Plainfield Pack Labor Day Classic and Palatine Pack Meet of Champions Seeking Teams for 2026
- Carson Vittorio
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
Two middle school cross country meets hosted by Plainfield Pack and Palatine Pack are looking for teams to join their 2026 fields as registration continues for the Plainfield Pack Middle School Labor Day Classic Presented by Dick Pond and the Palatine Pack Middle School Meet of Champions.
The two meets are designed to give middle school runners high-quality competition, well-organized race experiences and an opportunity to compete against athletes from programs throughout the area. Both meets still have room for additional teams, and organizers are encouraging coaches to consider adding them to their 2026 schedules.
The Plainfield Pack Middle School Labor Day Classic Presented by Dick Pond will kick off the season on Saturday, September 5, 2026, at Ronald D. Lehman Park/Channahon Community Park in Channahon, Illinois.
The Labor Day Classic will feature five races:
8:00 a.m. — Course Walk
9:00 a.m. — Boys Junior Varsity, 2.0 miles
9:40 a.m. — Girls Junior Varsity, 2.0 miles
10:20 a.m. — Boys Varsity, 2.0 miles
11:00 a.m. — Girls Varsity, 2.0 miles
11:40 a.m. — Co-Ed Beginners, 1.2 miles
The meet offers coaches flexibility with their entries. The boys and girls junior varsity races have unlimited entries, varsity races allow up to 10 runners per gender, and the Co-Ed Beginners race also has unlimited entries.
Team awards will be presented to the top three varsity and junior varsity teams, while individual medals will be awarded through 25th place in the varsity races, 20th place in the junior varsity races and 10th place in the beginners race.
The Labor Day Classic will be held at 23200 W. McClintock Road in Channahon. The entry fee is $300 for a full team covering both genders.
Coaches interested in entering the Labor Day Classic must submit entries through Athletic.net by Tuesday, September 1 at 11:59 p.m. Questions regarding the meet can be directed to Plainfield Pack Executive Director Carson Vittorio at plainfield@thepacktfcc.com or (815) 922-4393.
Meet of Champions Looking for Additional Teams
Three weeks later, the Palatine Pack Middle School Meet of Champions will provide another opportunity for teams to compete in a strong middle school field.
The Meet of Champions will take place on Friday, September 25, 2026, at Deer Grove East Forest Preserve, 1599 Pepper Tree Drive, Palatine, Illinois.
The meet schedule includes:
3:00 p.m. — Course Walk
4:15 p.m. — Boys Junior Varsity, 1.5 miles
4:35 p.m. — Girls Junior Varsity, 1.5 miles
4:55 p.m. — Boys Varsity, 2.0 miles
5:20 p.m. — Girls Varsity, 2.0 miles
5:45 p.m. — Co-Ed Beginners, 1.0 mile
The Meet of Champions also offers unlimited junior varsity entries, a 10-runner maximum per gender in the varsity races and unlimited entries in the Co-Ed Beginners race.
The meet will award the top three varsity and junior varsity teams, with individual medals going to the top 25 varsity finishers, top 20 junior varsity finishers and top 10 beginners.
However, additional teams are still needed to fill out the field, and organizers are encouraging coaches to register their teams and help make the Meet of Champions a competitive and memorable event for all of the athletes involved.
The entry fee for the Meet of Champions is $300 for a full team covering both genders. Entries must be submitted through Athletic.net by Tuesday, September 22 at 11:59 p.m.
Coaches with questions about the Meet of Champions can contact Palatine Pack Executive Director Chris Quick at palatinepack@gmail.com or (847) 755-1770.
Both meets will feature live results through PalatinePack.com, giving coaches, athletes, parents and fans the opportunity to follow the competition throughout the day.
For coaches looking to add a competitive meet to their 2026 schedule, the Labor Day Classic and Meet of Champions offer two opportunities to bring their teams together, compete against other programs and give their athletes a memorable racing experience.
Teams interested in participating are encouraged to contact the host as soon as possible, as both meets are still accepting additional entries.
