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YSU opens cross country course at Mill Creek Park

Staff photo / Dan Hiner Youngstown State University cross country coach Brian Gorby stands next to a layout of the Brian, Charlotte, Jersey, Beau Gorby Family Championship Cross Country Course on Friday morning at Mill Creek Park in Canfield.

CANFIELD – The Youngstown State University cross country program has been making strides over the past decade.

The Penguins have gone from a mid-major program to a respected group of runners in the regional rankings.

YSU took the next step on Friday, opening The Brian, Charlotte, Jersey, Beau Gorby Family Championship Cross Country Course. The course will be the new home for the Penguins inside of Mill Creek Park in Canfield.

The course is made up of a two-mile route with 1k, 2k and 3k loops for middle school, high school and collegiate competition.

“Mill Creek Park has been a foundation of our family, a foundation for the YSU cross country program,” Gorby said. “(Coaches Eric and Brie Rupe), they live next to the park, training it everyday.

“Love Mill Creek Park. It’s probably one of the top two parks and training facilities in the country with 30 miles of trails.”

The course was a capital improvement project funded through the Mill Creek MetroParks general fund. The Gorby family provided private funding. Mill Creek Park is now the home for three YSU programs since the men’s and women’s golf programs used the Mill Creek Park Golf Course for competition.

The Penguins had operated without a home course. This led to frequent road trips throughout the fall. But now, YSU has its own space to practice and host events.

Gorby and the Penguins will host the inaugural YSU Alumni Cross Country Meet on Sept. 21 at Mill Creek Park.

Gorby said the goal is to bring in larger meets, similar to how the track and field team began hosting conference championships after the construction of the Watson and Tressel Training Site.

“We’re able to run Horizon League Championships, first-round nationals, and hopefully, nationals in five to 10 years,” Gorby said. “We’re always trying to take the program up another level. This course, it’s pretty cool to have our name associated with a championship-level situation, just like (WATTS).”

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