City of Columbia Missouri Parks and Recreation

1 S Seventh Street
Columbia, MO 65201

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 25, 2019

CONTACT: Tammy Miller
Marketing Specialist
Community Relations/Parks and Recreation
City of Columbia
573.874.7465
[email protected]

Gans Creek Cross Country dedication scheduled for Sept. 27

(COLUMBIA, MO) -

Columbia Parks and Recreation, in partnership with the University of Missouri and MU Health Care, will host a dedication ceremony for the Gans Creek Cross Country Course on Friday, Sept. 27 at 4:15 p.m. The ceremony will take place near the finish line of the course at the Gans Creek Recreation Area, 3350 E. Gans Road.

The Gans Creek Cross Country Course is designed and constructed with 2K and 3K loops, a 500-meter starting chute, 30-foot-wide irrigated turf, finish line structure and timing tower. The course was designed to take advantage of the natural terrain and accommodate spectators with a raised viewing area and various vantage points along the course.

The course will host major cross country events, including the Missouri State High School Championships in November 2019. The course will also be the home of the University of Missouri’s cross country team and will host the SEC Championship in 2021.

The course will be made available for meets hosted by local track clubs, high schools, middle schools and other colleges, as well as recreational runners. A rental fee structure is in place for use of the course; visit CoMo.gov (search Gans cross country) for details.

Immediately following the dedication on Friday, Mizzou Athletics will host the first meet at the course, the collegiate version of the inaugural Gans Creek Classic. The high school version of the Gans Creek Classic will be held Saturday, Sept. 28 with more than 130 high schools from across the state of Missouri and neighboring states scheduled to participate.

Construction of the cross country course was funded by the 2015 voter-approved Park Sales Tax. The University of Missouri and MU Health Care contributed funds toward the course amenities.

For more information, please contact Parks and Recreation at 573.874.7460.



City of Columbia Vision
Columbia is the best place for everyone to live, work, learn and play.

City of Columbia Mission
To serve the public equitably through democratic, transparent and efficient government.

-30-