Meet Information
Online Registration Instructions
49th Annual METRO CHAMPIONSHIPS-Hosted by Blacksburg High School
**NOTE THE DATE IS EARLIER THIS YEAR TO ALLOW MORE METRO AREA SCHOOLS TO COMPETE!! WE ARE ALSO ADDING MIDDLE SCHOOL RACES THIS YEAR!! WE HOPE YOU WILL JOIN!!
Wednesday, October 7, 2026
MEET SCHEDULE
3:45pm: Coaches Meeting
4:00pm-Middle School Combined 2 Mile Race (Unlimited Entries)
5:00pm: Girls Varsity 5k Championship Race (Unlimited Entries)
5:45pm: Boys Varsity 5k Championship Race (Unlimited Entries)
6:15pm: Awards/Blacksburg Cross Country Senior Night
ENTRY FEES
$125 Per Gender or $200 Per High School
$100 Per Middle School
THE COURSE
The Blacksburg XC Course is 100% grass with rolling hills and is very scenic. The course is spectator friendly and is considered a championship collegiate course. The course is located behind Blacksburg High School and has plenty of parking and restroom facilities. The course has been the host of many District and Regional Championship Meets as as well as the Metro XC Championships since 2014.
The following schools are eligible to participate in the 49h Metro Championships:
Division 1A: Auburn, Bath County, Bland County, Chilhowie, Covington, Craig County, Eastern Montgomery, Galax, George Wythe, Highland, Narrows, Parry McCluer, PH-Glade Spring, Rural Retreat
Division 2A: Alleghany, Floyd County, Fort Chiswell, Giles, Glenvar, Grayson county, James River, Marion, Martinsville, Patrick County, Radford
Division 3A: Bassett, Carroll County, Cave Spring, Christiansburg, Hidden Valley, Liberty-Bedford, Lord Botetourt, Magna Vista, Northside, Pulaski County, Rockbridge County, Staunton River, William Byrd
Division 4A: Blacksburg, Jefferson Forest, Salem
Division 5A: Patrick Henry-Roanoke, William Fleming
Division 6A: Franklin County
Private: Christian Heritage Academy, Faith Christian, North Cross, Roanoke Catholic School
**If we are missing any Timesland area schools, please email brentswiney@mcps.org
Awards:
Top two teams in each race will receive a team trophy. The top 10 runners in each race will receive medals.
The top seven runners will also receive an All Metro 1st Team award.
Results: Results will be available on trojantiming.com
Shirts: Long sleeve shirts will be available for the price of $20.00!
Changing/ shower facilities: Our football half time building that is on sight is available for changing and showers.
Water: Coolers and cups of water will be available at the finish line.
Directions:
Blacksburg High School
3401 Bruin Lane
Blacksburg, VA 24060
Traveling I-81, take Exit 118 (also Va Tech exit). This goes onto a collector lane that you will follow to Exit 118-B (to Blacksburg). Stay on this road. You will be traveling West on 460 Bypass.
Stay on Route 460 heading west. Take the 2nd Prices Fork Road exit after going under the overpass (this is the 2nd exit after the stoplight at Virginia Tech). Exit will bring you out on Prices Fork Road. Continue on Prices Fork Road past Foxridge Apartments (on the left), shopping center (on the left), volunteer fire department (on the right), Kipps Elementary School (on the left), and Blacksburg Middle School (on the left). Continue past BMS and take a left on Bruin Lane at the stoplight. Continue down Bruin Lane to Blacksburg High School.
There will be volunteers that will direct buses where to park.
NO DOGS ALLOWED IN SPECTATOR AREA
History of the Metro XC Championships
Patrick Henry Coach Lloyd Woods thought that a cross country race that featured the best in the Roanoke Valley area would be a good thing for distance-running athletes and for bringing attention to the little-known sport of cross country. The local cross country coaches met and agreed with Coach Woods. Richard Browder (Andrew Lewis), Lloyd Woods (Patrick Henry), Lynn Stewart (Northside), Richard Pitts (Glenvar), Sam Shackleford (Cave Spring) and Henry Fulford (William Fleming) met. William Byrd did not have a cross country team at this time. The coaches chose the name Roanoke Metro Championship Cross Country Meet. It was suggested by Coach Lloyd Woods. Later it became known simply as "The Metro".
First Race: 1974 hosted by Patrick Henry High School; Meet Director: Lloyd Woods. The first race was held on the PH XC course
1975 Meet Director: Richard Browder (Andrew Lewis High School) Course: Baptist Childrens Home 2.8 miles. Home of Mother Hill
1976 Meet Director: Richard Pitts (Glenvar High School) Course: Glenvar High School
1977 The race moves back to the Baptist Childrens Home.
Meet Director: Richard Browder (Salem High School)
1978 The first womens race was held at Fallon Park. The Meet Director was Richard Thrasher (William Byrd High School).
1979 The womens race was added to the Metro Meet at the Baptist Childrens home. Meet Director: Richard Browder (Roanoke College).
1985-1995 New Meet Directors: Tom Roth and Tony Wirt (Salem High). The course remains at the Baptist Childrens Home.
1996 The races were moved to Roanoke Colleges Elizabeth Campus. Meet Directors: Tom Roth and Tony Wirt (Salem High)
1998 Alleghany High School hosted at Dabney S. Lancaster Community College
1999-2004 The races returned to Roanoke Colleges Elizabeth Campus. Meet Directors: Tom Roth and Tony Wirt (Salem High)
2005-2013 The races were moved to Green Hill Park in Roanoke County. Meet Directors: Tommy Maguire and Laurence Loesel (Cave Spring High School).
2014 The races were moved to Blacksburg High School in Montgomery County.
2014-2015 Meet Director: James DeMarco
2016-2020 Meet Director: Brandon Bear
2021-2025 Meet Director: Stephen Howard
2026 Meet Director: Brent Swiney
Please contact Coach Swiney with any questions at brentswiney@mcps.org
Brent D. Swiney, Ed.S
USATF Level 3 (Distance)
Blacksburg High School
Head Cross Country Coach