Athlete Info

Table of Contents

• Adjusting to Altitude
• Advancement
• Athlete Check In
• Bib Numbers, Hip Numbers, Chip Timing
• Course Maps
• Protests
• Team Scoring
• Team Tents
• Uniforms

Adjusting to Altitude

Tips for coaches and athletes related to adjusting to altitude.

For many runners coming to this year’s USATF Junior Olympic Cross Country Championships in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Our city is located at 5,000 feet above sea level, and this is a significant adjustment for athletes coming from lower elevations. Even for athletes with high levels of fitness, effects of altitude can be significant.

A few tips from the LOC about adjusting to the altitude at this year’s championships

1. Stay well hydrated – this is critical to feel one’s best at higher elevation, and is also important to minimize the chance of altitude sickness. This applies for athletes, coaches, and family members!
2. Athletes may find that breathing feels more labored when running hard at altitude, due to lower air pressure when compared to sea level. We suggest that your runners get in 1-2 runs, including some harder effort, prior to race day to allow them to get used to how they will feel on race day.
3. Expect that some athletes will notice more effects from the altitude than others
4. Altitude sickness is not common at our altitude, occurring usually at altitudes of 7,000 feet or above. Symptoms include headache, nausea and vomiting, dizziness, tiredness, loss of appetite, upset stomach, feeling unsteady, shortness of breath. Again, staying well hydrated is the best way for athletes to avoid symptoms, and if you think that anyone in your group is beginning to show symptoms, they should rest and keep hydrated.

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Advancement

See USATF Competition Rule 305.3 for specific rules on qualifying for the National Championships. Generally, the first 30 individual finishers in each age division and first five teams in each team division at the Regional Championships will qualify for the National Championships. Athletes and teams from some Associations will qualify directly from their Association Championships as follows: top 15 individuals in each age division and 1st 2 teams in each team division. Contact your local association or regional meet director to learn more about how to qualify for the National Championships. Participant numbers are fixed and no alternate athletes may advance if qualifying athletes or teams choose not to enter the National Championships. All entry forms for the National Championships will be submitted through the online entry declaration process – entries cannot be accepted by any other method.

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Athlete Check In

All athletes must report to the staging area 30 minutes before the start of their races; only competing athletes are allowed in this area. Please observe all areas that are roped off and all course monitor directions. Individuals and teams will have designated starting positions.
 

Bib Numbers, Hip Numbers, Chip Timing

Each athlete will be assigned a bib number, one hip number (to be worn on the left hip), and two data tags at packet pick-up. Athletes in all races will be required to wear all of these identifiers to ensure the races are properly scored.

Athletes must wear the bib number, hip number and data tags assigned to them. If any of these are lost or forgotten, replacements can be supplied at packet pick-up on the day of the race for a fee.

The bib number must be worn on the front of the athlete's outer layer of race clothing and cannot be folded or altered in any way. Each number will have a pull tab at the bottom. Do not remove the pull tab on the bottom of the bib or put safety pins through the tab. The hip number (worn on the left hip) should also be worn on the athlete’s outer layer of clothing.
 
Each athlete must wear one data tag on each shoe. One data tag may be kept as a souvenir and athletes must return the other data tag to the event organizers in the finish line area immediately after their race. Unreturned data tags will incur a charge of $25.

For instructions on attaching your bib and hip numbers, click here.

For instructions on attaching your shoe chip, click here.

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Course Maps

As in 2012, the 2015 National Junior Olympic Cross Country Championship meet is being held at the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta Park; home of the annual Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta. The park’s 78-acre grass launch field will serve as the courses’ primary surface with the beautiful and majestic Sandia Mountains as a backdrop. The openness of the park makes for great spectator views and is ideal for taking in the clean New Mexico air. There is a long start with a smooth right turn about 400 meters into the race. The course then traverses a small golf course with some rolling hills. Athletes, families and friends will enjoy the race from all vantage points and because the start and finish lines are close together they will take pleasure in the full excitement of the course!  Those interested in previous times for the courses can view the 2012 JOXC results online.

2015 JOXC 2K course Map
2015 JOXC 3K Course Map
2015 JOXC 4k Course Map
2015 JOXC 5K Course Map

Protests

Protests relating to matters which developed during the conduct of the compe­tition must be made to the Referee at once and not later than 30 minutes after a result has been announced, except in the case of long distance races, where the time period shall be 24 hours, and cross country races or the Professional Section of road races, as defined in the race material (website, entry form, etc.), where the time period shall be one hour.  The fee to file a protest is $100.  This fee will be returned if the protest is upheld. Please note USATF Rule 119.4 when considering the use of video /photo footage for protests.
 

Team Scoring

Team scoring is divided into five divisions for boys and five divisions for girls. The athlete’s year of birth shall determine the division in which the athlete shall compete.
 

2015 Cross Country Team Scoring Divisions
Team Division	Birth Year
8 and Under	2007+
9-10 Yrs Old	2005-2006
11-12 Yrs Old	2003-2004
13-14 Yrs Old	2001-2002
15-16 Yrs Old	1999-2000
17-18 Yrs Old	1997-1998

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Team Tents

A specific area for team tents has been designated in proximity to the Start area. For those teams wishing to rent, meet management has partnered with “America Tent Rentals” <http://www.americatentrentals.com> to assist teams with their rental needs. You can contact them for assistance at (505) 888-5821 or (877) 888-5822. Tents may be set up beginning at 9am on Friday, December 11, 2015. The last day to purchase tents is December 8th.

• 10'x10' canopy: $90 plus tax; 8'x20' sidewall 2 @ $25 each plus tax
• 10'x20' canopy: $130 plus tax; 8'x20' sidewall 3 @ $25 each plus tax
• sidewalls are optional

Uniforms

Each competitor on a qualifying team must have a jersey or singlet that is basically identical in color and style to those worn by his/her teammates. The team jersey must be clearly visible throughout the race. This means the team jersey should be worn as the outside layer of clothing if other garments are worn during the race. Athletes who are unattached or who compete for a team not in team competition may wear any apparel as long as it is safe, not offensive, and has the athlete's bib number attached to the outside layer.

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