Setting Long-Term Goals to Run Toward
Memphis Youth Athletics serves to help fund, foster, and expand a sport that provides positive health benefits to its participants. We want to give students something exciting to look forward to and goals they can run toward.
So if you’re a coach or parent who has high school students interested in running cross country, read below or register today for more information.
How the High School Program Works
Eligibility
The MYA Fall High School Cross Country Program is open to all private school, public school, and home school students in grades 9 – 12 in Memphis and the surrounding areas.
Home-schooled students or students who don’t have schools participating may compete as:
- Unattached
- Part of a school team closest to their public school zone
- Part of a recognized home school cooperative
If your school doesn’t have a program and you’d like to start one, contact us at [email protected]. We’d love to help you out!
Registration opens 7/14/2024
Cross Country Season
Our Fall Cross Country Program is a five-week series that runs from September to October. The series includes the Frank Horton Classic and ends with a County Championship. High school runners may also qualify for the TSAA Cross Country State Championships.
Practices
In the high school program, runners will need to complete a 5K (or 3.1-mile) race.
While MYA doesn’t hold practices or directly train athletes, we do recommend that you practice with your team a minimum of two to three times a week to fully prepare the kids to complete their 5K course comfortably.
At the beginning of the season, your initial goal should be to promote positive fitness goals and let performance issues take a back seat to participation.
Program Fees & Costs
We’ll be running on the 5K Cross Country Course at Shelby Farms Park.
We have moved to an à la carte pricing model at $10 per athlete/per meet that will be invoiced at the end of the season. Athletes will still need to be registered in runsignup the same as before, but there will be no charge initially. You will also have to register separately for the Horton just as you would for any other travel meet. With this new approach, you may want to make sure you collect enough fees from your parents early in the season in order to cover the invoices later on.
Here are some of the operational costs that the registration fee helps cover:
- Facility rental, usage, and clean up
- Course preparation (marking the course, etc.)
- Event insurance and liability insurance for coaches
- Security for all meets
- Bib or hip numbers (pins for bibs)
- Bib chip timing and results
- Awards
- Fluids and cups at meets
- Timing equipment and supplies
- Officials, including clerk of course and a timer
- Track Supplies – marking/flagging/finish line
- PA system at all meets
- Park fees
- Portable toilets
Any athletes who aren’t able to afford the program costs may be granted a fee waiver.
Need More Information?
Follow the links below to learn more about registration, program details, meet schedule, and policies. You can email [email protected] with any questions.