Hundreds of runners from more than 20 teams will converge on Columbia next week to participate in the annual Caleb Coleman Invitational.
The event, hosted by Columbia Academy at the Columbia Water Park, will feature cross country runners from across the state. CA hosted its first invitational in 2009, and it was renamed in 2012 in memory of Caleb Coleman, a young CA cross country runner whose life was cut short by a car accident.
CA cross country coach Duane Powell said teams are continuing to sign up online for the Oct. 10 event.
“We’ve got 21 teams registered already,” he said last Friday. “We will have more than 400 runners. We’ve got several teams coming that have never been here before. Several of these teams are from public schools.”
Powell said he hopes that between 25 and 30 teams will actually register before the sign up closes. “That would be about 500 runners,” he said. “It’s really grown.”
The girls race begins at 3 p.m. and the boys race will take place around 3:40 p.m.
“We’re doing something new this time,” Powell said. “The Mississippi Association of Independent Schools is going to a 4K this year for competition, but we’ll be doing a 5K for both. Next year, they will be going to a 5K for both.”
Powell said the season is off to a good start for both the boys and girls cross country teams at Columbia Academy.
“Both teams are doing well,” he said. “We’ve had some injury problems. With both teams, we’ve been finishing in the Top 3 of our division. The boys have been finishing seventh or eighth overall and the girls have finished as high as second overall. They’ve been finishing in the Top 10. Our last meet, there were 42 teams. Cross country is really picking up again.”
Both teams are youthful, according to Powell.
“The boys are rebuilding,” he said. “The girls will be extremely competitive. The girls team is extremely young with most members being in grades 7, 8, and 9. Our oldest girl is in ninth grade. One the boys side, we have one senior, Brent Mitchell. He is hurt at the moment.”
The Invitational continues to grow. Powell said teams like the course, and they have six public schools signed up already.
Those interested in viewing a list of teams in the event can visit www.milesplit.com.
The race has always been a special one to the Columbia Academy family, as Coleman had run in the MAIS state meet shortly before his death in an accident on Mississippi 13 North in Jefferson Davis County. Runners from CA have traditionally done well on the course, which winds its way through the woods and ends at the Water Park Pavilion. It’s always a great event to watch.
If you get a chance next Tuesday, head up to the Columbia Water Park and watch the races. It’s always a good time, and there’s usually a good crowd along the course to cheer athletes on.
