TERRE HAUTE — Indiana State is locked in as host for the 2007 NCAA Championships, but Terre Haute has the potential to be the host for a collegiate cross country festival of sorts, liaison of the NCAA cross country committee Mark Bockelman said Friday after the committee’s meeting at the Wabash Valley Family Sports Center.
Among the options the committee will explore in the future is having the Division I, II and III NCAA Championships at one site.
An event like that could be one way to boost interest in the sport.
“There’s a lot of logistics to work out to do something like this,” Bockelman said in an interview at the Holiday Inn, headquarters for the NCAA committee this weekend with the championships taking place Monday.
“If we can focus the attention of the collegiate on one place on one weekend, it could be a very positive thing for the sport. It’s an interesting topic to talk about,” Bockelman said.
That could be a long-term goal, he said. In the less distant future, the NCAA hopes to take into consideration the wishes of the members of the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.
“What we can definitely say is that, whatever happens in the future, the coach here, Indiana State and the town of Terre Haute will definitely be in the plans,” Bockelman said. “As far as future hosting opportunities, they will be in the mix on a regular basis.”
ISU men’s coach and track and field coordinator John McNichols has expressed a desire to have the championships at the Gibson Course every other year, with the idea to move it around the United States on other years.
“The committee has that flexibility,” Bockelman said. “As we explore more courses that might be capable of hosting the national championships, and I think we’re going to get that exploration here in the new future, especially working with the coaches association. They want to spend more time out there exploring the courses that are out there.”
Bockelman said it’s an exciting time.
“It’s new ground in the sense that we’re heading into an exploration kind of thing for different options,” he said. “That’s not to say that’s a result anything wrong that’s happened with Indiana State. It’s really more of a wish on the coaches association to know what’s out there and to take inventory of what’s out there.”
Bockelman said the NCAA is satisfied with the Terre Haute community’s awareness and ability to handle an event with thousands of visitors that requires volunteer support.
“We have been thrilled with the reception of the community every year, the people at Indiana State, the hotels we deal with and the receptions at restaurants,” Bockelman said. “The Convention and Visitor’s Bureau is right on path with what we’re looking for.
“When you come to Terre Haute, people know what you’re here for the cross country championships and they ask you questions.”
An event like the above-described cross country festival would require more hotel rooms and Terre Haute is already at capacity for this weekend. Some teams stay in hotels in Plainfield or near the airport at Indianapolis — some by choice. Terre Haute has two hotels under construction, the downtown Hilton Garden Inn at Wabash Ave. and Seventh Street, and the SpringHill Suites by Marriott that will be directly behind the Holiday Inn on U.S. 41.
“Even with the new facilities, you wouldn’t be able to accommodate all of those people,” Bockelman said. “The new rooms are going to add and that helps. We are impressed by the growth in hotels.”
• Economic impact — Each visitor that comes to Terre Haute is worth about $90 to the local economy, director of Terre Haute Convention and Visitor’s Bureau Dave Patterson said.
“The big thing here is not only the direct impact of 6,000 to 8,000,” Patterson said. “People are coming here from every corner of the country, and a lot of these runners are from outside the U.S. They’re here spending money and getting a positive impression of our community. It’s a wonderful event for our community. It shows us in a positive light.”
n Wet course — The LaVern Gibson course was pretty soggy Friday afternoon after Terre Haute received 31/2 inches of rain during the middle of the week.
Today’s forecast calls for a sunny, 50-degree day that should help soak up the water, McNichols said near the end of a long day with women’s coach John Gartland and a host of other volunteers preparing the course for Monday’s championships.
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IndyCar driver Helio Castroneves, of Brazil, stands in his team pit box as he waits for the start of the final practice session for the Indianapolis 500 auto race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Friday, May 24, 2013. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
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Four Indiana State athletes advance to NCAA outdoor track and field championships
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Wichita State shuts out ISU to force elimination-game rematch
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BOYS TRACK REGIONAL: North gets three winners, South two at Evansville
Terre Haute North had three winners, Terre Haute South two, and the Patriots and Braves finished second and third respectively at the Evansville Regional for boys track on Thursday at Evansville Central.
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METRO ROUNDUP: Rose-Hulman's Evans honored as Great Lakes' top athlete
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Terry enjoys strong year with Wildcats, and still enjoying suiting up to play
South Vermillion’s Tim Terry is the longest tenured coach in Wabash Valley high school baseball as his Wildcats are set to begin sectional play Thursday against Owen Valley.
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Softball sectionals up for grabs
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Indiana State baseball series canceled
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METRO ROUNDUP: Rose-Hulman baseball to play DePauw on Thursday after Tuesday's rain
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METRO ROUNDUP: Rose-Hulman's Evans honored as Great Lakes' top athlete
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Freshman Hambrock, THS seek semistate tennis title
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Sycamores bow out of MVC Tournament
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Metro Sports: Chalk up No. 5 for Liz Evans
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Four Indiana State athletes advance to NCAA outdoor track and field championships
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Wichita State shuts out ISU to force elimination-game rematch
Indiana State starting pitcher Greg Kuhlman did his best.
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Indiana State baseball now one win from MVC Championship
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Sycamores bow out of MVC Tournament
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RAMBLIN' RECK: Sunday promises to be big day in Indy
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RAMBLIN' RECK: Sunday promises to be big day in Indy
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Luck having fun with his first OTAs
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Luck having fun with his first OTAs
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Consultation: Rex manager Brian Dorsett talks with his pitcher and players during a time-out Sunday, July 15, at Sycamore Field. (Tribune-Star file/Bob Poynter)
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2012 an up, down season for Rex
The Terre Haute Rex went through plenty of trials and tribulations during the summer of 2012.
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2012 an up, down season for Rex
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Luck having fun with his first OTAs
A year ago, quarterback Andrew Luck was unable to attend the Indianapolis Colts’ organized team activity practices due to school commitments at Stanford.
Luck, though, went on to have a stellar year for the Colts despite the lack of summer work with the team. Still, in a sense, he is a rookie during this year’s OTA workouts.
“These are my first OTAs. I missed these last year, so I think it’s great. It’s great to get on the field with the defense and trouble-shoot some stuff. Obviously, some of us ran some of this stuff [offense] at Stanford [under new offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton]. But to get out there with the defense and trouble-shoot some stuff is good,” Luck said Wednesday as the team wrapped up its first week of on-field voluntary practice sessions. - Colts' coordinators enjoying getting rookies acclimated
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Luck having fun with his first OTAs
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IndyCar driver Helio Castroneves, of Brazil, stands in his team pit box as he waits for the start of the final practice session for the Indianapolis 500 auto race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Friday, May 24, 2013. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
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Top guns, again
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