West Texas A&M University Athletics

 

Completed in the fall of 2013, The Range is the home of the West Texas A&M men’s and women’s cross country teams. It is a viewer friendly course with 2 X 3K loops for women (6K) and 2.8 X 3.5K loops for men (10K). The Range runs fast and is laid out generally flat with a few slight inclines and declines throughout and features a natural grass surface that is steam rolled with natural boundaries (trees, tall grass) on both sides of the running path. Wood chips are laid throughout the course for even footing. It features a 600m straightaway start and a 200m straightaway finish while the entire path remains approximately 10m wide. The Range and the city of Canyon lie geographically at 3,525 ft. elevation.

 
After just being completed in the early stages of the 2013 cross country season, the Buffs and Lady Buffs hosted two very successful meets at The Range. The first event was the WTAMU Buffalo Stampede on Sept. 21, 2013. WT then hosted the NCAA South Central Regional Championships on Nov. 9, 2013 when both the men and the women pulled off top-six finishes to earn their spots in the NCAA National Championships.
 

"Having our own competition course to work out on is definitely a great benefit," said men's head coach Darren Flowers. "I feel like the meets went very well on The Range this year and I think our administration is owed a great deal of credit for that. We are definitely excited for the chance to host regionals here again in 2015 and 2017."
 

On Dec. 11, 2013, The Range was approved by the NCAA Division II Championships Committee as host for the 2015 and 2017 NCAA Division II Men's and Women's Cross Country South Central Regional Championships.
 
COURSE LAYOUT
 
Women’s Course 6K (2 X 3K Loop)
1.) Starting line is approx. 75 meters wide 3.) There is a left turn at 600m around the tree line
4.) Path continues Southwest along tree line and creek bed turning West at approx. 900m
5.) Path turns North along fence line at approx. 1000m
6.) Path turns and heads back South at approx. 1500m
7.) Path turns and heads to the North East at approx. 1800m
8.) Long gradual right turn at 2250m back to the South
9.) Heads straight South for 600m and turn right to connect with original course making a 3K loop
10.) The finish on 2nd loop is approx. a 200m straightaway finish that breaks off the original loop and heads back Southeast
11.) The finish is approx. 200-300m from the finish line
12.) Women 2 Loops for 6K
 
Men’s Course 10k (2.8 X 3.5K Loop)
2.) Start is a straightaway 600m slightly downhill
3.) There is a left turn at 600m around the tree line
4.) Path continues Southwest along tree line and creek bed turning West at approx. 900m
5.) Path turns North along fence line at approx. 1000m
6.) Path turns and heads back South at approx. 1500m
7.) Path turns and heads to the North East at approx. 1800m
8.) Long gradual right turn at 2250m back to the South
9.) Heads straight South for 600m and turns left for additional distance to connect with original course making a 3.5K loop
10.) The finish on 3rd loop is approx. a 200m straightaway finish that breaks off the original loop and heads back Southeast.
11.) The finish is approx. 200-300m from the finish line and will be long enough to get the full 10K distance.
12.) Men 2.8 Loops for 10K
 
DIRECTIONS

The Range is located on the northeast end of campus across the street to the north from the First United Bank Center (FUBC) and to the east of Buffalo Sports Complex (BSC). Parking is available across the street at the FUBC and is very accessible to spectators and vans/busses of visiting teams. Overflow parking can be found on the northeast side of the BSC, just outside of Wilder Park and Schaeffer Park. Shower facilities are available across the street at the FUBC which also serves as an evacuation and emergency facility.
 
From Amarillo (North): Travel south on I-27 towards Canyon and take exit 110 to merge onto US-60 W/US-87 S toward
From Hereford (West): Traveling east on US-60 E after entering Canyon, follow signs for US-87 S/Canyon/WTa&M and merge onto US-87 S. Then turn left at the first light onto Russell Long Blvd. Drive approximately one mile and the course will be on the left side.

From Lubbock (South): Traveling north on I-27 towards Amarillo, take exit 106 toward TX-217/Canyon/Palo Duro Canyon State Park. Take the left onto 4^th Avenue and proceed 1.3 miles. Turn right onto Russell Long Blvd and drive approximately a quarter-mile (alongside the FUBC on your left) and the course will be on the right side.

From Palo Duro (East): Continue following TX-217 W until it becomes 4^th Avenue after passing under the I-27 overpass.  Turn right onto Russell Long Blvd and drive approximately a quarter-mile (alongside the FUBC on your left) and the course will be on the right side.