How do I register my child to run Cross Country with the Blue Knights?
Registration is open for 2 weeks late June / early July for the upcoming XC season (June 26 to July 8, 2023). Registration will be online. Only registered athletes may participate.

How old does my child need to be to join the team?
Our XC program is for 6th through 12th grade.

Which XC events does the XC team offer, and which will my child be eligible for?
High school races are typically 5k (3.1 miles) but some early season meets will have shorter distances of 2 miles and/or 3k for freshman. Middle school races range from 3k to 2 miles (typically). Most of our meets are MSHSAA sponsored, meaning that 6-8th grade can participate in MS meets and 9-12th grade in HS meets (V and JV).

When, where and how long does the team practice?
Team practices will be Mondays and Thursdays from 5:00-6:30 pm at Wapelhorst Park (Mondays) and McNair Park (Thursdays). You should come to practice in running clothes appropriate for weather, wear good running shoes, and bring plenty of water. Athletes are expected to run on their own ~3 times per week outside of practice — Instructions for on-your-own workouts will be given out by the coaches for the days we do not practice.
*Saturday 8 am group long runs are optional (locations will vary).

What are practices like?
We typically start out with a brief team huddle, followed by a 1 mile warm-up, stretching drills, a workout (hills, speed, intervals, etc), and 1 mile cool down. We try to get as much of the workout on the grass as possible as races will mostly be run on grass and variable terrain.

What if I cannot attend some of the practices?
Athletes will need to attend the majority of practices in order to participate in meets, the majority meaning half plus one of all practices. For example, if we have 8 practices before the first meet, athletes will need to have attended 5 of the practices to participate. If we have 10 practices before the second meet, athletes will need 6 to participate. Participation in optional Saturday morning long runs will count towards the requirement should an athlete have to miss a weekday practice. We encourage all athletes to play a variety of sports, but believe it is also important to honor the commitment of those choosing XC as their primary focus from August-October. We believe this attendance requirement is more equitable for the group and will build better team chemistry. Under certain circumstances, we will consider a waiver for those participating in another sport which conflicts with practices or meets. In such cases, please email Coach Marv [email protected] prior to registration.

When does the season begin, and how long does it last?
We will schedule a parent & athlete meeting for those registered in late July. Official practices will begin at the beginning of August (in 2023, that means Thursday, August 3). We anticipate ~7 high school meets, ~4 middle school meets plus Homeschool Nationals. The season ends with the National Homeschool XC Championship in Springfield, MO (typically the last Saturday in October).

When and where will meets be held?
Planned Blue Knights XC Meets - 2023. During the season, we typically have a meet each week, usually on Saturday mornings.

• Tuesday, August 29 - FleetFeet XC Classic (HS only, 2M) - Arnold City Park (HS only)
• Saturday, September 9 - Forest Park XC Festival (HS+MS)
• Saturday, September 16 - Fulton XC Invitational (HS+MS)
• Monday, September 25 - Elsberry Invitational (HS+MS)
• Saturday, Sept 30 - Frank Schultz XC Invite - Hillsboro (HS+MS)
• Saturday, Oct 7 - Potosi XC Invitational (HS+MS)
• Saturday, October 14 - Hancock XC Invitational - Jefferson Barracks Park (HS only)
• Saturday, October 28 - Homeschool XC Nationals - Lake Springfield Park, Springfield MO (HS+MS & siblings)

Are tryouts required to join the team?
No. All homeschoolers are welcome to join the program regardless of ability. We seek to provide a program where competitive runners can excel and improve as well as where new runners can learn to love the sport and be part of a team. The high school varsity team is competitive with the best runners selected for events regardless of age/grade. The JV and middle school teams are a mixture of competitive/aspiring varsity runners as well as those using the program to get into running and/or off-season conditioning for other sports. Please note, however, we may need to limit the number of participants for logistical reasons.

What should I do before the season begins?
Athletes should be running before the season begins so that they are in shape once formal team practices begin. Our first meets are only a few weeks after practices start. Ideally, HS athletes should be able to jog 30 minutes without stopping (2-3 miles). MS athletes should be able to jog 20 minutes (1.5-2 miles). Our warm-ups are typically 1 mile at an easy pace (no walking–If a runner can’t jog the warmup, one of their parents will be expected to do the warmup with them). We suggest that you are running 3 or more times per week in June and July. Please contact one of the coaches for specific suggestions for pre-season training. Also, we encourage athletes to use Strava to track their workouts. We have a “club” on Strava called Stl Blue Knights Track XC that you can join to encourage your teammates and track your progress.

Who are the coaches, and how can I get in touch with them?
Coach Bios page
Head Coach:Marv Meyers
Assistant Head Coach: Jane Criswell
Assistant Coaches: Bob Kusterer and Mark Forbes