| PROJECT BELMONT PLATEAU 2010 Phase 2 of Project Belmont Plateau was a Success!!!.......For a few days in July and August, over 25 student volunteers from Penn State University helped in the re creation of history on the historic 5 Mile "Classic" Cross Country Course at Belmont. In hot and humid weather, the group led by Jason Mifflin and his staff of Fairmount Park, dug into 20 years of growth on the top of Surekill Hill (2.5 mile mark of the course) and cleared out debris, brush and fallen trees. Their efforts were part of a major push of phase 2 in the Project to bring back the "Classic course" designed by Coach Jack Saint Clair. The goal was to have it ready for competition for the fall of 2010. The trail the students dug, is about 10 feet wide and over 400 yards long and connects the top of Surekill Hill to the Meadows section of the course. This will enable the entire course now to be run on grass and trail and runners will no longer have to go into the street as they go reach the top of Surekill Hill. The goal of Philadelphia Athletic Charities will be to brush over the entire course by raking, laying down dirt in holes where needed and create some temporary mile marker and direction signage for the upcoming cross country season. As of the moment, there are commitments from Philadelphia Metropolitan, Belmont Classic, Cabrini Invite, Central Atlantic Collegiate Championship, and the Jack Saint Clair Memorial to all use the Classic 5 Mile Course and move away from the 8k Course used the last 20 years. The classic course was used since the 1960s and many famous Olympians and College All Americans have run the course in the past. The National AAU Championship in 1976 also used the Classic Course. Below are some pictures of the work of the Penn State volunteers at work. Phase 3, will be to continue to set up a solid course of packed down dirt /stone and permanent signage for the 5,000, 6,000, 5 mile, and 10,000 meter cross country courses. PAC President, Dave Thomas, who helped all 3 days of Phase 2, is proud of the efforts of the students of Penn State and ever grateful of their work and will push for Phase 3 being completed by the 2011 Cross country Season. PHILADELPHIA ATHLETIC CHARITIES MISSION TO CONTINUE THE TRADITION OF KEEPING BELMONT PLATEAU AS ONE OF THE PREMIERE CROSS COUNTRY COURSES IN THE UNITED STATES. |
Going Towards the First Mile Mark Flagpole Hill View The Finish Line Poles
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| View of Top of Surekill Hill (Chaminouix Dr). Overgrowth is so thick, that any sign of trail can not be detected before the work on Phase 2 by the Penn State students. Pictures below are students clearing trail of very thick brush and even cutting into trees. This new trail will be a welcome site to all cross country runners as they work off the top of Surkill Hill! |
| TRY IT AGAIN ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 4 AT 11AM Those who are volunteering for the 3rd annual Cleanup Belmont Plateau, be at the Finish Line Poles of the XC races. (Drive up driveway path off of Montgomery Drive to the finish line ). We plan to meet there at 11am. From there we will proceed to our project for the day which is to work on the brush on the "new trail" coming off the top of Surekill Hill (3 mile mark of the College men course) located at Chaminoux Ave athletic fields by the horse stables. Jason Mifflin and the Fairmount Park Trails will provide some yard tools such as clippers, metal rakes, gloves, but if you have some weed wackers; bring them. Philadelphia Athletic Charities (Dave Thomas) will provide refreshments and some snacks. If we get about 10-15 volunteers, we should make headway on this 400 meter stretch of the course that needs the most work in a few hours. The first college race is Sept 24 and we would like to have brush clear and trails prepared for the training season in early September. Hope to see you at Belmont Plateau. The help provided by the running volunteers are responsible for the continued maintenance of the XC trails for CYO, High School, USATF, and college races. Your help is responsible for keeping XC Course of Belmont Plateau one of the premiere venues for XC in the United States! |