Google Map | Races Hosted at Cooper's Lake
The Slippery Rock University cross country teams are fortunate to call Cooper's Lake Campground their home course. The site, which is roughly 10 minutes off campus, is regarded as one of the top cross country courses in a the region and plays host to thousands of runners of all levels each fall.
The course is entirely grass and features a wide-open layout that makes it perfect for spectators to view championship style races. That fact, along with its challenging layout with one large hill and rolling hills, has allowed Slippery Rock to host a number of championship meets at the facility.
The course has hosted the PSAC and NCAA Atlantic Regional championship meets on multiple occasions and also hosted the NCAA Division II National Championships in 2008.
The course can be set up to run any distance from 2,000-10,0000-meters, with the most popular courses being the 5,000-meter high school course, the 6,000-meter collegiate women's course and the 8,000 and 10,000-meter collegiate men's courses.
One of the most unique features of the course is the finishing stretch, where runners actually run through a doorway to a castle before the final 200-meter straightaway.
The women's 6,000-meter course record is owned by current professional runner Neely Spence, who set the record of 20:43 while running for Shippensburg in 2011. The men's 8,000-meter record is held by Aaron Dinzeo of California (Pa.) from 2014.
To view the course maps for each distance, check out the links in the columns to the right of this page. The Google Map link above will show a satelite view of the grounds and provides a directions link.
Course Descriptions
6,000-Meter Course
The course is all grass. There are a few times when a dirt road is crossed.
First 300m is gradual uphill 300-500m is a steep up hill 500-700 is flat and 700-800 is steep down hill. From mile to 1 mile it is flat with slight uphill and down hill grades. From 1 mile to 1 mile will be somewhat flat with one slight up grade and one slight downhill. From 1 mile to 2 mile will be mostly flat with one gradual upgrade. From 2 mile to 2 mile there is a downgrade, some flat and an upgrade. From 2 mile to 3 mile is mostly flat with a slight upgrade. From 3 mile to 3 mile slight downgrade and flat. From 3 mile to finish slight upgrade and slight downgrade to finish.
Other than the big hill in the beginning the race, there are no major hills. It is an excellent course for spectators and there is unlimited parking.
10,000-Meter Course
The course is all grass. There are a few times when a dirt road is crossed.
First 300m is gradual uphill 300-500m is a steep up hill 500-700 is flat and 700-800 is steep down hill. From mile to 1 mile it is flat with slight uphill and down hill grades. From 1 mile to 1 mile will be somewhat flat with one slight up grade and one slight downhill. From 1 mile to 2 mile will be mostly flat with one gradual upgrade. From 2 mile to 2 mile there is a downgrade, some flat and an upgrade. From 2 mile to 3 mile is mostly flat with a slight upgrade. From 3 mile to 3 mile slight downgrade and flat. From 3 mile to 4 mile it is mostly flat with a slight upgrade. From 4 miles to 4 miles there is a down grade, some flat and an upgrade. From 4 miles to 5 miles there is a gradual up grade and then a slight down grade. From 5 miles to 5 miles it is flat with some downgrade. From 5 miles to 6 miles it is mostly flat with a slight upgrade. There is slight downhill grade to the finish.
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| Distances |
2k-10k |
| Surface |
Grass (no pavement) |
| Course Maps |
2k | 3k | 4k | 5k | 6k | 8k | 10k |
| Top 20 Records |
Men's/Boy's Records | Women's/Girl's Records |
| Campground |
www.CoopersLake.com |
| Directions |
To SRU: From I-79, take Exit 105 (Slippery Rock). Turn left at the stop sign at the end of the exit ramp and follow State Route 108 north into Slippery Rock. At the traffic light, turn right onto Main Street. Follow Main Street to the second traffic light (Keister Road). Turn left onto Keister Road and proceed to the flashing light, where you will see a main entrance to campus.
To Cooper's Lake: From Slippery Rock, take 108 to I-79. Head south on I-79 to Exit 99 (Butler). Turn left at the end of the exit ramp and proceed to the first road to your right. Follow that road back to Cooper's Lake Campground. Ample parking is available adjacent to the course. |
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