(HOOVER, AL)…The City of Hoover in conjunction with the Alabama Association of USA Track & Field and Hoover and Spain Park High School track and field booster clubs were awarded the bid to host the 2010 USATF Junior Olympics National Cross Country Championships today.  The event will be held at Veterans Park on Valleydale on December 11, 2010. 

Hoover competed against Terre Haute, Indiana and Kenosha, Wisconsin to host this prestigious cross country event that is expected to draw more than 3,000 athletes throughout the United States.  The athletes will compete on 3K, 4K and 5K courses based on their age divisions.  There will be five age divisions ranging from ages 10 & under to age 18. 

“We are pleased and honored that Hoover was selected to host the 2010 USATF Junior Olympics National Cross Country Championships over Kenosha, Wisconsin and Terre Haute, Indiana which are both respected cross country venues,” said Hoover Mayor Tony Petelos.  “Our team worked hard to win this opportunity and we look forward to hosting the participants in Hoover and providing them with a first-class experience.” 

Samford University will host the opening ceremonies at the Hanna Center Friday night prior to the event while Spain Park High School will host the closing ceremonies following the event. 

In 2007, Lawrenceville, Kansas hosted the event where participants competed in several inches of snow.  This year the championships will be held in Mechanicsville, Virginia located outside of Richmond.