 1 and 2 races will run from 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM, featuring the Division 1 and 2 Sweepstakes Races from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM.
In 2024, after celebrating 75 years of tradition, the Mt. SAC Cross Country Invitational will enter a new era for the High School Division with its first major course path change in 46 years. The updated course will utilize the state-of-the-art Mt. SAC facilities to enhance the spectator experience and align with current trends in cross country running. It will be lengthened to exactly 3.0 miles and will finish inside Hilmer Lodge Stadium, featuring our Daktronics scoreboard for video and results. As previously announced, this update means the elimination of the steep but beloved Poop Out Hill. This new course is set to elevate the excitement of the event and create unforgettable moments for the next 75 years.
Parking is available for $10 (cash only), and admission prices are set at $12 for general entry, $6 for children 12 and younger, seniors 65 and older and students with valid IDs.
Fore more information, please visit runmtsac.com/invite/. Join us for this historic event as we celebrate the rich tradition of cross country running and the promising future it holds.