The JFK Roving Reporter, Armory Website: Visit Armory Track - Go to the 2009 XC Calendar - Scroll to 9/26/09; Click JFK Sterling Invitational

Be sure to visit the Armory Track Homepage. Go to the 2009 Cross Country Calendar. Scroll down to 9/26/09. Click the JFK Sterling Invitational entry. The information posted there and added here comes from the ATRA website and describes the fast-becoming-famous Kennedy trails. From these original trails, Coach Jake Bergmeier has carved the challenging, yet fast, scenic Sterling Invitational XC Courses as described below:

The JFK Sterling XC courses have been newly designed by Coach Jake Bergmeier. The courses were completed with the approval of long time New York Section 1 lead administrator, Coach Sister Janet Meehan. The trails have been nicely groomed thanks to the hard work of the coaches, the runners, and their families.

The 70 acres of school property is an ideal setting for a Cross Country course and for a class XC Invitational. Runners and coaches in last year's Sterling Invitational used the words - beautiful, gorgeous, and enchanting to describe the trails and the grounds.

The charm of the area's trails that the couse was designed from is partially captured in the following thoughts that I have taken the liberty to quote from: http://www.trailrunner.com/state_trails/ny_kennedy....

Kennedy Trail, Somers

The trail was a part of the Old Putnam Railroad line between the Bronx and Putnam County and you can still find some old railroad ties along the trail. From Route 100 or Route 684, go to Kennedy Catholic High School at 54 Route 138 in Somers, NY.

Go to the back of the parking lot where you'll see a chain link fence. The trail starts behind that fence. Or... From Route 139 or Route 202 in Somers, turn onto Brick Hill Road.

When you reach the side street Palma Road, stay on Brick Hill, and go down hill. On the right hand side you will find the entrance to the trail, marked by 4 or 5 boulders. Just hop over them or go around. Its a cinder trail, relatively flat and straight.

There are a few places where erosion has washed out the original trail, but alternate routes have been carved out by ATV's and runners.

It is 2 miles from the Kennedy High School entrance to Brick Hill Road. The trail continues on after that... The mid-way point is marked by a large felled tree on the side of the trail closest to the lake. Watch out for deer and the occasional howling coyotes before dawn or after dusk.

The trail is owned by the Town of Somers, but some of it does pass through watershed property, so all NYC Watershed laws must be obeyed.

If you take the trail from Brick Hill road and just before you get to Kennedy HS you make a right and keep staying to the right, there is a very pleasant run on a trail that runs adjacent to the Resevoir. This trail hits Plum Brook road, and if you turn right on Plum Brook road, you can go over a no longer used bridge whch is quite old. That road is closed at that point and very nice to run on.

If you make that left onto Plum Brook road, go down about 1/4 mile and make a right onto rt. 138, go down another 1/4 mile, you can make a right onto an old dirt road and tack on another 1.5 miles going out. This can make the run a nice long run.

There are many trails in this area that are worth checking out.

For more information about the Kennedy Trails, from which our Sterling Invitational XC courses were designed, visit the ATRA - American Trail Running Association website (www.trailrunner.com)