The cost is $40.00 per team (non-refundable). Please only enter the number of teams you definitely will be bringing up to a maximum of:
- Large schools up to 4 boys and 4 girls teams
- Small schools up to 8 teams of boys, girls, and/or mixed (co-ed). Small schools are schools having fewer than 120 students in Grades 4 through 6.

To enter, register through Ellis Timing.

Schools must pay for the number of teams they register. Registration will close January 15 , 2024. Those teams that have registered and paid will be placed into heats. If we are not full on this date, schools can register additional teams (if you are interested in this option, please note it on the registration form).

If you find that you cannot send the teams that you have registered, please let us know by January 19, 2024, otherwise you will be charged for the number of teams registered on this date.

Coaches: Please pick up your “race packages” at the table when you arrive. The package includes your race numbers, a heat sheet, pins, and receipts. The race numbers have the team name and heat number written on the back. Please use the correct number for the appropriate team. The number goes on the front of the fourth relay runner.

If you have any questions, please contact admin@edmontonharriers.ca.

Each team consists of 4 runners. There will be approximately 30 heats plus the 3 finals. The early heats (where schools put their faster teams) will have a maximum of 6 teams per heat. If all schools send the maximum number of teams, some of the later heats may have more than 6 teams competing.

Only “small” schools can enter a mixed team. They can also enter all-boys and/or all-girls teams, to a maximum of 8 teams. Mixed teams will compete in the Small Schools Mixed Relay section, single gender teams will compete in the competitions open to all schools. To qualify for the final of the “Mixed” relay, teams must be made up of 2 boys and 2 girls. Small schools which do not have an equal number of boys and girls may run “imbalanced” teams (e.g.: 3 boys and 1 girl, or 3 girls and 1 boy) in the heats to give as many runners as possible the opportunity to run, but these teams will not be eligible to run in the final. If you know in advance that you will be bringing imbalanced teams, please indicate on the entry form so that those teams can be “flagged” as exhibition teams.

All runners must be kept off the track until race time. All non-competing runners and spectators must stay out of the infield.

Harrier marshals at the far end of the track will organize teams into heats. Make all runners aware of their heat number and listen for instructions regarding marshaling. Heat sheets will be posted around the walls (and will be posted by Wednesday, January [TBD] on the Harriers link from the website www.ellistiming.ca ). Teams, which have been “organized”, will be taken to the infield and will have their heat number with them. This should give everyone watching a good idea of which heat is getting ready to race.

The first runner must complete his/her lap in his/her lane. After the first exchange, all runners run in the inside lane (lane 1). Pylons will mark the exchange zone. We will be fairly lenient with the exchange. Only obvious infractions will result in team disqualification.

Race order will be girls, boys, mixed. The first race will begin at 6:30 p.m. Subsequent races will begin approximately every 4 minutes early in the evening – later races with slightly slower runners may take a little longer. Please ensure that you label your most competitive team as an “A” team so that they run in an early heat and have sufficient rest before the final (if they qualify).

If you feel your fastest team may not be competitive with other “A” teams (example: your fastest team will only consist of Grade Four athletes, when it is reasonable to expect that “A” teams from other schools will consist of Grade Six athletes), please feel free to mark on the entry form that your fastest relay team should be entered as a “B” team.

The 3 finals will allow the top teams to compete against each other. Teams will be run off at the beginning of the night and the top six fastest teams in each event (regardless of heat placement) will be run-off in a final at the very end of the meet. The result of these finals will determine our medal winners. This will apply to the boys, girls, and “Small school/Mixed” sections, so there will be 3 “Final” races at the end of the meet. Should there be few entries in the small schools section (as has happened recently), their final may go mid-meet so that those teams can get away early. If this is the intention we will let people know once we have all the entries.

Times and placement will be posted (as they become available) on the wall near the track entrance. Please be aware that, although we cannot definitely determine which teams will run the final until all heats have run, we generally have a good idea after the “A” and “B” teams have run. Please make sure you do not miss the finals.

Ribbons will be awarded to all teams in each heat. Place ribbons will be given to the final runner of each team to pass out to their teammates.

Medals will be awarded to the top three teams in the final in each event. In the case of a tie for advancement to the final, placing in the heat will be used to determine the qualifying team. The winning teams in the finals will receive the trophies. Trophies will be presented to the top schools in all three categories: boys, girls, and small school/mixed sections.

There are various parking lots available on the University campus. Costs for parking will be the responsibility of the athlete / parent / school.



Please keep the following in mind and pass this information along to spectators:

Carpool or use busses wherever possible. Athletes, coaches and spectators can all meet at the school and ride the same bus.

Plan to arrive early to allow for time to park and walk over to the facility.

Frequently Asked Questions

More details are available in the technical package on http://www.ellistiming.ca/HarriersRelays/




Spectators: There is plenty of seating above the concourse level. Parents will not be permitted at track level. This will be limited to coaches, athletes and volunteers only.

Team Organization Suggestion: Ensure that you label/choose your most competitive team as an “A” team so that they run in an early race and have sufficient rest before the final (if they qualify).

Numbers: Worn on the front of the last runner on each team.

Warm-up: Athletes are allowed to warm up on the track before the meet starts. Teams participating in the finals will be allowed on the infield to warm up prior to their races (at the discretion of the officials).


Marshalling: Look for the marshalling tent to have teams sign in.

Coaching: Coaches are allowed on the infield with competing teams.

Order of events: Posted on the wall near the entrance and on the wall behind the bleachers.. Events are organized by RACE # (NOT by heat number). Races alternate between girls, boys, and mixed teams, starting with the “A” teams.

Race procedure: The first runner completes his/her lap entirely in their assigned lane. After the first exchange, all runners run in lane 1 (inside lane). Pylons will mark the exchange zone. The officials will be fairly lenient with the exchange.

Spikes: Spikes are allowed to be worn for the event. The maximum length of the “pins” in the shoes is 7mm. NO spikes are allowed on the upper track.

Results: Times and placement will be posted on the wall at the concourse level. Live results can also be found at http://www.ellistiming.ca/HarriersRelays .

Finals: The fastest 6 girls teams, 6 boys teams, and 6 mixed school teams will qualify for finals. The mixed final is Race #21 (middle of the evening). The boys and girls finals will be at the end of the event. White boards in the infield will be updated with the fastest teams in each category throughout the evening. We will try to contact the coaches to inform them well in advance of the finals.

Awards: Medals will be awarded to the top three teams in each of the finals. The winning team in each of the three finals will be presented with a trophy. Each school is responsible for putting the plaque on the trophy. The trophy will remain at the school until the Harriers 2023 Elementary Relays.

PLEASE APPROACH THE EVENT IN A SPIRIT OF CELEBRATION OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND TEAMWORK. ONLY OFFICIAL COACHES WILL BE ABLE TO BRING ANY “IRREGULARITIES” TO THE ATTENTION OF THE OFFICIALS.

GOOD LUCK TO ALL TEAMS!! ALL OF YOUR ATHLETES DESERVE CHEERS!