BREAKING: TSSAA State Cross County Moves To Memphis In 2025

Location Change

Since 1970, the TSSAA State Cross Country Championship has been contested in Middle Tennessee. Starting in 1970 with a race at Two Rivers, followed by 49 years at Steeplechase, and then Sanders Ferry for the last five. This fall, the race will return to Shelby Farms Park in Memphis, a site that hosted the event from 1964 to 1969. The course is host to the Frank Horton Night Classic as well as several other Memphis Youth Athletics series races that take place throughout the fall. There are no definitive competition dates yet however the proposal from the TSSAA state that in 2025 it will occur sometime between November 5-8. 

Course Map

After two years at this location, the meet will move to Knoxville where I suspect it will be contested at Victor Ashe and then back to Hendersonville starting in 2029. 

Classification Changes

On top of the location change, the format for Division I will change as well. Instead of a combined Class AA/A, these will now be two separate divisions as they are in track. There will also be changes to the regional structures as well: 

  • Class A - Four Regions (Top 4 Teams Plus Next 5 Individuals)
  • Class AA - Six Regions (Top 4 Teams Plus Next 5 Individuals)
  • Class AAA - Eight Regions (Top 4 Teams Plus Next Five Individuals)

As for Division II, there has been a change to Class A Qualifying. There are still three regions (East, Middle, West) but now instead of top three qualifying teams, five will qualify bringing 15 total teams to Memphis. 

We may be able to update some of these in our Rankings Filters before the main overhaul this summer but if you'd like to take a look at which teams are competing where I've linked to the TSSAA pages below: 

Cross Country : Girls | Boys

Track & Field: Girls | Boys