GCSD9 Schools Host Cross Country Meets Sept. 5 & 6 at Wilson Park

Granite City, Ill., September 4, 2025 – Coolidge Junior High School will host the Coolidge Junior High Cross Country Invitational on Friday, September 5 at 4 p.m., followed by Granite City High School’s 52nd Annual Robinson/Lang Cross Country Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 6 at Wilson Park in Granite City, Ill.

The Coolidge Invitational will have 34 teams, while the Robinson/Lang Invitational will feature 46 teams. The GCHS meet was re-named in 2021 in honor of former GCHS North head coaches Pete Robinson and Harry Lang.

In the Fall of 1974, Robinson and Lang conducted the running of the Inaugural Granite City Cross Country Invitational. And now 52 years later, the Granite City Invitational has become one of the premiere cross country meets in the state of Illinois hosting over 40 teams from Illinois and Missouri.

COOLIDGE SCHEDULE - Friday, Sept. 5
4 p.m. - Top 7 Girls Race
4:30 p.m. - Top 7 Boys Race
5:15 p.m. - Girls Open Race
5:45 p.m. - Boys Open Race

GCHS SCHEDULE - Saturday, Sept. 6
8:30 a.m. - Varsity Girls
9:10 a.m. - Varsity Boys
9:40 a.m. - Freshman/Sophomore Boys
10:10 a.m. - Junior Varsity Girls
11:00 a.m. - Open

2024 ROBINSON/LANG RECAP
Chatham Glenwood won the girls race a year ago with three runners in the top-10, while Elena Ryback of Father McGivney (now at Notre Dame) was the individual champion in a time of 16:46.10.

St. Louis University won the boys title in 2024, placing three runners in the top-10. Zach Thoman of O'Fallon (now at SEMO) edged Jackson Miller of SLUH to capture the individual title in a time of 14:20.50.

PARKING
Spectator parking is available near the start/finish line at Niedringhaus School, and also at the Wilson Ice Rink parking lot.

LOCATION
Wilson Park
2901 State St.
Granite City, IL 62040

DIRECTIONS
From the North – Take interstate 55 south to 270 West toward St. Louis to exit 4 toward Granite City.  Turn left on IL-203 South/Nameoki Rd. Drive approximately 3.5 miles and you will see Granite City High School on your right. Wilson Park is directly behind the high school.

From the South – Take interstate 255 North to Horseshoe Lake Road West. Drive four miles to IL-162 turn left. Drive 1.8 miles to IL-203/Nameoki Road, turn right.  Drive 1.4 miles and Granite City High School will be on your left. Wilson Park is directly behind the high school.

Results will be available online at www.finallapracing.com.