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Blue Knights Cross Country Program

About the Program

The St. Louis Christian Homeschool Blue Knights organization was established in 2006 with a single basketball team. Since that time, like-minded families and committed volunteers who are passionate about sports have enabled exponential growth to include several programs.

We strive to display Christian character at all times; to train young men and women to love and play competitive sports while honoring God in all that they do; to bring honor and glory to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ with our attitudes, actions and abilities; and to lead others to Him through our words and deeds.

Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works
and glorify your Father which is in Heaven.” 
–Matthew 5:16

The Blue Knights organization is much more than a group of sports teams. We are sports-loving, God-loving families with the common goal of drawing closer to Christ through high level athletics and the friendships that are built through striving and celebrating together.

XC Meet Reports & Updates

2023 Season Meet Updates.
Click here to read about this season's meets!

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I register my child to run Cross Country with the Blue Knights?
Registration is open the first two weeks in July for the upcoming XC season (July 1 to July 14, 2024). Registration will be online. Only registered athletes may participate in practices and meets.

How old does my child need to be to join the team?
Our XC program is for 6th through 12th grade.

Which XC events does the XC team offer, and which will my child be eligible for?
High school races are typically 5k (3.1 miles) but some early season meets will have shorter distances of 2 miles and/or 3k for freshman. Middle school races range from 3k to 2 miles (typically). Most of our meets are MSHSAA sponsored, meaning that 6-8th grade can participate in MS meets and 9-12th grade in HS meets (V and JV).

When, where and how long does the team practice? [NOTE: NEW SCHEDULE FOR 2024 SEASON!]
Team practices will be on the following days and locations:

  • Mondays, 5:30-7:00 pm at Wapelhorst Park in St. Charles. This is our hard team workout day.
  • Wednesdays, 6:30/7:00/8:00 am to 9:00 am at either the Katy Trail (Page/364 parking lot) or the Hamburg trail (Weldon Spring Site Interpretive Center off Hwy 94). This is our long run day. Anyone running over 5 miles should arrive at the 6:30 or 7:00 am start times. Those running 5 miles or less may start at the 8:00 am start time. There will be coaches at these times until 9:00 am. Athletes may leave earlier than 9:00 am.
  • Fridays 5:30-7:00 pm at McNair Park (Day Camp area). 2nd hard team workout day. On weeks when we have a Saturday meet, we will not have a team practice on Friday nights.
  • Tuesdays and Thursdays – recovery run on your own (instructions will be provided)
  • Saturdays – run on your own if we don’t have a meet (instructions will be provided)
  • Sundays – rest

You should come to practice in running clothes appropriate for weather, wear good running shoes, and bring plenty of water.


What are practices like?
We typically start out with a brief team huddle, followed by stretching drills, a ~1 mile warm-up, a workout (hills, speed, intervals, etc), and ~1 mile cool down. We try to get as much of the workout on the grass as possible as races will mostly be run on grass and variable terrain.

What if I cannot attend some of the practices?
Athletes will need to attend the majority of practices in order to participate in meets, the majority meaning half plus one of all practices. For example, if we have 8 practices before the first meet, athletes will need to have attended 5 of the practices to participate. If we have 10 practices before the second meet, athletes will need 6 to participate.

We encourage all athletes to play a variety of sports, but believe it is also important to honor the commitment of those choosing XC as their primary focus from August-October. We believe this attendance requirement is more equitable for the group and will build better team chemistry. Under certain circumstances, we will consider a waiver for those participating in another sport which conflicts with XC practices or meets. In such cases, please email Coach Marv [email protected] prior to registration.

When does the season begin, and how long does it last?
We will schedule a parent & athlete meeting for those registered in late July. Official practices will begin at the beginning of August (in 2024, that means Monday, August 5). We anticipate 7-8 high school meets, 4-5 middle school meets including Homeschool Nationals. The season ends with the National Homeschool XC Championship in Springfield, MO (typically the last Saturday in October).

When and where will meets be held?
Planned Blue Knights XC Meets - 2024. During the season, we typically have a meet each week, usually on Saturday mornings.

  • Wednesday, September 4 - FleetFeet XC Classic (HS only, 2M) - Arnold City Park
  • Saturday, September 14 - Forest Park XC Festival (HS+MS)
  • TENTATIVE Saturday, September 21 - TBD (HS+MS)
  • TENTATIVE Saturday, September 28 - Gans Creek Classic, Columbia (HS only)
  • Saturday, October 5 - Frank Schultz XC Invite - Hillsboro (HS+MS)
  • Saturday, October 12 - Potosi XC Invitational (HS+MS)
  • Saturday, October 19 - Hancock XC Invitational - Jefferson Barracks Park (HS only)
  • Saturday, October 26 - Homeschool XC Nationals - Lake Springfield Park, Springfield MO (HS+MS & siblings)


Are tryouts required to join the team?
No. All homeschoolers are welcome to join the program regardless of ability. We seek to provide a program where competitive runners can excel and improve as well as where new runners can learn to love the sport and be part of a team. The high school varsity team is competitive with the best runners selected for events regardless of age/grade. The JV and middle school teams are a mixture of competitive/aspiring varsity runners as well as those using the program to get into running and/or off-season conditioning for other sports. Please note, however, we may need to limit the number of participants for logistical reasons and safety.

What should I do before the season begins?
Athletes should be running before the season begins so that they are in shape once formal team practices begin. Our first meets are only a few weeks after practices start. HS athletes should be able to jog 30 minutes without stopping (2-3 miles). MS athletes should be able to jog 20 minutes (1.5-2 miles). Our warm-ups are typically 1 mile at an easy pace (no walking–If a runner can’t jog the warmup, one of their parents will be expected to do the warmup with them). We suggest that you are running 3 or more times per week in June and July. Please contact one of the coaches for specific suggestions for pre-season training. Also, we encourage athletes to use Strava to track their workouts. We have a “club” on Strava called Stl Blue Knights Track XC that you can join to encourage your teammates and track your progress.

Who are the coaches, and how can I get in touch with them?
Coach Bios page
Head Coach:Marv Meyers
Assistant Head Coach: Jane Criswell
Assistant Coaches: Anastasha Anderson, Mike Coumerilh and Mark Forbes

What does it cost to run XC with the Blue Knights?

  • Fees are subject to change each season. For 2024, high school will be $130 and middle school $90.
  • Registration Fee:
    • All players must pay a $20 fee that covers insurance, referees, facility fees and other organizational administrative costs.
  • Uniforms:
    • We use the same uniforms and warmups for both XC and Track.
    • Uniforms are required to be purchased. The approximate cost is $75. Everyone will wear the new style uniforms introduced in 2023.
    • Tights/compression shorts/undershirts are acceptable to wear UNDER the official uniforms. Preferred colors are black and white.
    • [NEW FOR 2024] High schoolers also are required to purchase our new team-issued warmup jacket for $65.  These will be complemented by black warmup pants that can be purchased on your own (any brand but must be black) or the official black warmup pants for $60.
    • Middle schoolers do not have official warmups but may purchase Blue Knights spirit hoodies or our old warmup tops.
  • Other expenses:
    • Families can expect travel costs for attending Homeschool Nationals (hotel, food, gas, etc.). Good running shoes are strongly recommended for all, along with running spikes for high schoolers. Local running stores frequently offer discounts for athletes on XC teams if you ask (during the month of August).

Are there any discounts for siblings? No

Are other discounts or scholarships available?
There is a discount for pastors’ families. Email [email protected] for scholarship application.

What will be expected of me and my child if we decide to participate in a Blue Knights program?
Please read through the Parent Manifesto, Parent Contract and the Athlete Contract found under the Registration Info > Agreements & Forms menu above. In addition, we need parents to volunteer for various tasks such as attendance tracking, helping by the team tent during meets, organizing/helping with the end of season awards potluck, data entry, etc.


What is XC Stats and how do I register (High School athletes only)?
XC Stats is the software we use to track athlete performance in both our XC and Track programs. All high school athletes must register as this is our primary means for communication. For those who have used XC Stats before, no additional registration is required. For those new to XC Stats, please follow the instructions here. You can find our team page at https://www.xcstats.com/team_page.php?school_id=1326.

MSHSAA eligibility
Players must be homeschooled for 365 consecutive days before they are eligible to participate in MSHSAA games. *Note: Parents should not contact MSHSAA regarding their questions, complaints, or concerns. All questions to MSHSAA need to go through Blue Knights Athletic Director, Rick Tucker, via email at [email protected].

What should I do if I have an issue with a coach or with someone within the Blue Knights organization?
Please follow the Conflict Resolution guide found under the Registration Info > Agreements & Forms menu above.

I have more questions. Whom should I contact, and how?
Contact [email protected] with any additional questions that aren’t addressed here.

I have more questions about registration. Whom should I contact, and how?
Contact Marla Coumerilh: [email protected].

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St. Louis Blue Knights

2430 Lombard Ln 
Imperial, Missouri 63052
Email : [email protected]
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