PIAA Associate Executive Director Dr. Robert Lombardi said today that a hoped-for race opportunity on the newly designed Hershey Parkview XC course will not be possible for 2006. But, he says, the PIAA is still trying to work out details for an inspectiion/walkthrough/workout opportunity weeks in advance of the state championships.
The new course was made a necessity when construction made it impossible to hold the meet at the White Field course where it had been since 2001. At the very least, the new course will be available for inspection the day prior to the state meet, but Lombardi, the PIAA and the coaches who helped design the course believe an advance inspection opportunity would be in the best interests of the athletes and teams.
An announcement will be made when a possible date is confirmed with Hershey.
EDITOR'S NOTE: PennTrackXC.com received a guided tour of the course by PIAA officials on Friday, August 25, and will have additional photos posted this weekend. But suffice it to say, this course could become one that will be revered and respected for its toughness, fairness and fun. Please don't make judgements from any photo. It will be wide. It will offer sweeping turns. It will offer plenty of opportunity to race, both up, and down.
The arched start goes through a slight upslope for 325 meters before making a sweeping right hand turn.The first mile is mostly down and fast, with one small and one larger speed-bump.
Welcome to reality greets runners right at 1600 meters. Go up and angle to the right.
From here to the finish, it may be as challenging as Van Cortlandt. 
The finish. Long. All grass. One uphill, but virtually all down.