After a three-year run at the Bourbon County Cross Country Course in Paris, the KHSAA state cross country championships heads back to the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington starting in the fall.
The 2020 KHSAA Cross Country State Championships marked the first time in more than four decades that a cross country state championship was not decided in its entirety at the Kentucky Horse Park when the state event made its debut at the Bourbon County course. The Class 3A meet was hosted in Louisville in both 1978 and 1979 before all classes moved to the Kentucky Horse Park in 1980, starting a lengthy run at the Park throughout several different courses until 2020.
“The logistical needs of the upcoming year and continued growth in cross country participation need to take priority,” KHSAA commissioner Julian Tackett said. “We never like to adjust sites after our calendar is set in May, but we had little option and are thankful that the Kentucky Horse Park is now back embracing full-scale events following its own set of uncertain times. This will address many logistical needs that surround this great event as it continues to grow and evolve.”
Over 440,000 high school students compete in cross country each year, making it the sixth-most popular high school sport for girls and seventh most popular for boys.
Northern Kentucky programs look to build off a very successful 2022 campaign. The Beechwood girls, St. Henry and Conner boys won state team titles in their respective classes, while St. Henry’s Dixon Ryan, Covington Catholic’s Will Sheets and Scott’s Maddie Strong won individual state titles in their respective class.