We invite you and your runners to be part of this year's 47th Annual McQuaid Invitational, one of the largest scholastic meets in the U.S.A. National Federation sanction has been requested for schools from the 18 states and two Canadian provinces from which we invited schools. The 2010 meet drew over 6100 runners from 236 schools in 5 states and Ontario.

No changes from 2010, except for digital display clocks at mile & 2-mile marks

DATE: Saturday, October 1, 2011. (Next year: September 29th)

PLACE: A large scenic glen in Genesee Valley Park, on the southern outskirts of Rochester, next to the I-390 Expressway. (Check DIRECTIONS on website)

COURSES: Varsity: 3.0 miles. Spikes may be used but are not recommended except in muddy conditions. Great for spectators! Mostly grass; moderately hilly. Runners find it deceptively difficult. (Records Boys: 14:35; Girls 16:52.2) Jr. High course: 1.62 miles (Records: 9:03; 9:52). No spikes in Jr. High races.

RACES:
7 Boys Varsity (3 seeded, 4 unseeded)
6 Girls Varsity (3 seeded, 3 unseeded)
4 Varsity "B" (our designation for "Jr. Varsity"): 3 for Boys, 1 for Girls
2 Sophomore races (1 boys, 1 girls).  For anyone in 10th grade, as well as for 7th-9th graders who have lost jr. high eligibility.
6 Jr. High (Gr. 7-9), 3 each for Boys and Girls (Note restrictions below under "Using Runners at Proper Levels")

ORDER OF EVENTS: Small schools run early, then medium and large. Check race SCHEDULE.

AWARDS: Over 2800, all custom-made. Check AWARDS.

ENTRY FEES: $35 per varsity team, $25 per sub-varsity, $12 for individuals. $150 SCHOOL MAXIMUM.
                       LATE FEE of $25 for all entries after 9/25. Please observe deadlines!

DEADLINES: Preliminary entry form due by Mon, Sept. 19th. Online entries close at 3:00pm on Sun, Sept. 25. Both must be completed in order to enter the meet.

OVERNIGHT ACCOMMODATIONS: An updated list of MOTELS convenient to the meet site.

PARKING - There are almost 250 places for cars and vans adjacent to the course, but all buses will be directed to either the carousel lot in Genesee Valley Park or to the large University of Rochester lot bordering the park. Any buses entering via River Rd. should expect to drop runners off at the course and be directed to one of the bus lots.

RACE ASSIGNMENTS - Schools will be assigned according to size first. Three divisions for boys: Small (A), Medium (AA), Large (AAA); same three for Girls. Cut-off points change from year to year, so check our web site after 9/26 to be sure about the races your teams are in. If you want to compete in a higher division, check with the meet director before 6:00pm on Tues. 9/27. Within each division, varsity races are divided into seeded and unseeded. Boys: 3 seeded, 4 unseeded; Girls: 3 seeded and 3 unseeded. Seeded races will have 15-20 teams; unseeded could go as high as 35-40.

"MIXED" RACES - If necessary to avoid over-crowding of unseeded races, we will place up to 15 unseeded teams in a seeded race and have a separate scoring and first-place plaque for the best unseeded team. Computer-scoring will separate seeded teams from unseeded teams. In recent years we increased the seeded race awards to prevent inequities if the race became a mixed one. (Last year, only 2 of our seeded races were in fact "mixed.") COACHES: IF YOU ENTER A TEAM AND ASK TO BE UNSEEDED, ALSO INDICATE ON THE ENTRY IF YOU DO NOT WISH YOUR TEAM TO BE PLACED IN A "MIXED" RACE.

TO FIND OUT WHAT RACES YOU'RE IN – The seeding meeting will be on Sun., 9/25. Beginning Monday 9/26 you can find your school listed in the race SCHEDULE for the whole meet. Changes can be requested up until 6:00pm on Tues., 9/27. No requests for changes will be accepted after that. The assignments will be by race numbers only. The times and descriptions of races are on the web site for reference.

REGISTRATION - Your envelopes will be at the shelter closest to the finish line (about 50 yards away). Our concessions stand will also be there to serve complimentary coffee and doughnuts to coaches and drivers. (Free coffee/donut coupons will be in the envelopes.) REGISTRATION WILL OPEN AT 7:45 AND CONTINUE THROUGH THE MEET UNTIL 1:30. Coaches wishing to pick up their envelopes on Friday may do so between 2:00 and 6:00pm at the Souvenir stand. The Souvenir stand will be open during that period selling McQuaid Invitational t-shirts, hats, etc.

STARTING LINE POSITIONS - Drawn at random for each race by computer for complete teams only. Incompletes will fill in at end of line. Exception: individual entries in seeded races will be assigned positions, also at random.

USING RUNNERS AT PROPER LEVELS - Three reminders:
1. Under NY rules, runners in Gr.7-9 are ineligible for Jr. high races once they've competed officially in a varsity or J.V. race. Run them at sophomore level or higher in this meet.
2. Varsity-caliber Sophs (and 7-9, too) may run in the Soph races. They're usually pretty fast.
3. 11th-12th graders who would normally be varsity scorers may not run in a Varsity "B" race, which is intended for your second-string runners. We have had to disqualify runners for not observing this rule.

INDIVIDUAL ENTRIES - Run them in their proper size division (A, AA, AAA) unless you wish them to move up to a larger (and usually tougher) one. Check with the meet director no later than Tues., Sept. 27th if you're not sure about seeded or unseeded race placement.

JEWELRY RULE - Watches are okay, but no visible jewelry is allowed. Religious items may be worn but must be taped.

NO SPIKES IN JR. HIGH RACES - NYSPHSAA rules prohibit Jr. High runners from wearing spikes. Individuals caught wearing spikes will be disqualified, as will their team.

LIMIT ON RUNNERS –
1. ALL sub-varsity races allow unlimited entries, but only 7 runners figure in scoring.
2. Girls Varsity: No limit in A-3, A-2, or A races. Don't enter any runners in Girls J.V.(Race 18); it would involve waiting 3 hours. Limit of 10 in AA, AA-2, and AAA. Run all others in Girls Soph or Girls J.V.
3. Boys Varsity: Maximum of 10 in all seeded races, but only 7 count. Limit of 7 in all unseeded races. If there are any boys "Mixed" races, all teams can run 10.
4. "Straggler" Rule: Due to the looping nature of the course and our tight time schedule, this rule will once again be in effect for all JV, Soph, and Varsity races. Any boys who do not make the 2-mile mark by 16:00 and any girls who don't make it by 18:00 will end their race at that point. Coaches, we count on your discretion in this matter. If you enter runners who might be affected by the straggler rule, we suggest that a coach or parent be at the 2-mile mark.

PRACTICING ON THE COURSE - Course lines should be painted by Thursday. If you wish to come to the park that day or Friday, please tell your runners NOT TO RUN ON THE LINES. Some course maps will be left in an envelope attached to the finish bleachers.

SOUVENIRS - Merchandise will be sold on Friday, starting at 2 pm, and Saturday from 7am until sold out.  Merchandise includes T-shirts – long and short sleeve, sweatshirts, fleece, wick-aways, pinnies, sweatpants, flannel pants, sling bags and car stickers.

If you have never come to our meet, I think you'll find it well worth the trip. It has something for teams of all sizes and abilities. If you have a conflict this year, plan to come on 09/29 in 2012 (our meet always falls on the 4th Saturday after Labor Day). Questions? e-mail me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it