On Sunday, September 23, State High alumni, family, and friends will gather at Circleville Park in Patton Township to sweat, reconnect and celebrate shared success. The State College Cross Country Boys and Girls Booster Clubs will sponsor the inaugural SCXC Alumni Mile, in which   alumni runners and their family and friends are invited to run the last mile of the State High cross country course located in the park. The run will begin at 3 pm and will be followed by awards and refreshments.

 

The State High Cross Country teams have a long track record of success. Over the years, the boys and girls teams have combined for no less than eight PIAA state team titles. The current teams have won the District 6 title for 16 (girls) and 5 (boys) consecutive years and are regularly in the hunt for top placings at the State Championship meet in Hershey the first weekend in November. In addition to success at the finish line, both teams are amongst the largest at State High with more than 50 athletes on each squad; this year’s girls senior class has an impressive 23 future alumni!

 

Head Girls coach Rebecca Donaghue-Gilkes is looking forward to seeing many of her past athletes return: “The alumni mile is a great chance for State College XC to showcase its storied distance tradition. We’re very excited to have SCXC alumni come together on this day and be `better together.’”

 

Bob Hudson, class of 1981 and a member of the 1978 State Champion team, describes the event best: “Over the years State High cross country alums on the boys and girls side have literally logged over a million miles during the summers before the season. We all learned that championships in November are often won during the sweaty days of July and August.  So why not just one more mile? A chance to catch up with friends old and new and share stories. A chance to close the link between the great teams of the Horner, Infield and Gentry eras to our current crop of hungry Little Lions. Show why it is a truly special thing to be State High harrier.”

 

Proceeds from the event will benefit current and future State High athletes through the purchase of an inflatable finish line and funds for other activities and equipment provided by the booster clubs. More information and registration details can be found at https://sites.psu.edu/scxcalumnimile. The first 50 registrants prior to September 14 will receive a complimentary SCXC Alumni car magnet.