Jesse Owens Cross Country Classic Set for October 1

DECATUR– Approximately 5,000 high school athletes will make their way to Lawrence County this weekend to compete in the prestigious Jesse Owens Cross Country Classic Invitational. The race, set for Saturday, October 1, 2022, is hosted by the Jesse Owens Runners’ Club and is held on the championship course located on the grounds of the Oakville Indian Mounds Education Center. The meet gets underway at 8:15 a.m.

Now in its 24th year, the, the Jesse Owens Cross Country Classic brings junior high and high school students from Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, Kentucky and Mississippi for a competitive race honoring one of Alabama’s greatest athletes. Born in 1913 in Oakville, Ala., Jesse Owens captured four gold medals at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin overcoming racial and socioeconomic barriers. In 1955, he was named Ambassador of Sports by President Eisenhower and toured the world promoting the virtues of amateur programs.

The competition offers 12 divisions for boys and girls and is sanctioned through AHSAA for Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi and Tennessee. It is also sanctioned for Kentucky, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi and Tennessee through the NFHS. The race schedule is as follows.

•  Gold Division (Varsity Div): This division is for the elite runners of any school classification. Limited to seven runners per this division. This is the Championship Division.
• Silver Division (Varsity Div): This division is for schools that occupy 593 students or more in grades 10-12, as in the case for Alabama schools: 6A-7A. Limited to 7 runners per this division.
• Bronze Division (Varsity Div): This division is for schools that occupy 592 students or less in grades 10-12, as in the case for Alabama schools: 4A-5A. Unlimited runners per this division.
• Green Division (Varsity Div): This division is for schools that occupy 285 students or less in grades 10-12, as in the case for Alabama schools: 1A-3A. Unlimited runners per this division.
• Red Division (Varsity Div): This division is for 6A-7A schools (Alabama) (or 593 students or more in grades 10-12) that have run their team’s top seven runners in the Gold Division and/or the Silver Division. This race is for the “B”/JV team.
• JH Division: This division is for grades 7-9.
• JV Division and the “B” Team/Red are classified as the same division.

The championship course is also great for spectators who want to witness competitive racing from the sidelines. Oakville Indian Mounds Education Center is located approximately 8 miles south of Moulton at 1219 Co Rd 187, Danville, AL 35619 and 1/2 mile from the Jesse Owens Memorial Park. Admission is free. Parking is $5 per vehicle with proceeds benefiting the Oakville Indian Mounds Park and Educational Center. AHSAA does not allow pets or bicycles at the Oakville Indian Mounds on race days.

For more information on the championship course, team registration information and teams attending, visit https://al.milesplit.com/meets/452556-jesse-owens-classic-2022/info#.YyIo9ezMJsU or call Coach Stan Johnson at 256.566.4410.

Media Release/Danielle Gibson, President & CEO
Decatur Morgan County Tourism, Inc.