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Fall 2023 Cross Country: General Information & Schedule

Updated 5/17/2023. Subject to change.

NOTE: Space is limited for each squad, but we do not have tryouts. We love new athletes!
We anticipate possible waiting lists for girls.

  • Current team members will be given priority registration beginning Thursday, June 1, 2023.
    A link will be sent via email.
  • New team members will have the opportunity to register beginning Tuesday, June 6, 2023.
    Contact us in advance to let us know that you're interested in participating,     so we can let you know if space might be available. We will send you a link to the online forms when new-member registration opens.
  • Mandatory team registration & orientation meeting (registration closes):
    Tuesday, June 13, 2023, 6:15 P.M. @Hanover City Hall
    This is a combination of paperwork management and a group meeting.
    See Team Calendar for details.

Races

  • JV/Varsity (high school) athletes run the 5K (3.1 mi).
  • Junior High (7th-8th grade) races vary but are shorter (closer to 2400m/1.5 mi).

Coaches
All coaches meet MSHSL training requirements. See also information contained under the "About Us" tab in the menu bar.

  • Kirk Swanson (MSHSL Certified Head Coach)
  • Jennifer Swanson (Assistant Coach & Athletic Director)
  • Cristine Nielsen (Assistant Coach)
  • Tim Winters (Assistant Coach)

Captains’ Practices
Pre-season attendance is optional but encouraged. Captains' practices do not count toward your attendance requirements.

  • Two weeks preceding the official season. Schedule TBD; watch the Team Calendar.
  • Captains: Maria Jose Plotts, Grace Hutchinson, and Mark Swanson.

Summer Running T-shirts

Official Season: August 14 - October 26, 2023 (or so)

  • Junior High racing season is slightly shorter. Practices after their last race are optional, but JH'ers are required to attend the last official day of practice (uniform returns, thank-you cards, etc.).
  • Varsity State qualifiers go longer (November--see Team Calendar).
  • Mark your calendar with post-season meet dates to support your teammates who qualify!

Practice Attendance Requirements

  • Cross country is a team sport, and the team performs its best when everyone is present. Practice affects team unity, morale, and success. You are expected to be at all practices and meets on time and for the duration unless prior arrangements have been made well in advance with the head coach.
  • If you anticipate regular absences, contact the coaches before you register to determine if this program will work with your schedule.
  • We only require practice attendance 4x/week; but we expect JV/Varsity (high school) athletes to train at least 5x/week, which will require at least one day of running an assigned workout on your own and logging your completed workout on Running2Win. See Team Handbook for details.

Practice Schedule
Note: fall Cross Country and spring Track & Field schedules differ due to daylight and facility needs/availability.

  • Mondays 4:00 - 6:00 P.M. @Swansons' (near Hanover, MN)
  • Tuesdays 4:00 - 6:00 P.M. @Hanover City Hall/Settler’s Park (11250 5th St NE, Hanover)
  • Wednesdays: work out on your own as assigned (required); we will practice on Wednesdays (4:00 - 6:00 P.M.) before Thursday meets (see Team Calendar for dates/locations).
  • Thursdays 4:00 - 6:00 P.M. @Hanover City Hall/Settler’s Park (11250 5th St NE, Hanover)
  • Saturdays 8:30 - 10:30 A.M. @Swansons'

Meets

  • See Team Calendar for schedule--subject to change! Do not print this in May and expect it to look the same in October. :)
  • Meets typically end by sunset (6:30 P.M. or so).
  • JH, JV, and Varsity runners race at each meet unless otherwise noted. The level at which you compete at meets will depend on your attendance, performance, and completing and logging your assigned workouts.
  • MSHSL RULES EMPHASIS: JV/Varsity athletes may only compete in events that match their race distance (i.e., 5K fun runs) before Labor Day. After that, during the CC season, the event must be at least 1K different in length. We recommend not racing outside the CC schedule during the regular season.

Transportation
All practices and meets require parents and/or athletes to provide transportation. Many appreciate carpools, so ask veteran team-parents about creative strategies and/or post a message to the Team Forum (message board).

End-of-Season Banquet

  • Don't miss it! Each athlete is individually recognized and honored for their contribution to the team.
  • Typically held the first Friday evening the weekend after the State meet.
  • Families with quiet younger/older siblings welcome. :)
  • Potluck. RSVP to Banquet Team Leader. See Team Calendar.

Watch the Team Calendar for updates!

CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE ELIGIBILITY & REGISTRATION INFORMATION PAGE.