Red Wolves - IU East

A premier cross country course continues to take shape just east of Hayes Hall on the Indiana University East campus.

The IU East cross country course will host its first distances races in 2010, starting with the Run with the Wolves 5K on July 17.

The school also plans to host at least one high school meet. More high school and college meets are planned for future years.

"It's the only on-campus competition facility we currently have, and we want to make a statement that everything we do is going to be first class" said IU East athletic director Mark Hester. "So we're going to make it the nicest cross country course it can be."

The IU East cross country course loops around open grass and wooded areas on the east side of IU East's property.

Runners will compete on one of the most runner-friendly layouts around.

Planned improvements include:

* Continued work on the running surface itself.

* Large kilometer markers for race days. The signs will be portable and can be adjusted for different course lengths.

* Attractive signage for the finish area.

* A large map at the course entrance that will help visiting teams or weekend joggers navigate the various layouts.

* An elevated viewing area that will allow spectators to watch the majority of a race

The IU East cross country program also will benefit from new equipment during the 2010-11 school year.

The team will take a black 10x20 tent with the IU East Red Wolves logo to its meets during the 2010-11 season.

IU East's coaches and administrators can prepare or repair the course quickly thanks to a John Deere Gator utility vehicle. The Gator also will prove useful during home meets.

The improvements were possible thanks to the generous support of Reid Hospital & Health Care Service.

Red Wolves cross country coach Pam Mertz says the new course and new equipment will help the IU East cross country program take a big stride forward during the 2010-11 season.

"I have enjoyed watching us go from eight total runners, no tent, no Gator, no home meets, to us having a really great course with more improvements to come, a nice tent to advertise who we are and keep us out of the elements and a Gator to check and work on the course with," Mertz said.

"When I first took the job I knew things were going to move quickly. It has been exciting to see the improvements we have made."

IU East hopes to host collegiate events like the Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference or the Indiana Intercollegiates in future years.

The course is available to high schools looking for a site for a meet. IU East also hopes to attract Indiana High School Athletic Association postseason races. And the school eventually hopes to host a major regular season invitational that will attract top programs from Indiana and Ohio.

The course also is open to community distance running events.

Coaches or race organizers interested in using the IU East cross country course for an event should contact the IU East athletic department at (765) 973-8316.

The course will be open for Run with the Wolves 5K preview runs on June 28, July 5 and July 12 at 7 p.m. Runners should meet at Springwood Hall on the IU East campus.