Saturday, September 30, 2023

 

Presented by

and Eisenhower Cross Country

held at Franklin Park in Yakima, Washington. "TERRACE, DOG LEG, ROSE BUSHES!"

Welcome to the 50th Annual Sunfair Invitational.

The 50th annual Sunfair Invitational Cross Country Meet will be held Saturday September 30, 2023 at Franklin Park in Yakima, Washington. About 1000 runners are expected to descend upon Franklin Park for an exciting day of top level competition. In past years teams from British Columbia, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Utah and Washington have participated. The Sunfair Invitational is comprised of 13 races over various courses at Franklin Park. There is an appropriate race for every member of a team to participate in, including coaches and spectators. The highlights of the day usually occur during the 5 varsity flights, where a single varsity runner from each team (boy and girl) will compete against their counterparts from the other participating teams. The meet begins at 9:00 am with the 3rd-6th grade girls' race and will end at 3:45 pm with the awards ceremony at the base of the Franklin Park terraces. The varsity flights start at 12:15 PM.

The Sunfair Cross Country Invitational is one of the largest single-day high school participation event in the Northwest. We are proud to associate with gear UP Sports as a sponsor of the meet. Many local entities and individuals will partner with gear Up Sports and the Eisenhower Cross Country Parents Club to help insure a fun, safe and successful event.

The meet director for the Sunfair Cross Country Invitational is Phil English, Cross Country coach for Eisenhower High School.

Please Note: Boys & Girls will run together in the first 3 varsity flights. The final 2 Varsity flights will be run separately. Prior to the start of the final flights, we will be introducing the top competitors. If you have an athlete deserving of recognition at this time please email us with their accomplishments to Administration@SunfairRun.com by September 27th.

General Meet Information

Date
Saturday, September 30, 2023
Location
Franklin Park, 19th Avenue & Tieton Drive, Yakima, Washington
Web Site Coverage
Results will be posted on Athletic.net, and we will post results after the races are completed.
Key Sponsor
GearUP Sports
Rules/COVID
WIAA and NFHS Rules will be adhered to for the event and please be sure to follow all COVID Guidelines.
Lane Assignments
There will be no assigned lanes. Runners are free to start at any point behind the starting line.
Race Numbers
All runners must wear their race number during their race. These numbers will be provided in the team packets. No High School teams or individuals will be entered on the day of the meet. Athletes in grades 3rd-8th who did not pre-register will be provided race numbers prior to the start of their races.
Packet Pick-up
Packets may be picked-up at the Rotary Pavilion on the south side of Franklin Park on Friday afternoon from 2:00PM to 4:00PM or on Saturday morning after 7:00AM.
Medical
A team of physicians and athletic trainers will be on duty for the duration of the meet. A medical area and tent will be located at the finish area; access will be restricted to the medical staff and meet workers ONLY.
Admission
Franklin Park will be fenced-off for the meet. Admission gates will be established at various locations around the park. Adults will be charged $5.00 and seniors, military, first responders, children and students with ASB $4.00. All participants, coaches, and school personnel will be admitted free. Any athletes or teams caught removing fencing, or entering the meet in through unpatroled or unsecured areas will be disqualified.
Restrooms
Locker rooms will be available at Franklin Middle School (athletes only). Public restrooms will be open at Franklin pool. In addition, approximately 20 portable toilets will be available throughout the park.
Parking
Limited parking is available at Franklin Park on Tieton Dr. Additional parking will be available at Franklin Middle School on 19th Ave. Most parking will be on the streets in the surrounding residential neighborhoods. Please do not park on private property or block driveways. Sorry, this year parking for buses and vans will NOT be available at the church on the corner of Chestnut and 16th Avenue. However, additional parking is available a few blocks farther away at Roosevelt Elementary school at 16th and Summitview Avenues.
Concessions
A full concession stand will be available for the duration of the meet. There is also a soda fountain located in the Yakima Valley Museum at the main entrance to Franklin Park on Tieton Drive.
Shirts
A large selection of uniquely designed apparel will be available for purchase.

Venue Map
Parking, Bathrooms, Concessions, First Aid, etc. Map

Again, please note this year parking for buses and vans will NOT be available at the church on the corner of Chestnut and 16th Avenue as noted on map

Please be considerate of current COVID-19 Health and Safety Guidelines!

Scoring and Awards

Meet Scoring
Boys and Girls will run together in the first three varsity flights. Girls' Flight #7 will be run separately, with only the top girl athlete on each team and then the Boys' Flight #7 with only the top boy athlete on each team. Prior to the start of the Flight #7 races, we will be introducing the top competitors.

For team results, the runners will be scored in each flight against the same rank of runners from the other competing teams. For example, the fastest runner from each team in the first varsity flights will score against each other, and the second fastest runner from each team will score against each other.

NOTE: Any team not entering or completing a full flight as required will receive the points equal to the number of runners in that flight as a penalty, for team scoring.
Results
Results will be posted on Athletic.net, and we will post results after the races are completed.
Lane Assignments
There will be no assigned lanes. Runners are free to start at any point behind the starting line.
Race Numbers
All runners must wear their race number during their race. These numbers will be provided in the team packets. No High School teams or individuals will be entered on the day of the meet. Athletes in grades 3rd-8th who did not pre-register will be provided race numbers prior to the start of their races.
Packet Pick-up
Packets may be picked-up at the Rotary Pavilion on the south side of Franklin Park on Friday afternoon from 2:00PM - 4:00PM or on Saturday morning after 7:00AM.
Awards Ceremony
An awards ceremony will take place following the final varsity flights. The ceremony is held at the base of the terraces in the northeast corner of the park.
Individual Awards
Medals to winners in every race and in each Varsity flight
Ribbons for places 1-50 in each non-varsity race
Ribbons for places 1-5 in each varsity flight.
Team Awards
Boys & Girls Trophies to 1st, 2nd, & 3rd place in combined classification.
Overall trophy to the top Boys & Girls combined school (for the 7 Varsity Flights)

Please Note: Boys & Girls will run together in the first varsity flights. Flight 7 will be run separately. Prior to the start of the Flight 7 races we will be introducing the top competitors. If you have an athlete deserving of recognition at this time please email us with their accomplishments to Administration@SunfairRun.com by September 27th.

Course Maps

CLICK on the images to enlarge them.

3rd-6th Grade Course Map (1 Mile)

PRINTABLE PDF VERSION

7th-8th Grade Course Map (1.5 Mile)

PRINTABLE PDF VERSION

Frosh Course Map (2.0 Mile)

PRINTABLE PDF VERSION

Varsity Course Map (3.0 Mile)

PRINTABLE PDF VERSION

Sunfair Overview Map

PRINTABLE PDF VERSION

Course Length:
3 miles for all races with the exception of the 3rd-6th grade (1 mile), the 7th-8th grade (1.5 miles) and the Frosh (2.0 miles) competitions. These races will be run over the last sections of the 3 mile course. For example, the Frosh races will be run over the last 2 miles of the regular 3 mile course. The 3rd-6th Grade Race starts under the tree at the 2 mile mark. The 7th-8th Grade Race starts in the Southwest corner of the park. The Frosh race uses the regular starting line and the distance is adjusted on the dogleg at the top of the terraces.

Course Description:
Primarily grass with short sections of pavement. Spikes or flats may be worn. The course is comprised of 3 1/2 loops with the terrain varying from a steep hill at 1 mile to rolling, gentle areas. The start area will be near the center of Franklin Park. The finish area will be near the Rotary Pavilion. The course will be marked and available for viewing on Friday afternoon and officials will be available for course clarification from 2:00-5:00 pm. Team packets will be available for pick-up between 2:00 and 4:00PM.

Registration

Entry Form:
All High School Teams are required to enter the meet using Athletic.net. Middle School teams are also required to use Athletic.net. Students in grades 3rd-8th who have not pre-registered may register at the Rotary Pavilion on the south side of Franklin Park on Friday afternoon after 2:00PM or on Saturday morning after 7:00AM. Parents and coaches must allow ample time prior to your 3rd-8th grade race, if you elect to register on the morning of the race.

For registration instructions and links to Athletic.net click here.

Schools are encouraged to enter runners in any and all races at Sunfair. Pre-registration must be completed by noon on Thursday to allow us time to create the team packets and meet program. The race you choose for your runners to compete in is entirely your prerogative and can be made right up to race time but you may enter only two boys and two girls in each of the first 3 varsity flights, and only one boy or one girl in each of the last 2 varsity flights.

Entry Fees:
$250.00 for a combined Girls & Boys team, or $125.00 for a Boys or a Girls team, or $15.00 for each individual entry. There is no entry fee for 3rd-8th grade runners. The entry fee for the Community Fun Run is included in the admission price of the Sunfair Invitational.

Please make checks payable to Eisenhower ASB and forward to:

Race Numbers: All runners must wear their race number during their race. These numbers will be provided in the team packets. No High School teams or individuals will be entered on the day of the meet. Athletes in grades 3rd-8th who did not pre-register will be provided race numbers prior to the start of their races.

Schedule of Events

Time Event Distance
9:00 am 3rd-6th Grade Girls 1.0 mile
9:15 am 3rd-6th Grade Boys 1.0 mile
9:30 am 7th-8th Grade Girls 1.5 miles
9:45 am 7th-8th Grade Boys 1.5 miles
10:00 am Frosh Girls (9th Grade Only) 2.0 miles
10:30 am Frosh Boys (9th Grade Only) 2.0 miles
11:00 am Junior Varsity Girls 3.0 miles
11:45 am Junior Varsity Boys 3.0 miles
12:15 pm VARSITY Flights 1 and 2 - Boys and Girls Combined (6th and 7th Runners) 3.0 miles
1:00 pm VARSITY Flight 3 and 4 - Boys and Girls Combined (4th and 5th Runners) 3.0 miles
1:45 pm VARSITY Flight 5 and 6 - Boys and Girls Combined (2nd and 3rd Runners) 3.0 miles
2:30 pm Boys VARSITY Flight 7 (#1 runner) 3.0 miles
3:00 pm Girls VARSITY Flight 7 (#1 runner) 3.0 miles
3:45 pm Awards Ceremony on the NW Terraces

Meet Records

Fun Facts: The course record for the boys is held by Matthew Davis an NCAA All American from Oregon. In 2011, Amy-Elise Neale set a new girls' course record of 17:03.9 on a day that saw 23 girls run the course in under 19 minutes. The previous record was set in 2004 by Brie Felnagle in a race where the top 2 finishers broke U.S. Olympian Sara Schwald's record: Brie Felnagle from Bellarmine Prep in 1st place and Zoe Nelson from Flathead High School in Montana in 2nd place.

Franklin Park Course Records (3.0 Miles)

Event Name School Time Year
Boys' Record Matt Davis Mead 14:48 1993
Girls' Record Amy-Eloise Neale Glacier Peak 17:03 2011

Sunfair Invitational Meet Records

Event Name School Time Year
Boys' Frosh Rob Aubrey Mead Jr. High 10:36 1990
Girls' Frosh Emily Thompson Mead Jr. High 12:04 1991
Boys' Sophomore Forrest Martin Mead 16:32 1989
Girls' Sophomore Ashley Teer W.J. Mount (BC) 19:14 2001
Boys' JV Mike Visintainer University 16:11 1998
Girls' JV Jamie Hennessey Maple Ridge (BC) 19:04 2013
Boys' Junior Austin Richards Kamiakin 16:32 2008
Boys' Senior Gavin Leaverton Eisenhower 16:37 2012
Boys' Varsity Matt Davis Mead 14:48 1993
Girls' Varsity Amy-Eloise Neale Glacier Peak 17:03 2011

Sunfair Invitational Team Records

Event School Points Year Class
Boys' Varsity Mead 7 1993/1996 3A
Girls' Varsity Couer D'Alene 8 2012 4A