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Event of the Week: Oatlands Invitational
A turnout of approximately 100 high schools from as far away as Colorado will converge in Leesburg the morning of Sept. 20 to test their cross country skills on the 5-kilometer course at Oatlands Plantation.
The annual event was started in 2005 by Loudoun County High School assistant athletic director Derek Farrey and Freedom assistant athletic director Matt Oblas. The initial Oatlands Invitational featured 50 teams.
“This area needed something big for the kids and the schools here,” said Oblas, a former cross country coach at Heritage High School. “This course sets up perfectly to host this event.”
Oatlands Plantation, an historic landmark, offers a challenging course and beautiful landscape. The course is mostly grass with some wooded trails, three challenging hills and two creek crossings.
“The course itself is second to none,” Oblas said. “Plus we give out some great prizes. It's a good day, a great atmosphere.”
Teams from Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Washington, D.C., North Carolina, New York and Colorado will take part in the event.
All 10 Loudoun schools will be in attendance, as will Vienna-based Oakton High School, a squad ranked among the best in the Southeast Region. Nationally ranked Saratoga Springs (N.Y.) is also scheduled to compete.
With the field now expanded to 100 teams, the event is broken up into eight races of different skill levels, ranging from the JV Underclassmen races to the Varsity A races.
Here's a schedule of the races:
- JV Underclassmen Girls, 9 a.m.
- JV Underclassmen Boys, 9:45 a.m.
- JV Upperclassmen Girls, 10:25 a.m.
- JV Upperclassmen Boys 11:05 a.m.
- Varsity Girls B, 11:45 a.m.
- Varsity Boys B, 12:25 p.m.
- Varsity Girls A, 1:05 p.m.
- Varsity Boys A, 1:45 p.m.
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