By Lincoln Shryack

Outside of the NCAA championships, there are a number of college sports events that attract the full attention of spectators across the country. In basketball, Duke vs. North Carolina is one of the most storied rivalries in sports. The proximity of the schools as well as the history of classic battles makes the two-game regular-season series a must-watch spectacle. In football, there are several rivalries that mirror that intensity, including the Iron Bowl between Alabama and Auburn, as well as the Red River Rivalry game between Texas and Oklahoma. All of these matchups bringing the searing spotlight to their sports and provide the victors with the ultimate in pride and branging rights for one year.

In collegiate cross-country, the biggest regular-season battle for bragging rights goes down annually in mid-October at the Wisconsin adidas XC Invitational. Famous for its spectator friendly course and outstanding competition, Wisco has become known for the quality of its fields, which are arguably stronger than the NCAA meet that takes place a month later. Held on the manicured terrain of the Zimmer XC course, the Wisco Invite goes a long way toward punching NCAA tickets for those teams whose fate depend on the Kolas calculator. Here is a glimpse inside the lines of the deepest meet of the college season.

Course: Thomas Zimmer Championship Course

Location: Madison, WI

Usage: College

History: Named after Thomas Zimmer, a longtime Badger supporter, the Zimmer XC course opened in 2009 with the inaugural adidas Invitational. After only five years, the course has earned the reputation as one of the best facilities in the country, with premium grounds maintained by a full-course irrigation system. Wisconsin hosted the 2010 Big 10 Championships on Zimmer, as well as the last two Great Lakes Regional meets.

Layout: The Zimmer championship course is built to accommodate race distances from 4-K to 10-K. With an outer loop of approximately 2,500 meters, as well as an interior loop of 1,000 meters, the predominantly flat course is set up well for fast times with excellent markers at each kilometer and mile. The first 500m of the race is contested over a long straightaway that allows runners the ability to position themselves before settling in by the first kilometer. The finger loops in the middle of the course do not have sharp turns, but they can be tight given the large number of athletes racing. As the runners head toward the finish, they are greeted by a long, uphill straightaway that opens up to provide the perfect stage for a finishing kick.

Course Records: Men (8k): 23:03- Lawi Lalang, Arizona, 2012. Women (6k): 19:31- Abbey D’Agostino, Dartmouth, 2013.

What makes it great: Competition and terrain.

Although the Zimmer Championship course has held conference and regional meets over the last few years, the crown jewel is the Wisconsin adidas Invitational. The meet annually boasts a who’s who of NCAA studs, and a solid performance by a bubble team can mean the difference between a trip to Terre Haute in November and being left at home.

Last year, Wisconsin entered its home meet with something to prove after losing key seniors and replacing them with a bunch of unproven new faces. With their fourth-place finish, the Badgers surprised everyone but themselves, and earned enough points for a 42nd straight trip to NCAAs.

For coaches and spectators, the accessibility of the course makes it very easy to see the runners at every split. The finger loops in the heart of the course are easily cut across as the runners wind through the turns and head to the perimeter back around the start. The long start/finish straightaways provide excellent viewership as the races unfold, and the multitude of All-American caliber athletes means that the adidas Invitational will annually be packed with drama.