There will be no final quarter mile race up Poop-Out Hill at the state meet this year.
The PIAA noted on its website that it will use the modified course for Saturday's PIAA State XC Championships, likely in an effort to avoid some of the areas in the final loop of the course that can get swampy in wet weather. This has been a very rainy fall.
This is the same course that was used during September's PIAA Foundation Invitational. The changes only affect the final mile of the course. The modified course leads runners up the side of Poop-Out Hill (the steep hill that comes right before the final turn to the finish line) on a gradual incline, rather than the steep final uphill. The new course also takes runners further out towards North Hockersville Road before taking a U-turn to head back towards the finish.
Here's a look at the course map, as found on the PIAA website:
This contingency plan has always been a possibility since the updated Parkview Course was first introduced in 2016. Foundation was the first time the modified course was used.
PennTrackXC will be on-site Friday to provide a walk through of the updated portion of the course, which will be posted Friday evening.