FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 19, 2011

For more information:
Zach Stratton
360-750-1553 Ext 19
marketingadmin@visitvancouverusa.com  

 

FOR FOURTH YEAR, VANCOUVER, WASHINGTON, SELECTED AS SITE FOR CROSS COUNTY NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
Regional Tourism Office announces agreement with NAIA extended to 2012

 

VANCOUVER, Wash. - For the fourth consecutive year, more than 750 student-athletes from the U.S. and Canada will be gathering at Fort Vancouver National Historic Site to compete in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Cross Country National Championships.

The Vancouver USA Regional Tourism Office, which worked closely with the Cascade Collegiate Conference to book the event, announced today that the NAIA has committed to holding the National Championships in Vancouver in 2012.

"Vancouver is fast becoming known as having great venues for youth and collegiate sporting events," said Ashley Shimer, Vancouver USA Regional Tourism Office's convention sales manager specializing in sporting events. "And, Fort Vancouver in particular, is a favorite for cross-country events having hosted a number of world-class championship events."

Fort Vancouver National Historic Site has a long history of hosting cross country events dating back to 2001 when it was selected as the site for the 2001 USA Men's and Women's National Championships/World Cross Country Trials. The Fort Vancouver course is a rolling, European style layout consisting of two-kilometer loops on grass.

The moderately challenging course features sections of flat, uphill and downhill grades, providing the necessary variation expected in a national championship competition. The NAIA Cross Country National Championships have been held at Fort Vancouver since 2009. This year, the event will be held on Saturday, November 19, and is once again being co-hosted by the Cascade Collegiate Conference and Concordia University. Race times are set for 10:30 a.m. PST (men) and 11:45 a.m. PST (women).

In addition to the cross country events, Vancouver has been the host city for: the Little League Girls Softball Western Region Tournament, which has been held for eight consecutive years at the Fort Vancouver Little League Field; the Washington State Horse Expo; Adidas Clash at the Border soccer tournament; and the US Rowing Northwest Junior District Championships; among others.

About Vancouver USA Regional Tourism Office

Vancouver USA Regional Tourism Office (formerly Southwest Washington Convention & Visitors Bureau) is an economic development organization responsible for competitively marketing Vancouver and the surrounding area as a destination for meetings, conventions, and group and leisure travelers. The organization's mission is to promote Vancouver and Clark County by increasing convention and visitor business. For more information call 877-224-4214, or log on to www.VisitVancouverUSA.com. ###