Event Overview

The LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course is located on the east side of Terre Haute, Ind. The course features mowed grass, an irrigated start/finish stretch, fenced spectator areas and permanent mile and kilometer markers. A lead and trail golf cart will accompany each race.

Timing and live results: Midwest Timing will provide mile and 5K splits for both races, with live results at those points and the finish. Midwest Timing meet list & results.

Course inspection: Friday, November 6, 8 a.m.–5:30 p.m.; also available before the races on November 7.

Facilities: Permanent restrooms are near the course facilities, with portable toilets available near the start and team tent area.

LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course Maps

Official course diagrams for the men's 8K and women's 6K. The diagrams show route direction, kilometer markers, turns, start/finish, and elevation profiles.

Men's 8K Course

Women's 6K Course

Site Map, Parking & Arrival

Team buses: Enter Gate 3 from Swalls Drive, approaching from the west via State Road 42 and the roundabout on the north end of the complex. Buses must not enter from Tabortown Road. Teams may be dropped off at the team camp area by the start.

Spectators: Follow event directions to the visitor entrance and parking areas off Tabortown Road. The site map identifies visitor parking, accessible parking, bus parking, concessions, team tent city, first aid, and awards.

Packet pickup: Tent near the starting line. Awards location: East of the finish, at the giant pillars (marked 14 on the site map).

Information for Participating Teams

Entries, check-in & meeting

Enter all possible runners through DirectAthletics. The manual states that the NAIA will announce the entry deadline in October; confirm the final deadline with conference staff.

Coaches meeting: 8:45 a.m. at the check-in tent near concessions. Packet pickup: Near the start line. Box assignments: Provided to coaches in advance by the conference commissioner.

Athletic training & hospitality

Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College will provide athletic trainers near the finish chute. Hospitality for coaches and officials will be in the tent near the concessions area.

Team scoring

The first five finishers from each team score; sixth- and seventh-place team finishers serve as displacers. Team scoring ties are resolved using the five scoring runners' head-to-head finishing comparisons, with the team winning the majority of comparisons awarded the higher place (as specified in the championship manual).

Weather & safety

Meet personnel monitor lightning. At 30 miles, preparations begin; at 20 miles, safety procedures begin; within 10 miles, activity is suspended and everyone must move to a safe structure. The all-clear standard is no lightning within 20 miles or during the preceding 30 minutes. Delays or cancellation may occur. Listen for announcements from the press box.

Awards & NAIA Championship Qualification

Awards ceremony: 12:45 p.m. EST at the awards area east of the finish.

All-Conference recognition

First Team: Places 1–7 receive plaques. Second Team: Places 8–14 receive framed certificates. Third Team: Places 15–21 receive certificates.

Additional awards

Newcomer of the Year: Typically the top freshman, unless another eligible upperclass newcomer is identified. Coaches should email candidates to ryan@riverstatesconference.com by Wednesday, Nov. 4, at 11:59 p.m. EST. A newcomer cannot have competed in RSC cross country before this season; participating in other sports does not remove eligibility.

Coach of the Year: Head coaches vote after the championship races; ballots go to assistant commissioner Ryan Murphy.

Scholar-Athlete Teams: Recognized according to Article XV of the River States Conference constitution, facilitated by the conference office.

Champions of Character: Each team selects a recipient. Those athletes may also be considered for the Bill Melton Champion of Character Award, with the conference recipient nominated for the NAIA Dr. Leroy Walker Character Award. Coaches will be contacted for names in advance.

Team honors: Champion team receives a banner and trophy; runner-up team receives a plaque.

NAIA national championship automatic qualification

Team berths: One automatic berth for conferences with six or more schools. A second requires 12 teams completing the race with at least five finishers each; the manual also states that a second berth is not awarded if the relevant team is outside the top 30 of final rankings.

Individual berths (6–11 teams): Top four finishers not on a qualifying team, provided they finish in the meet's top 15.

Individual berths (12+ teams): Top six finishers not on a qualifying team, provided they finish in the meet's top 20.

Hotels, Dining & Visitor Information

Near the course: The manual lists Holiday Inn Express and Home2 Suites among nearby lodging options.

Interstate 70 / U.S. 41 area: Holiday Inn, Hampton Inn, SpringHill Suites and other options. Downtown Terre Haute: Candlewood Suites and Hilton Garden Inn.

Food: Nearby options cited in the manual include Azzip Pizza, Chipotle, Jimmy John's and Monical's; more dining is available along South Third Street / U.S. 41. Verify current business hours and lodging availability directly.

Meet Contacts & Officials

River States Conference

T-Ray Fletcher · Commissioner · commissioner@riverstatesconference.com

Ryan Murphy · Assistant Commissioner  ryan@riverstatesconference.com

Josh Colvin · Cross Country Chair · jcolvin@iu.edu

Host & site management

Kevin Lanke · SMWC Associate Director of Athletics · Kevin.lanke@smwc.edu

Aaron Crawn · SMWC Head Coach · Aaron.crawn@smwc.edu

Jeff Martin · Site Manager, Indiana State University Associate Head Track and Field Coach · Jeffery.martin@indstate.edu

Officials & training

Lead starter: Ed Stuffle. Starters: Bob Munoz, Jay White. Clerks: Damon Clements, Gary Laycock. Athletic trainers: Provided by Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College.