The NCAA announced on Tuesday that the 2007 Division I Men's and Women's Cross Country Championships will be broadcast live on CSTV, marking the first time the championships will be seen on live television. The event, which will be hosted by Indiana State for the fourth-straight year, will take place on Nov. 19 at the LaVern Gibson Championship Course located at the Wabash Valley Family Sports Center in Terre Haute, Ind.
The men's race is scheduled to begin at noon Eastern Time, with the women's race to follow just before 1 p.m. CSTV will have a 90-minute broadcast window for the event, with extended coverage of awards ceremonies to be aired at a later date.
CBS Sports, who holds the broadcast rights for the championship, worked with the NCAA and the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) to combine funding to air this first of its kind opportunity.
“The 2007 Division I championships will be historic because of the live coverage,” said Mark Bockelman, NCAA assistant director of championships. “The NCAA is committed to creating ways to make our championships exceptional for our student-athletes and fans. Adding live television coverage is an exciting step in reaching that goal and in promoting collegiate cross country.”
Indiana State head men's cross country coach John McNichols enters his 25th year at the helm of the Sycamores and has been involved in discussions with CBS and the NCAA in the past.
“A couple of years ago, (CBS producer) Craig Silver and (USTFCCCA Chief Executive Officer) Sam Seemes came over and toured the course and we discussed what needed to be done in order to televise the event,” said McNichols. “In the interim, Sam has lobbied to get this accomplished and finally that effort has paid off.”
Despite the event not being previously televised, the intent to broadcast the event has been around since the course was in its design phase.
“One of the things we were thinking about when we were designing the course in 1995 was live television,” continued McNichols. “We kept the course wide open so there would be no satellite interference. Aside from being spectator friendly, it's also very friendly for TV cameras. With just a couple of cameras set up, you can shoot nearly the entire race. Adding live television to this event will not only be good for the NCAA and the product they are trying to put out, but it will also be good for the sport, our community and our university.”
