ISU to host 2011 NCAA Cross Country Championship

For the eighth consecutive year, Indiana State University will host the NCAA Division I Men's and Women's Cross Country Championship at the LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course.

ISU Athletic Director Ron Prettyman on Wednesday announced that Terre Haute has been selected to host the Nov. 21, 2011 event and that the NCAA approached ISU after potential universities could not get proper approval.

The University of Louisville, host of the 2012 Championships, and the University of Oregon were among some of the schools vying for the opportunity.

"This was a last minute decision," Prettyman said during a press conference. "But by being awarded this championship, it is a great reflection of the quality of the facilities at the Wabash Valley Family Sports Center."

Prettyman said the event has a "significant economic impact on the community" but also brings national notoriety to ISU and Terre Haute. With more than 1,600 student athletes participating, it is the single largest NCAA competition of individual competitors.

"Anyone with any knowledge of the sport knows we have the best facilities and we run the best championship in the sport of cross-country," Prettyman said.

Most NCAA Championship events are hosted annually in a variety of cities and venues, but that could change for the cross country event.

"We have laid the groundwork for making this the permanent site," Prettyman said. "We are putting together some proposals now."

Based on the success of the events that have been held here and admirable effort by Terre Haute, Prettyman said the city should permanently claim the moniker "Cross-Country Town, USA."