HISTORY
HISTORY
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More recently, new meet director and Ed Bowes protégé Lou Vazquez has added fully automated, real-time scoring at the MCXCI. And all 41 races are live streamed – and available for video-on-demand - by MileSplit.
In 2019, the MCXCI first hosted the annual Friday program at nearby Manhattan College on the eve of the MCXCI, which includes a “Taste of New York” pasta dinner for the runners; a keynote speaker by a top, professional runner and a “Running in College” seminar where NCAA competitors and coaches address questions from scholastic athletes on the benefits, challenges and opportunities of running at the collegiate level.
“Ed Bowes’ enduring legacy is best exemplified on the Manhattan College Cross Country Invitational that he elevated to the nation’s biggest, single day, scholastic cross country meet,” said Meet Director Vazquez. “Ed was passionate about cross country, and loved seeing the runners proudly wearing medals around their neck at Van Cortlandt. It’s the reason, we still offer more medals and awards than any cross country meet in the nation.”
“After his passing, we felt it was important of keeping his vision alive particularly following the pandemic. And with the help of our presenting sponsor HOKA, the New York City Parks & Recreation, the Van Cortlandt Park Alliance and Manhattan College, the ‘biggest and the best’ is back better than ever. And as we continue, rest assured that Ed Bowes’ vision will guide us to grow and improve his beloved Manhattan College Cross Country Invitational.”
The Manhattan College Cross Country Invitational (MCXCI) was founded in 1973 by legendary Bishop Loughlin High School coach and former Manhattan College distance runner, Ed Bowes. His vision was to provide a first-class cross country experience on the nationally-acclaimed Van Cortlandt Park course for scholastic runners of all abilities.
He eventually served as the MCXCI meet director for 44 years as his annual event - that he called “the biggest and the best” - became the largest, single-day, high school cross country meet in the nation, with fields of over 10,000 runners. At Bowes’ insistence, the MCXCI continues to provide more medals, trophies and awards to the runners including his tradition of awarding medals to the first 75 finishers in each of the over 41 MCXCI races including varsity, junior varsity, sophomore, freshman and intermediate events.
Bowes was also proudly instrumental in promoting equal participation for girls’ cross country, demanding that the girls would compete on the same day as the boys at his MCXCI. He created the Girls’ Eastern States Championship race in 1973 and that signature event is now named in his honor.
At the 2019 MCXCI event, Bowes was also recognized for his contributions to scholastic cross country by Manhattan College and was presented with a finish line plaque that declared the meet’s final stretch alongside Broadway as “Ed Bowes Way.” He was posthumously inducted into the Van Cortlandt Park Cross Country Hall of Fame in 2022.
