The forecast for Thursday, September 2 is warm and sunny with maybe a cloud here and there, but in Black Mountain, there will be thunder in the late afternoon. That rumbling noise will be the sound of 1500 feet pounding across the cross-country course at Montreat College as 750 runners from nearly 40 high schools compete in the 3^rd Annual Cavalier Kickoff Classic at Montreat's Black Mountain campus.

Local cross-country squads including those from Asheville High School, Asheville Christian Academy, Reynolds High School, Enka High School, and Madison High School will join other top teams from Raleigh, Charlotte, Greensboro and elsewhere for a boys' race beginning at 4:45 and a girls' race beginning at 5:30.

Montreat cross-country Head Coach Jose Larios anticipates an exciting day for the visitors as teams from North Carolina and South Carolina compete in what amounts to a preview of the North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association state championship race, which Montreat College will host on October 29, 2010. The runners will tackle what Larios described as a "challenging, hilly, beautiful course that takes the athletes on two loops of the 2.5 kilometer course." 

The 5k (3.1 mile) race is spectator-friendly in that the runners begin and finish their run on the varsity soccer field at the Black Mountain Campus and cross that section of the course to start the second lap, as well. "Moms and dads, friends and fans will see the runners three times," Larios said.

The Cavalier Kickoff Classic has witnessed rapid growth in its three years. In 2008, 220 runners gathered on the Montreat campus, and 280 came to Black Mountain in 2009. Larios explains why registration jumped to 750 this year: "It's early in the season, and everyone wants to measure themselves against great competition. Once Montreat College won the bid to host the State Championship, dozens of independent schools signed up to come race and see the course, and we're always happy to welcome local public teams."

Larios believes the quality of the course was a factor, as well. "I think our cross-country course is the finest in Western North Carolina. It's a demanding test - it's rugged but fair."

Anyone planning to attend needs to be aware of several conditions before heading to the Black Mountain campus. There will be no access by cars to the Black Mountain campus, so those attending should plan to park in either the Black Mountain Recreation area (and walk over through the Oaks Trail) or in the old Ford and Chevrolet Dealerships and use one of the shuttles that race organizers are providing. 

Larios suggests that arriving by 3:30 will allow spectators to beat the traffic and settle in - and wait for the thunder to start rolling by.

Montreat College is a Christ-centered liberal arts institution with its main campus for four-year traditional students in Montreat. The accelerated School of Professional and Adult Studies program has campuses in Asheville, Charlotte, and Black Mountain.