Following completion of four-year campus construction project, including renovation to Hilmer Lodge Stadium and additional facilities, Southern Section officials move both weekends of postseason competition from Riverside City Course back to traditional site in Walnut

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Despite uncertainty regarding the fall high school sports schedule in California as a result of the ongoing Coronavirus (COVID-19) global pandemic, CIF-Southern Section officials announced Wednesday the cross country prelims and championship meet is scheduled to return in November to Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut, Calif.

The prelims for Division 2 and Division 4 are scheduled for Nov. 13, with Divisions 1, 3 and 5 on Nov. 14. The finals for all five divisions will be contested Nov. 21.

During the four-year, $87 million construction project to renovate Hilmer Lodge Stadium, along with installing a new scoreboard and additional facilities on the Mt. SAC campus, the Southern Section has held its prelims and finals at the Riverside City Course since 2016.

Mt. SAC had previously hosted the postseason events from 1972-78 and again from 1981-2015.

During the construction, Mt. SAC continued to host its annual cross country invitational, along with the Foot Locker West Regional, with Riverside used as the venue for the two weekends of Southern Section postseason competition in November.

The community college, elementary and middle school divisions of the Mt. SAC Invitational are scheduled for Oct. 16, with the high school competition to be showcased Oct. 23-24. The Foot Locker West Regional is scheduled for Dec. 5.

The conclusion of all cross country races during the past four seasons at Mt. SAC finished on the airstrip adjacent to the parking lots. But with construction complete, all races will resume their traditional finish in the upgraded Mt. SAC gauntlet that now includes a viewing bridge above to follow the athletes all the way to the end.

The rest of the prestigious 2.93-mile Mt. SAC course, including the Valley loops, switchbacks, National Guard Alley, Poop-Out Hill and Reservoir Hill, remains unaffected by the construction project.