Huntsville will play host to the NCAA Division I South Region cross country championships in 2025 at the John Hunt Park multi-sport complex.
The NCAA announced the host cities and sites in July. The University of North Alabama women’s and men’s teams will be the official hosts for the 2025 event. UNA also will be the host for the 2022 South Regional championship at John Hunt Park. Scheduled for Nov. 11, it was moved from Tallahassee due to a conflict.
The Huntsville Sports Commission bid for the 2025 regional event. The commission will supervise the operations and logistics for the regional in November, and also in 2025. The commission and other partners will assist with hotels, travel, dining and other questions or issues for the teams. The 2021 regional saw 57 teams competing, with Ole Miss capturing the men’s and women’s titles. Teams will be in town during the week to acclimate, see the course and prepare for the championship.
The Sports Commission submitted the bid for the 2025 regional. It will oversee operations and logistics for this year’s regional – to be held on Nov. 11 – and for the 2025 regional. A date has not been set yet for that regional.
Events in the championship this year include the women’s and men’s 6K and 10K races. The South Region includes Southeastern Conference teams along with others such as East Tennessee State University, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Middle Tennessee State, Lipscomb, Southern Miss, Jacksonville, Kennesaw State, Miami, Samford, Belmont, Chattanooga, UCF, Florida International and others.
John Hunt Park Shines
The John Hunt Park course is part of the 428-acre complex. Along with the running course, the complex includes rubber walking paths and fields for soccer, baseball, softball, multi-purpose use, sand volleyball, playgrounds and biking. The running course is considered to be one of the best in the country. Fast speeds in the 2021 regional championship along with the return this year, and in 2025, support that.
Biking continues to grow and evolve at the park, with a super trail system created that can host events and local recreational riders. The park was created in the 1960s on the site of the old Huntsville airport after a new (and the existing) one was built in Madison.
John Hunt Park is an economic generator for the city and area. It previously was a municipal golf course that had deteriorated in condition. After closing in 2017, city officials chose to create the existing multi-use complex. The collegiate regional championships, along with other events such as the Garmin RunningLane Cross Country Championships on Dec. 3, attract thousands of runners, coaches, team staff and family to the city.
The 2021 NCAA regional cross country championship was estimated to have had an economic impact of $750,000 to the city.
