THE ORIGINAL BRANDYWINE CREEK STATE PARK COURSE: Designed by Fr Joe Beattie of Salesianum and listed as 2.8 miles. The start was near the wall close to Rte 92 in the Nature Center area and used most of what is still the course. The end was very different and a bit awkward zig zagging through those openings in the wall within 20 yards of the finish but it was a real test. The first dual meets were held here in 1973 and the State Meet was here in 1975. The familiar parts of the course were run in the opposite direction ...Maintenance was DOWNHILL.
POLLY DRUMMOND HILL: This is the 1973 version of the first course other than Rockford Park to be used for the State Meet. The University of Delaware used this for their home course but no other HS meets were held here. The majority of the course was a 2 mile loop in the woods so spectators had to work hard to get a look. The different distances of the meets held here were achieved by altering how the course went through the lawn area right along PD Road. The 1973 version was listed as 2.514 miles. Bill Crowthers of Mt Pleasant was Meet Director during these years. This area has recently become part of White Clay State Park and could see XC use in the future.
THE ORIGINAL DICKINSON HS/ CAROUSEL COURSE: Was undoubtedly designed by long time Dickinson coach John Price and was first used in 1973. The park had not been absorbed by NCC yet and was just used for horseback riding but the hills were every bit as rugged. Compared to Dickinson's current course this one used more of the school property.
THE ORIGINAL CANBY PARK COURSE: Designed by Jerry Peltz, who had been a fine runner at Sallies and had just started teaching at St E in 1973. The course uses pretty much all of the space available and is similar to the current alignment but did not go in front of Canby Pool. The railroad tracks were always a concern but I don't think a train has ever disrupted a meet (could be wrong though) . A huge drain project, currently in progress, may have a big impact on the future of the course.
CONCORD HIGH SCHOOL COURSE: This is a rarity because the course on the campus wasn't used for very long. This map is from 1973
TATNALL SCHOOL COURSE: Designed by Coach Dick Hodgson and put to use in 1973 (72?) was longer than Rockford and pretty flat and featured some looping. The old New Castle Co Conference held their Conference meet here in '73
1979 BELLEVUE STATE PARK COURSE: Designed by Bill Crowthers, long time coach at Mt Pleasant. This version started and finished on the parking lot/ bathroom side of the track. The runners began on the track and ran west until they got to the path that leads in from the high school then took a left and circled the stable area. Of all the various routes used at Bellevue over the years this was the only one that ran through the stable area. The finish contained the infamous run over the bridge.
KILLEN'S POND 1972: Designed By Jim Blades and hosted the State Meet for the first time in 1972. The park had recently been established and looked much different from today. The finish was on your right as you turned into the park near the current park office. The pine trees hadn't been planted yet and you could see the whole park from the entrance. The distance was 2.8 miles. The bridge over the pond hadn't been built so all the action was on the near side and utilized a trail through the woods that became a mainstay of the various courses in the early days..... but not recent ones.