(Posted Sept. 30, 2021)
The 47th Annual Erin L. Nance Fall Distance Classic will take place Oct. 2 at the London Country Club, 1199 Spring Valley Rd., London.
The meet is named after Erin L. Nance, a cross country runner who passed away as a result of a car accident in 1998, her senior year at London High School.
The meet, which attracts hundreds of middle school and high school runners, got its start in 1974 as the London Invitational. Marty Komives created the event and served as meet manager through 1977.
Terry Nance, Erin’s father, took up the reins as meet manager in 1978 and continues in the role to this day. The meet, renamed the Erin L. Nance Fall Distance Classic in 1998, has run continuously with the exception of last year when it was cancelled due to the pandemic.
This year, a couple of participants of note include Lana (Mathewson) Williamson, coach of the Grandview Middle School cross country team. A 1999 London High School graduate, Lana was a teammate and friend of Erin. Also, Nico Ranalli, an eighth-grader at Big Walnut, will run in the meet for the first time. Nico is the son of Erin’s older sister, Amy.
The meet schedule is as follows:
9 a.m. – Girls’ open
9:40 a.m. – Girls’ varsity
10:20 a.m. – Boys’ open
10:50 a.m. – Boys’ varsity
11:15 a.m. – Girls’ middle school
11:40a .m. – Boys’ middle school
The public is welcome to attend to watch the races. T-shirts will be sold at the meet – $15 for short-sleeved and $20 for long-sleeved. Proceeds go to the Erin L. Nance Memorial Scholarship Fund at London High School.
