BRONX, NEW YORK -Manhattan College Athletics has announced that the 2020 Manhattan College Cross Country Invitational, originally scheduled for October, will be cancelled due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
In place of this year's meet, the college will hold a virtual event open to all prospective competitors, coaches, families and fans.
"Our greatest concern is always the health and safety of all the competitors and families who attend this event each year," said Matt Centrowitz, director of Manhattan's cross country and track and field programs. "Despite how much we all want to host this year's race, there are too many unknowns right now. While this decision is difficult, it is without a doubt in the best interest of all involved."
Founded in 1972 by Manhattan Hall of Famer Ed Bowes, the Manhattan College Cross Country Invitational has grown into the country's largest one-day meet, with 10,000 runners from 300 teams descending annually on Van Cortlandt Park. Last year, the meet also opened with an inaugural invitational expo, which included a panel discussion on collegiate running with some of the metro area's greatest college coaches, followed by a pre-race pasta dinner-sponsored by Baldor and Gourmet Dining-and a keynote from U.S. Olympic silver medalist and HOKA ONE ONE runner Leo Manzano.
"We had so much success with last year's Friday night opening event, and we were looking forward to an even bigger and better weekend of cross country this year," said Manhattan's Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Marianne Reilly. "While we work to ensure the meet's safe return in the very near future, I know our virtual event will continue to highlight the things that make the Manhattan College Cross Country Invitational so special."
Though this year's invitational is cancelled, organizers plan for the Manhattan College Cross Country Invitational to return to Van Cortlandt Park on October 9, 2021. Opportunities to continue your support of the meet and the Manhattan cross country program are still available. For more details, please click here.
More information on how you can participate in our upcoming virtual event will be released this summer. Be sure to follow @gojaspers on Twitter and Instagram for all the latest updates.
For more on the Manhattan College Cross Country Invitational, click here.