Two-time Olympian Bruce Deacon. Photo credit: Louise Hodgson-Jones

The Pan Am Cross Country Cup (championships) came a little closer to reality today with the launch of the schools race – the Nations Cup – which will be part of the race schedule on February 29, 2020. The Pan Ams XC Cup will take place at the Jack Nicklaus-designed Bear Mountain Golf Resort just steps from the five-start Westin Bear Mountain Resort & Spa.

To garner interest and enthusiasm for the Nations Cup, a schools challenge was announced where schools will be designated to a country and run in t-shirts with the country’s team colours.

“We are thrilled to offer elementary and middle school athletes the opportunity to race on the day in the Pan Am Nations Cup,” said Bruce Deacon, General Manager of the Pan Am Local Organizing Committee (LOC). “We will work with Greater Victoria’s rich multicultural community to connect schools with guest speakers from their country, and we will be launching learning activities for teachers to further engage their students.”

Students in grades K-2, 3-5 and 6-8 are eligible to race and a special draw will be made on January 31st to designate the country for each school. “This is a great fitness goal to inspire students to keep running through the wet winter months and to feel part of the action on the big race day. We are excited to open registration today and are encouraging schools to join the fun,” added the two-time Olympian.

The 2020 Pan Am Cross Country Cup will bring teams from many of the 44 countries in North, South, and Central America and the Caribbean to test themselves over the challenging Bear Mountain course.

This will be the most prestigious international cross country running event that BC has ever hosted, and the first time that the Pan Am XC Cup has been to Canada.

Hashtag: #RunWild

Registration for the Nations Cup is open at: https://www.trackiereg.com/2020-NationsCupXC

For more information on the Pan Am XC Cup go to: https://panamxccup2020.com