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XC gets a new course closer to campus.
NEW COURSE IN THE CITY: SHOCKERS MOVE CROSS COUNTRY HOME TO CLAPP
NEW COURSE IN THE CITY: SHOCKERS MOVE CROSS COUNTRY HOME TO CLAPP
Trends in leisure time handed Wichita State coach Kirk Hunter 95 acres from which to design a cross country course four miles from campus.
Cross country coaches – also part naturalist, cartographer and trail-blazer – love this kind of challenge. After almost a year of dreaming and planning, the Shockers will enjoy a new home course at Clapp Park, starting with the JK Gold Classic on Sept. 2.
"It's a sense of pride to make something that everybody is going to enjoy," Hunter said. "Something that is going to be used by thousands of athletes."
With the number of golf rounds in decline at Clapp Park, the city of Wichita ended the park's use as a golf course in 2019. While it is home to an 18-hole disc golf course, runners of all ages use Clapp Park as a training ground.
A year ago, Wichita State coaches saw the potential for Clapp Park to become a more prominent part of the area's running culture. Clapp Park, located at Harry and Oliver streets, replaces 4 Mile Creek Resort (formerly known as the RAFT Golf Course), located near Augusta.
"It's a labor of love," said Steve Rainbolt, director of track and field and cross country. "You spend time traipsing around that property on foot. Making markings on topographical maps. Laying the thing out. Measuring it. And measuring it again. And measuring it again. With a wheel. On foot."
In addition to Wichita State's use for training and meets, high schools and other colleges practice at Clapp and are interested in adding meets to the calendar. Troy Houtman, director of Wichita's Park & Recreation Department, said he expects Clapp to host meets ranging from junior high to high school to small college.
"This idea of having a dedicated course in the middle of town seemed to work really well for everybody," he said. "It's a great location. Plenty of parking. It becomes a great resource for Wichita on a lot of levels."
The plans started in the summer of 2022 when Rainbolt watched the Shockers work out at Clapp. The sight made him nostalgic for golf at Clapp, but he also saw the potential for cross country.
"(Rainbolt) was standing out there, filming my kids, and said 'Why don't we run out here?" Hunter said.
Cross country coaches – also part naturalist, cartographer and trail-blazer – love this kind of challenge. After almost a year of dreaming and planning, the Shockers will enjoy a new home course at Clapp Park, starting with the JK Gold Classic on Sept. 2.
"It's a sense of pride to make something that everybody is going to enjoy," Hunter said. "Something that is going to be used by thousands of athletes."
With the number of golf rounds in decline at Clapp Park, the city of Wichita ended the park's use as a golf course in 2019. While it is home to an 18-hole disc golf course, runners of all ages use Clapp Park as a training ground.
A year ago, Wichita State coaches saw the potential for Clapp Park to become a more prominent part of the area's running culture. Clapp Park, located at Harry and Oliver streets, replaces 4 Mile Creek Resort (formerly known as the RAFT Golf Course), located near Augusta.
"It's a labor of love," said Steve Rainbolt, director of track and field and cross country. "You spend time traipsing around that property on foot. Making markings on topographical maps. Laying the thing out. Measuring it. And measuring it again. And measuring it again. With a wheel. On foot."
In addition to Wichita State's use for training and meets, high schools and other colleges practice at Clapp and are interested in adding meets to the calendar. Troy Houtman, director of Wichita's Park & Recreation Department, said he expects Clapp to host meets ranging from junior high to high school to small college.
"This idea of having a dedicated course in the middle of town seemed to work really well for everybody," he said. "It's a great location. Plenty of parking. It becomes a great resource for Wichita on a lot of levels."
The plans started in the summer of 2022 when Rainbolt watched the Shockers work out at Clapp. The sight made him nostalgic for golf at Clapp, but he also saw the potential for cross country.
"(Rainbolt) was standing out there, filming my kids, and said 'Why don't we run out here?" Hunter said.
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