IMGA XC Summit Challenge

Saturday, September 5, 2026 | IMG Academy | Bradenton, FL

IMG Academy Home Cross Country Course

5650 Bollettieri Blvd, Bradenton, FL 34210

The IMGA XC Summit Challenge returns for its third year, bringing competitive cross country racing to one of the premier athletic facilities in the world. Hosted by IMG Academy on its home cross country course, this early-season meet is designed to provide athletes with a fast, well-organized racing experience.

Register Now Course Map Race Schedule

Schedule & Assignments

The full race schedule, awards ceremony times, and starting box assignments for the 2026 IMGA XC Summit Challenge will be posted here as the event approaches. Click the buttons below to view the most up-to-date information.

This link updates in real time. We strongly recommend bookmarking rather than screenshotting, as start times and assignments may change leading up to race day.

View Race Schedule View Awards Schedule View Box Assignments

Registration

All official registration for the 2026 IMGA XC Summit Challenge is managed through Direct Athletics. Click the button below to register your team:

Register on Direct Athletics

Divisions

The IMGA XC Summit Challenge offers three competitive divisions for both Boys and Girls high school racing: Elite, Varsity, and Junior Varsity (JV). Schools may enter athletes across all three divisions.

Elite Division

The Elite division is reserved for programs bringing a legitimate top-end squad. This is a competitive, capped field with only the top 7 teams per gender accepted. Teams must have a minimum of 5 athletes to be eligible for the Elite division, with a maximum of 7 on the starting line. There is no exception to the 5-athlete minimum. One Elite entry per school per gender. Selection is based entirely on your team's Top 5 athlete average 5K time, using times from the 2025 or 2026 cross country season.

Before entering Elite, consider the following baseline benchmarks: Boys teams should have a Top 5 average of approximately 16:30 or faster, and Girls teams should have a Top 5 average of approximately 19:45 or faster. If your program does not yet have times near this threshold, we strongly encourage entering the Varsity division instead. Elite spots will be awarded to the 7 fastest qualifying teams per gender.

Due to limitations of the Direct Athletics platform, Elite entry requires two steps: register your athletes through Direct Athletics as normal, then complete the Elite Division Submission Form to officially submit your team's times for consideration.

Elite Division Submission Form

If your Elite bid is not accepted, your top 7 athletes will be moved to Varsity and all remaining athletes will be placed into JV. No athlete will be left without a race.

Varsity Division

Open to high school varsity-level competitors. Schools may enter one Varsity squad per gender of up to 7 athletes on the starting line, regardless of whether they also have an Elite entry. The Varsity division is capped at 20 teams per gender. A minimum of 5 athletes is required to be scored in the team standings. Teams that compete with fewer than 5 athletes will still race individually but will not be eligible for team scoring or team awards. Those teams will be placed in mixed boxes on the outer edges of the starting line. This is a first-come, first-served division.

Junior Varsity Division

Open to all athletes not entered in Elite or Varsity. No athlete cap. Every runner on your roster has a race.

How It All Works Together

For programs entering all three divisions, a typical breakdown would be your top 6 or 7 athletes in Elite, athletes 8 through 14 in Varsity, and everyone else in JV. For programs not entering Elite, your top 7 athletes go into Varsity and everyone else goes into JV.

Coach & Athlete Info

Campus Arrival & Gates

Campus gates open at 5:00AM — no earlier. Upon arrival, make your way to the Team Tent area located on the east side of Tent City — the grass field behind the scoreboard of the main track and football stadium, on the back side of the large white IMG Academy bubble. Head directly to the registration table upon arrival.

View Event Map

Packet Pickup & Check-In

Check-in is located at the registration tent in Tent City. Upon arrival on race day morning, please check in to receive your team packet, which will include bibs, timing chips, and coaches wristbands.

Custom Racing Bibs: All athletes registered on Direct Athletics by August 26th will receive a custom bib featuring their last name and team name. Athletes registered after August 26th will still receive a bib but it will display a number only. August 26th is a hard deadline driven by production and shipping lead time — no exceptions.

Coaches Hospitality & Coaches Meeting

The Coaches Hospitality area is located near the start line and opens at 5:30AM. Coaches are welcome to use the area throughout the day at their convenience. A coaches meeting will take place at the Coaches Hospitality area — time to be confirmed with the race schedule. All coaches are encouraged to attend.

Each team will receive 2 coaches wristbands per gender. A wristband is required to access the Coaches Hospitality area. If your staff requires additional bands, please contact us at [email protected] prior to race day.

Course Preview & Warmup

The course will be open the evening before the meet from 5:00PM to 7:00PM, weather permitting. If rain occurs, the course will be closed to protect the grounds. We encourage coaches and athletes to take advantage of this window to walk or run the course and get their bearings.

On race day, warmups may be conducted anywhere on campus or on the course prior to the start of the Elite races. Once racing begins, please stay off the course entirely to avoid interfering with active races.

Reporting to the Start Line

All athletes must report to the start line, located on the south side of the soccer stadium, 10 minutes prior to their gun time. The gun will go off on schedule and will not wait for late arrivals. Please plan accordingly.

Athletes must arrive at the line with the following three items:

Uniform — Sweats may be brought to the line but there is no designated sweats drop-off. Placement of personal items is at the athlete's discretion. IMG Academy is not responsible for any lost items.
Timing chip — laced into shoe and confirmed secure
Racing bib — attached to the front of the uniform using 4 safety pins

Awards

Awards ceremonies will take place following the conclusion of each race. All top finishers are expected to be present for their ceremony.

Elite Division

Individual: The top 3 finishers will receive a trophy. All top 10 finishers will receive a medal.

Team: The top 3 teams will receive a team trophy.

Varsity Division

Individual: The top 3 finishers will receive a trophy. All top 10 finishers will receive a medal.

Team: The top 3 teams will receive a team trophy.

Junior Varsity Division

Individual: The top 3 finishers will receive a trophy. All top 10 finishers will receive a medal.

Team: The JV Team Champion will receive a team trophy.

Note: Teams must have a minimum of 5 scoring athletes to be eligible for team awards.

View Awards Schedule

Travel & Logistics

Welcome to Bradenton, Florida! Here's everything you need to plan your trip to the 2026 IMGA XC Summit Challenge.

Getting Here

Navigate to IMG Academy's West Campus upon arrival:

5650 Bollettieri Blvd, Bradenton, FL 34210

Recommended Airports

SRQ — Sarasota Bradenton International Airport — approximately 20 minutes to campus

TPA — Tampa International Airport — approximately 1 hour to campus

Campus Entry

Campus gates open at 5:00AM on race day. Upon arrival, follow signage to the Team Tent area behind the bubble. Full arrival instructions are available under the Coach & Athlete Info tab.

Lodging

Legacy Hotel — Located on IMG Academy campus. The most convenient option for teams traveling to the meet.

Coming Soon

On Location Travel — Official travel partner for group hotel blocks and travel packages.

Coming Soon

Rental Cars

Go Rentals — Preferred rental car partner for IMG Academy visitors.

Coming Soon

Live Results

The 2026 IMGA XC Summit Challenge is proudly timed by Halfmile Timing. Live and final results will be posted here on race day. Results go live as each race finishes. Final official results will remain posted here following the conclusion of the meet.

View Live Results

Contact Us

For all meet-related inquiries, please reach out to us at:

[email protected]

Before emailing, please make sure you have reviewed all tabs on this website — Meet Overview, Race Day Schedule, Registration, Coach & Athlete Info, Travel & Logistics, Live Results, and FAQ. The answer to your question is likely already there.

Frequently Asked Questions

This section will be updated continuously as questions are received at [email protected] so all participants can benefit from shared answers and clarifications.

How do I register?

All official registration is managed through Direct Athletics. Elite division entries require an additional step — completing the Elite Division Submission Form after registering.

How is the Elite division selected?

Elite teams are selected based on each team's Top 5 athlete average 5K time from the 2025 or 2026 season, with the 7 fastest qualifying teams per gender awarded a spot.

What happens if my Elite bid isn't accepted?

Elite teams not accepted will have their top 7 athletes moved to Varsity, with all remaining athletes placed into JV. No athlete is left without a race.

Is there a minimum number of athletes needed to score as a team?

Yes. A minimum of 5 scoring athletes is required for team scoring and team awards in both Varsity and JV. Teams with fewer than 5 will still race individually but will not be eligible for team scoring or awards.

What time do campus gates open on race day?

Campus gates open at 5:00AM — no earlier.

How do I get a custom bib with my name on it?

Athletes registered on Direct Athletics by August 26th will receive a custom bib with their last name and team name. Registrations after August 26th will still receive a bib, but with a number only. This is a hard deadline with no exceptions.

Can I walk the course before race day?

Yes. The course will be open for preview the evening before the meet from 5:00PM to 7:00PM, weather permitting.

Where do I check in on race day?

Check-in is located at the registration tent in Tent City, on the east side behind the scoreboard of the main track and football stadium.

Where can I watch live results?

Live and final results are provided by Halfmile Timing and will be posted on the Live Results tab as each race finishes.

Past Events

Lifestyle Accommodations

Legacy Hotel at IMG Academy

Located on IMG Academy campus, Legacy Hotel is the most convenient option for teams traveling to the 2026 IMGA XC Summit Challenge.

Coming Soon

Complete Your Experience

Transportation

IMG Academy offers dropoff and pickup services to and from several local Florida airports. Schedule your transportation as an individual or with a group for ultimate ease.

Schedule Airport Transit Service

Retail

Explore IMG Academy’s Official Online Store for a wide selection of branded apparel and gear designed for athletes, families, and fans.

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IMG Academy+

IMG Academy+ offers 1-on-1, group and on-demand mental performance and nutrition coaching programs to help transform your game.

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IMGA XC Summit Challenge

Event Overview