Yesterday, we unveiled the course walkthrough for the 2017 NYSPHSAA State Championships for Cross Country. For the first time ever, it is being held at Wayne High School, in Section 5. It is also the penultimate time the State Meet will be awarded based on a rotating schedule. After the meet lands in Sunken Meadow in 2018, then Plattsburgh in 2019, the selection process will move to a bid system, where a Section can bid for the meet for a term of three years. The meet doesn't have to stay at the same site for those three years, but will be located within that Section.
So what better time than to look back and reflect? We polled a handful of coaches from across the state, who combine for a collective 100+ appearances at the State Championships over the past decade and beyond. We asked, simply, which course was your favorite, and why? See if your favorite made the list, then check out the full break down of every location ever used, in the meets current format. Enjoy!
Skip to State Meet Locations By Year
Skip to State Meet Locations by Section
Coaches Poll: What Was Your Favorite XC State Meet Course Of All Time?
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"I'd have to give it to Sunken Meadow. The course is great for spectators, it's wide open, and it has some decent hills, without them being overkill. It just seems to have a nice balance of everything, a good starting area, nice finish, and plenty of parking."
Dan Doherty, Pearl River (Sec. 1) - 30+ State Meets
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"I think that the Queensbury course is the best for the runners and
spectators. Of our wins, the one at Sunken Meadow was perhaps the most
memorable. Rhinebeck was the favorite team coming in, and had three in before our first.
Then we had six or seven in before their fourth girl, and we won the meet.
But actually
my absolute favorite course is Van Cortlandt. Ran it for the first time
in 1958. My father ran with Paavo Nurmi there in the 20s. It has
history, and unfortunately that's what our State Meets lack going from
place to place each year."
Jim MItchell, Bronxville (Sec. 1)
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"The course at Warwick had one of the best starts and finishes for a state meet. It was also very spectator friendly. You can say almost the same thing about the VVS State Meet course."
Bill Aris, FM (Sec. 3)
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If I had to pick just one, I'm going to say the Lake Placid course ,
near their USOC rifle range. Challenging course but well groomed. You
look up and see the ski jump area. We parked our bus, and never needed
it because the course, hotel and restaurant were right within walking distance.
Rich Bernstein, Ithaca (Sec. 4)
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"I like tough courses that really test fitness and mental
toughness. My top courses include Lake Placid 1998 and the Van Courtlandt
Park 5k. I really like the Elma Meadows Golf Course ,
but we haven't been able to run on it since 2012. It's a great, tough,
spectator friendly course on a golf course. How do you beat that?
Next
to that I would say the Monroe-Woodbury course. Definitely the
toughest course ever with it's hill at the mile and three at the two
mile mark. Maybe a little excessive and I never thought I would say
that about a course. M-W really separated the levels of competition.
You couldn't fake it there. And of course any time we can bring home
double state titles that's going to be a coach's favorite."
Walt McLaughlin, East Aurora (Sec. 6)
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"Bowdoin Park has always been my favorite course because you can just feel the energy throughout. Being such a fan-friendly course just adds to the excitement of the race."
Neal Levy, North Shore (Sec. 8)
"Personally I love Warwick Valley's course because it rolls and turns constantly and offers nearly complete spectator visibility. I love Elma Meadows as well because it also rolls and has a midway point that's great for spectating and also strategizing."
Rich Furst, Goshen, formerly Warwick (Sec. 9)
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"Monroe-Woodbury was my favorite state meet course; it felt like a true mix of all
things XC ... grass, trail, flats, hills, and all toughness. The second
half of that course in particular was pure mental discipline."
Daniel Schaub, Sachem East (Sec. 11)
State Meet Location By Year (See by Section below)
| Year | Date | Location | Distance |
| 1950 | Nov. 18 | Schenectady, New York | 2mi. |
| 1951 | Nov. 17 | Schenectady, New York | 2mi. |
| 1952 | Nov. 15 | Schenectady, New York | 2mi. |
| 1953 | Nov. 14 | Schenectady, New York | 2mi. |
| 1954 | Nov. 15 | Schenectady, New York | 2.5mi. |
| 1955 | Nov. 12 | Bear Mountain State Park | 2.5mi. |
| 1956 | Nov. 10 | Baldwinsville High School | 2.3mi. |
| 1957 | Nov. 9 | Salisbury Park, Long Island | 2.5mi. |
| 1958 | Nov. 8 | Colgate University, Hamilton | 2.5mi. |
| 1959 | Nov. 14 | Colgate University, Hamilton | 2.5mi. |
| 1960 | Nov. 12 | Mohansic Golf Course, Yorktown Heights | 2.5mi. |
| 1961 | Nov. 11 | Blue Mountain Reservation, Peekskill | 2.5mi. |
| 1962 | Nov. 10 | Watertown | 2.5mi. |
| 1963 | Nov. 11 | Bear Mountain State Park, Bear Mountain | 2.5mi. |
| 1964 | Nov. 14 | Baldwinsville | 2.3mi. |
| 1965 | Nov. 13 | Bear Mountain State Park, Bear Mountain | 2.5mi. |
| 1966 | Nov. 12 | Chenango Valley High School, Binghamton | 2.5mi. |
| 1967 | Nov. 11 | Elma Meadow, Buffalo | 2.5mi. |
| 1968 | Nov. 9 | Sunken Meadow State Park, Kings Park Long Island | 2.5mi. |
| 1969 |
| SUNY Albany, Albany | 2.5mi. |
| 1970 |
| Croton Point Park, Westchester | 2.5mi. |
| 1971 | Nov. 13 | Onondaga Central School, Nedrow | 2.5mi. |
| 1972 |
| Rochester Institute Of Technology, Rochester | 2.5mi. |
| 1973 | Nov. 10 | SUNY Binghamton, Binghamton | 2.5mi. |
| 1974 | Nov. 9 | Sunken Meadow State Park, Kings Park Long Island | 3mi. |
| 1975 | Nov. 8 | Elma Meadows Golf Course, Elma | 3mi. |
| 1976 | Nov. 13 | Bear Mountain State Park, Bear Mountain | 3mi. |
| 1976 | Nov. 13 | Bear Mountain State Park, Bear Mountain | 3mi. |
| 1977 | Nov. 5 | Malone Golf Course, Malone | 3mi. |
| 1977 | Nov. 5 | Malone Golf Course, Malone | 3mi. |
| 1978 | Nov. 11 | James Baird State Park, Poughkeepsie | 5K |
| 1979 | Nov. 10 | Green Lakes State Park, Syracuse | 5K |
| 1980 | Nov. 8 | Great Neck South High School, Long Island | 5K |
| 1981 | Nov. 7 | Malone Golf Course, Malone | 5K |
| 1982 | Nov. 13 | Community College Of The Finger Lakes, Canandaigua | 5K |
| 1983 | Nov. 12 | James Baird State Park, Poughkeepsie | 5K |
| 1984 | Nov. 10 | Saratoga State Park, Saratoga | 5K |
| 1985 | Nov. 9 | SUNY Binghamton, Binghamton | 5K |
| 1986 | Nov. 9 | Elma Meadow Golf Course, Elma | 5K |
| 1987 | Nov. 14 | New York Tech, Long Island (Section 8) | 5K |
| 1988 | Nov. 12 | Lake Placid | 5K |
| 1989 | Nov. 11 | Bowdoin Park, Wappingers Falls | 5K |
| 1990 | Nov. 10 | Green Lakes State Park, Fayetteville | 5K |
| 1991 | Nov. 9 | Elma Meadows Golf Course, Elma | 5K |
| 1992 | Nov. 14 | Sunken Meadows State Park, Huntington | 5K |
| 1993 | Nov. 13 | Stuart Park, Newark | 5K |
| 1994 | Nov. 12 | SUNY Albany, Albany | 5K |
| 1995 | Nov. 11 | Corning Community College, Corning | 5K |
| 1996 | Nov. 9 | St. Lawrence | 5K |
| 1997 | Nov. 8 | New York Institute Of Technology | 5K |
| 1998 | Nov. 14 | Mt. Van Hoevenburg, Lake Placid | 5K |
| 1999 | Nov. 13 | SUNY Westchester Community College, Valhalla | 5K |
| 2000 | Nov. 11 | SUNY Utica Tech | 5K |
| 2001 | Nov. 11 | Elma Meadows Golf Course, Elma | 5K |
| 2002 | Nov. 9 | Sunken Meadows State Park, Huntington | 5K |
| 2003 | Nov. 8 | Marcus Whitman High School, Rushville | 5K |
| 2004 | Nov. 13 | Chenango Valley State Park, Chenango Forks | 5K |
| 2005 | Nov. 12 | Queensbury | 5K |
| 2006 | Nov. 11 | Warwick Valley | 5K |
| 2007 | Nov. 10 | Norwood-Norfolk High School, Norwood | 5K |
| 2008 | Nov. 8 | Sunken Meadows | 5K |
| 2009 | Nov. 14 | SUNY Plattsburgh | 5K |
| 2010 | Nov. 13 | Lakeside Park, Pawling | 5K |
| 2011 | Nov. 12 | Vernon-Verona-Sherill High School, Verona | 5K |
| 2012 | Nov. 10 | Elma Meadows Golf Course | 5K |
| 2013 | Nov. 9 | Queensbury High School | 5K |
| 2014 | Nov. 8 | SUNY Canton | 5K |
| 2015 | Nov. 14 | Monroe-Woodbury High School, Woodbury | 5K |
| 2016 | Nov. 12 | Chenango Valley High School, Binghamton | 5K |
State Meet Location By Section
| Section | Location | Year |
| Sec. 1 | Bear Mountain State Park | 1955 |
| Sec. 1 | Mohansic Golf Course, Yorktown Heights | 1960 |
| Sec. 1 | Blue Mountain Reservation, Peekskill | 1961 |
| Sec. 1 | Bear Mountain State Park, Bear Mountain | 1963 |
| Sec. 1 | Bear Mountain State Park, Bear Mountain | 1965 |
| Sec. 1 | Croton Point Park, Westchester | 1970 |
| Sec. 1 | Bear Mountain State Park, Bear Mountain | 1976 |
| Sec. 1 | Bear Mountain State Park, Bear Mountain | 1976 |
| Sec. 1 | James Baird State Park, Poughkeepsie | 1978 |
| Sec. 1 | James Baird State Park, Poughkeepsie | 1983 |
| Sec. 1 | Bowdoin Park, Wappingers Falls | 1989 |
| Sec. 1 | SUNY Westchester Community College, Valhalla | 1999 |
| Sec. 1 | Lakeside Park, Pawling | 2010 |
| Sec. 2 | Schenectady, New York | 1950 |
| Sec. 2 | Schenectady, New York | 1951 |
| Sec. 2 | Schenectady, New York | 1952 |
| Sec. 2 | Schenectady, New York | 1953 |
| Sec. 2 | Schenectady, New York | 1954 |
| Sec. 2 | SUNY Albany, Albany | 1969 |
| Sec. 2 | Saratoga State Park, Saratoga | 1984 |
| Sec. 2 | SUNY Albany, Albany | 1994 |
| Sec. 2 | Queensbury | 2005 |
| Sec. 2 | Queensbury High School | 2013 |
| Sec. 3 | Baldwinsville High School | 1956 |
| Sec. 3 | Colgate University, Hamilton | 1958 |
| Sec. 3 | Colgate University, Hamilton | 1959 |
| Sec. 3 | Watertown | 1962 |
| Sec. 3 | Baldwinsville | 1964 |
| Sec. 3 | Onondaga Central School, Nedrow | 1971 |
| Sec. 3 | Green Lakes State Park, Syracuse | 1979 |
| Sec. 3 | Green Lakes State Park, Fayetteville | 1990 |
| Sec. 3 | New York Institute Of Technology | 1997 |
| Sec. 3 | SUNY Utica Tech | 2000 |
| Sec. 3 | Vernon-Verona-Sherill High School, Verona | 2011 |
| Sec. 4 | Chenango Valley High School, Binghamton | 1966 |
| Sec. 4 | SUNY Binghamton, Binghamton | 1973 |
| Sec. 4 | SUNY Binghamton, Binghamton | 1985 |
| Sec. 4 | Stuart Park, Newark | 1993 |
| Sec. 4 | Corning Community College, Corning | 1995 |
| Sec. 4 | Chenango Valley State Park, Chenango Forks | 2004 |
| Sec. 4 | Chenango Valley High School, Binghamton | 2016 |
| Sec. 5 | Rochester Institute Of Technology, Rochester | 1972 |
| Sec. 5 | Community College Of The Finger Lakes, Canandaigua | 1982 |
| Sec. 5 | Marcus Whitman High School, Rushville | 2003 |
| Sec. 6 | Elma Meadow, Buffalo | 1967 |
| Sec. 6 | Elma Meadows Golf Course, Elma | 1975 |
| Sec. 6 | Elma Meadow Golf Course, Elma | 1986 |
| Sec. 6 | Elma Meadows Golf Course, Elma | 1991 |
| Sec. 6 | Elma Meadows Golf Course, Elma | 2001 |
| Sec. 6 | Elma Meadows Golf Course | 2012 |
| Sec. 7 | Lake Placid | 1988 |
| Sec. 7 | Mt. Van Hoevenburg, Lake Placid | 1998 |
| Sec. 7 | SUNY Plattsburgh | 2009 |
| Sec. 8 | Salisbury Park, Long Island | 1957 |
| Sec. 8 | Great Neck South High School, Long Island | 1980 |
| Sec. 8 | New York Tech, Long Island (Section 8) | 1987 |
| Sec. 9 | Warwick Valley | 2006 |
| Sec. 9 | Monroe-Woodbury High School, Woodbury | 2015 |
| Sec. 10 | Malone Golf Course, Malone | 1977 |
| Sec. 10 | Malone Golf Course, Malone | 1977 |
| Sec. 10 | Malone Golf Course, Malone | 1981 |
| Sec. 10 | St. Lawrence | 1996 |
| Sec. 10 | Norwood-Norfolk High School, Norwood | 2007 |
| Sec. 10 | SUNY Canton | 2014 |
| Sec. 11 | Sunken Meadow State Park, Kings Park Long Island | 1968 |
| Sec. 11 | Sunken Meadow State Park, Kings Park Long Island | 1974 |
| Sec. 11 | Sunken Meadows State Park, Huntington | 1992 |
| Sec. 11 | Sunken Meadows State Park, Huntington | 2002 |
| Sec. 11 | Sunken Meadows | 2008 |
