Big meets give area cross country runners a kick

West Shore's Day sixth in Race of Champions

 

7:04 PM, Sep 29, 2012   |  

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West Shore's Sarah Day, in back, of Shelby Davidson of Cocoa Beach finished sixth Saturday in the Race of Champions. / Craig Bailey, FLORIDA TODAY file

 TITUSVILLE — As she stepped out of the finish area at the Flrunners.com Invitational 13 cross country meet Saturday morning, Merritt Island High School freshman Monet Madeux looked around and smiled.

 “I’m pretty impressed,” said Madeux, who had just finished 132nd in the Race of Champions, her first major competition as a varsity harrier. “This is big.” 

So it was, with more than 4,600 high school, college and club runners and thousands more coaches and spectators. They crowded the area behind Brevard Community College and Chain of Lakes Park to participate in a two-day event that was more of a cross country festival than merely a series of races, with music, dance contests and vendors, as well as running.