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Nike Cross Country Camp West Chester University

Nike Cross Country Camp West Chester University 1 Review

5.00/5.

Average Rating 5.00 / 5 Stars

TRAIN. COMPETE. IMPROVE.

We will NOT be back at West Chester University in 2023 - You can find LIVE Nike Running Camps here or check out one of the links below to find a XC camp near you!

2023 Camp locations closest to West Chester University:

The goal of the Nike Cross Country Camp at West Chester University is to educate young athletes in the fundamentals of cross country while giving them a sense of what it is like to compete at the collegiate level.

This camp offers expert coaching and instruction from college coaches and student-athletes, as well as the opportunity to experience a variety of training concepts.

Classroom lectures on current running issues include exercise physiology, aqua running, plyometrics, strength training, injury prevention, establishing goals, visualizing success, racing tactics, training shoe and racing spike selection, training technique and nutrition.

*This is not a West Chester University-affiliated event.

Highlights Include

Nike Running Camp T-Shirt
Outstanding venue with excellent facilities
Top-notch training under college level coaches
Individual and group instruction
Camp open to High School XC Runners entering 9th-12th grades (ages 13-17)
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Camp Director Melissa Ferry

Coach Ferry begins her first season as the Director of Track & Field and Cross Country and her fifth season as a collegiate head coach. The B. Reed Henderson High School graduate who was a 7-time PIAA state medalist, comes home to West Chester from Virginia Union University where she spent the last four years running that Division II Track & Field and Cross Country program.
View Melissa's Bio ⟩

In four years at Virginia Union, the Panthers' men qualified athletes for the USA Indoor National Championships and the NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships, collected a Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Championship team title, earned 17 individual CIAA championships, earned an NCAA All-America award, collected 58 all-conference honors (41 individual, 6 relay, 11 cross country), a pair of CIAA Athlete of the Year honors, NCAA Atlantic Region Men's Indoor Athlete of the Year, 19 NCAA all-region plaudits, 26 NCAA Championship provisional qualifying marks and set 31 school records. The men's team reached the podium every season (XC/I/O) for 10 straight campaigns.

The women also churned out excellent performances, including seven school records across five different event specialties, a pair of NCAA Championship provisional qualifying marks and collected multiple All-CIAA honors, highlighted by Jamara Watson being ranked 25th nationally among all NCAA Division II hurdlers by DirectAthletics in the 60-meter hurdles that also set a new school record.

In October 2019, the men's cross country squad captured the CIAA Championship team title, individual title, and Athlete and Coach of the Year honors. Micah Kipruto captured four wins in five races for the individual title and AOY honors, with three teammates also earning CIAA all-conference.

In 2018, Virginia Union was represented at the USA Indoor Track & Field National Championships in Albuquerque, N.M. in the men's 60-meter dash by Justin Hunter. Ed'Treon Wilcox was named USTFCCCA Atlantic Region Men's Indoor Track Athlete of the Year, after being the first man to win both the 60m and 200m dashes at the CIAA Championships. He was the only individual in the Atlantic Region to be ranked No. 1 in two events, and his time in the 200m of 21.38 stands as the fastest time in school history. Additionally, Devin Simon was named the CIAA Men's Indoor Track Athlete of the Year just one year after walking-on to the program and lowering his high school best in the 400m by 56 seconds to 47.39.

Both the women's and men's programs received USTFCCCA All-Academic accolades from 2018 to 2021 and are eight-time recipients of the CIAA Highest GPA Award. In the fall of 2019, the men's CIAA champion cross country team was the only HBCU to be awarded USTFCCCA all-academic honors for cross country.

Coach Ferry, who holds certification in IAAF Elite Coach/USATF Level 3 – Sprints/Hurdles, Level 2 - Sprints/Hurdles/Relays, Level 2 – Youth Specialization, and has been a grant recipient to attend the USATF Podium Education Project in Las Vegas, serves on the USTFCCCA Executive Committee. She was elected the 2021 CIAA Coaches Association President as well as a USA Track & Field (USATF) Coach Education Instructor. She also serves on the USTFCCCA Women in Coaching Committee an dhelps run the USTFCCCA Female Coach Mentor Program.

She was honored in December 2018 with the USATF Terry Crawford/Distinguished Female in Coaching Award, selected for the 2019 US Emerging Elite Coaches Camp in Sprints and named the 2019 CIAA Men's Coach of the Year for cross country.

Currently, Coach Ferry is completing her doctorate in Health and Human Performance with a focus in Biomechanics from Concordia University–Chicago. Previously she completed a master's in Education from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2012 and a bachelor's in Education from George Mason University in 2008. She spent seven years as a Health and Physical Education teacher for Fairfax Country Public Schools. Previously, she served on the Virginia High School League (VHSL) Coach Education Committee. She has twice presented at the US Coaches Conference, sponsored by the US Olympic Committee, NCAA, and NFHS, as well as at other national conferences on sport leadership, such as the North American Society for Sport Management (NASSM), and the National Association for Women Athletic Administrators (NACWA).

As an athlete, Ferry qualified for the 2004 U.S. Junior Outdoor Track & Field Championships in the 800m, and co-captained NCAA Division I George Mason University's women's track & field program.

You can expect high demand on these first-come-first-serve camper spots, so please be sure to register early.

In addition to running, this camp focuses on supplementary exercises to keep distance runners strong, flexible, and healthy. There are morning and afternoon workouts, with our afternoon session typically reserved for guest speakers & weight room work-outs (if available).

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SESSION INFORMATION

Specific strength and mobility sessions to help teach our runners how to train their body to handle the mileage and how to avoid injury. Additional breakout topics include nutrition, prepping for your season, goal setting and race strategy planning.

CAMP DETAILS

Dates: 2024 Dates Coming Soon. Join Priority List!
Age Group: 13-17 (high school/entering high school)
Gender: Co-ed
Camp Type: Day
Check-in: 8:30am, daily
Check-out: 4:30pm, daily
Meals: Campers should bring their own lunch and snacks

INSTRUCTION

Ratio: 1:10 staff to camper ratio
Runners Grouped by: age, ability, weekly mileage, and XC experience
Evaluation: verbally by coaching staff
Equipment: Campers should bring at least one pair of broken in running shoes. Racing flats/spikes are optional. Please be sure to properly mark your equipment, so that it can be easily identified. Please review the Camp Information Packet for a detailed checklist of items to bring.
Facility: West Chester University track stadium & cross country trails

SUPERVISION

The staff will provide supervision between camp check-in/check-out hours (8:30am - 4:30pm); there is no supervision provided outside of camp hours.

Drugs, alcohol and tobacco are strictly prohibited, and constitute, along with general misconduct, grounds for dismissal from camp without a refund.

HEALTH & RELEASE FORMS

All registered campers are required to have a parent or legal guardian fill out US Sports Camps’ mandatory Health & Release Forms online before arrival at camp. This camp does NOT require a doctor's signature on the forms.

CAMP INFORMATION PACKET

A detailed Camp Information Packet containing check-in location and address, on-site staff contact information, a checklist of things to bring, site-specific forms, and more will be emailed to all registered campers prior to camp. To check if your Camp Information Packet is ready, click here.

TRANSPORTATION

Transportation is not provided. Campers are responsible for getting to and from camp on their own. There is no supervision before or after camp hours so please make arrangements to pick up your child on time.

Sample Daily Schedule

8:30am Arrival & Check-In
9:00am Morning workout
12:00pm Lunch (Campers Bring Own Lunch)
1:00pm Interactive lecture or workout
3:30pm Cool down exercise
4:30pm Check-Out & Departure

West Chester University Campus

Located just outside of Philadelphia, West Chester University provides a convenient, top-notch location for camp this summer. Campers have several options for training, including the track at John A. Farrell Stadium, the wooded trails of the Gordon Natural Preserve, and the rural roads of WCU’s South Campus.

How are runners placed in their training groups?

Training groups are based on a combination of current/recent weekly mileage and fitness level, season & personal best(s), and home geographical location. A change in groups can be accommodated if staff members leading those groups feel it is needed.

Can I come to camp alone or do I have to be a member of a team?

We welcome individual campers and teams.

It's a great place to meet new friends who share your enthusiasm for the sport and to have FUN!

How many miles do we run each day?

Athletes will run 1-2x per day, depending on schedule and campers current fitness level, with morning session being a distance run and the afternoon session being either a 2nd run or active recovery/training activity.

Actual distances vary based on runner’s current mileage and fitness level.

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Are the campers supervised throughout the camp?

Yes, campers are supervised by the coaches and staff. All staff members complete criminal and sex offender background checks before working the camp.

How and when will I receive my information packet with important camp details?

Well before the start of your camp (at least 3 weeks), you will receive a Information Packet which will include all the important details about camp: directions to camp, when to arrive, what to pack/ bring, camp address, and camp contact numbers and the Medical/Release form, etc.

Does the Health & Release Form need to be signed by a doctor?

Our Health & Release Form does not require a doctor’s signature. This form is required to be filled out accurately, and completed online prior to camp arrival.

Overall Average Rating 5.00 / 5 Stars

- 5/5.
I loved the scrimmages!

My daughter was able to try different events that she never would have tried before.

— Parent of Attendee from This Camp in 2022

SECURE YOUR SPOT – CAMPS SELL OUT!

Last year over 650 Sports Camps sold out, leaving 7,000+ campers on the waitlist. Due to high demand, early registration for our first-come-first-serve camps is strongly recommended.

New Camp Dates Coming Soon!

Please join the Priority List to be notified when this program opens for 2023 registrations.

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