By Christopher Hunt
The starting lines of the 1.5 and 2.5-mile course will be changed because of the ongoing construction at Van Cortlandt Park this season.
As phase 2 of the project in the Bronx has taken effect, the south end of the parade grounds have been fenced off, forcing the meet organizers to move starting lines to the north end of the grounds, which were fenced off last year. Fordham Prep coach George Febles has made proposals for both courses, with a starting line in the northeast corner of the parade grounds.
The Catholic starting line will be in the northeast corner of the parade grounds, run on the infield past the Catholic school finish, turning left into the cow path headed toward the trails. The freshman 1.5-mile course will loop runners around clockwise, away from Broadway and past the Catholic school start and finish, turning left into the cow path headed toward the trails.(see map below)
Febles’s proposal aims to avoid the parade grounds where there are a number of soccer goals and where teams will have permits to play during smaller meets and competitions during the week. The Manhattan Invitational will have access to the entire parade ground – or what’s not fenced in – and will likely be able to run diagonally across the field and funnel into the trails.
The construction project has affected the course for the past two years, moving the Catholic schools finish line and moving starting lines. Last year the construction forced the Foot Locker Northeast Regional to move to Sunken Meadow Park in Kings Park, where it will be again this year.
Van Cortlandt Park
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