The Course
About Little Everglades
Ranch (Steeplechase)
Little Everglades is not your run of the mill cross country
course. It is not at a park or a soccer field. It is not
road right of ways, golf courses, or a school campus that has been
drawn into a course. The location is a bit off the beaten
path. To be blunt, it is in the middle of nowhere! Your
closest lodging of any significance is at least a 15 to 30 minute
drive. But boy is it worth it!
The main area of the course is set on a horse steeplechase track that
has only been used really once a year for that purpose. It was
first visualized as a cross country course when St. Leo University
coach Cyle Sage first got a look at it and knew instantly it was
perfect. Anyone who doubts the mistique of the course has their
mind instantly changed once they see it first hand. As you drive
up through the small road leading to the gated ranch, it instantly
opens to a sea of green grass, rolling hills, and glistening blue lakes
and ponds. There is parking aplenty as you approach the
stadium. There sits a grandstand, complete with a tower for the
announcer and a press area. The grandstand area features lots of
seating and sits above the track (almost 2000 meters around) and the
rest of the course
that is at a slight downward grade. In other words, from this
vantage point you can see the entire race! There is also acres to
set up team tents in prime tents around the track.
The all grass course is deceivingly difficult and will probably not
produce any record times. The hill on the homestretch is
especially killer. If your team is going to be competing in a
championship meet here, you definitely want to get a look first as it's
definitely a strategy course where you have to know when to go.
This course has been seen by leading officials from the IAAF, USATF,
NACAC, NCAA, FHSAA, etc. and all hail it as a championship
course. It is the possible home for future world and national
championships, for sure. This year it will play host to its first
two championship meets: the Florida High School (FHSAA) State
Championship and the NCAA Division 2 South Region Championship.
The flrunners.com Invitiational VI will serve as the Preview Meet for
both of these.
Layout Map
Below is a map showing where the key points around
the track will be located.
Course Maps
2 Mile Course
5K Course
6K Course - Will not be run at flrunners.com
Invitational, for NCAA-2 Regionals only
8K Course
10K Course -
Coming, Will not be run at flrunners.com Invitational, for NCAA-2
Regionals only
Course
Photos