Cedarville University Yellow Jackets

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Elvin R. King Cross Country Course

A new era began in Cedarville University cross country with the opening of the Elvin R. King Cross Country Course.

The on-campus venue was dedicated and named in honor of CU's Hall of Fame coach during Homecoming Weekend on Oct. 7, 2006.

Elvin King coached track and cross country at Cedarville University for 41 years before retiring following the 2009 fall season. He was especially known for the Lady Jacket cross country program which he started in 1979.

King guided Cedarville to the 2001 NAIA Women's Cross Country Championship which remains the school's only NAIA title in any sport. The Lady Jackets became the first NAIA school to claim the All-Ohio Cross Country Championship in 2008 and they totaled nine NCCAA banners to go along with 12 conference trophies.

Course Maps (pdf) - 1,600m  |  3,200m  |  5K  |  6K  |  8K

The Course
The Elvin R. King Cross Country Course, located at the north end of the campus just east of State Route 72, was constructed on 150 acres of property and was designed and built under the direction of former athletic director Pete Reese and King. Athletes run entirely on a grass course that includes rolling hills.

This unique venue, which meets all of the NCAA requirements for a cross country course, hosted its first meet on Sept. 16, 2006 with the 16th Annual Friendship Invitational. Nearly 1,000 runners participated in eight races and both Yellow Jacket teams won the first-ever college races on the course.

Cedarville has hosted the Friendship Invitational since 1991 and served as host of the All-Ohio Intercollegiate Championships since 2010 every year but one. The National Christian College Athletic Association Championships were run at the site from 2006 through 2013 as well as the 2017 NCAA Division II Midwest Regional.

Besides the high school and junior high competitions in the Friendship, several high school conferences have staged their championship meets on the grounds. It also hosted the NCAA Division I 2015 Horizon League Championships and the 2021 Atlantic 10 Championships.

The primary cross country courses are the 5,000 meter layout (college women, high school boys and girls) and the 8,000 meter course (college men). There is also a 3,200-meter course for junior high competition as well as 6K (NCAA women) and 10K (NCAA men). Ample parking is available on site for up to 1.000 vehicles. Additional parking is available just west of State Route 72 on campus grounds.

History of Hosting
The Yellow Jackets called John Bryan State Park near Yellow Springs, Ohio their cross country home for the better part of four decades. The beautiful site served as host of the NCCAA Championships from 1978 through 1992 and again from 1995 through 2005.

John Bryan also hosted the annual Friendship Invitational, NAIA District 22 Championship, Mid-Ohio Conference Championship, American Mideast Conference Championship, and a number of high school meets.