On Sunday, October 15, 2017
SPOTLIGHT ON YOUTH
Two cross country events are coming up that most readers
will not qualify for. You have to be
under 18 years old for one, or in sixth, seventh and eighth grade in the other.
Most adult runners are aware that USATF and AAU offer cross
country competition to our youthful runners.
Last year the Morris area Lakeland League hosted the regional USATF meet
at Central Park, Greystone in Morris Plains. Lakeland hosts meets throughout the season at
Central Park. The state meet was held at
Deer Path Park in Hunterdon County.
This year the state meet is back again at Deer Path, on
November 5 and the regional meet will be in Youngwood PA.
Youths in USATF are in two year age divisions with every
child the age they will be on December 31 of the competitive year. In cross country the youngest run 2
kilometers, and the oldest run a full 5 kilometers. In between are 3km, and 4km.
If you are an adult runner with kids you may have your kids
participating in your towns program through the Lakeland League, as it is well
known and highly regarded.
Another less known event is taking place on October 28 at
the Montgomery School in Skillman for New Jersey middle school children. Begun in 2013 by Andy Martin, standout runner
for Hunterdon North, Martin has remained active in the sport. Martin for a time was the managing director
of the New Jersey association of USATF and then lured to the national office in
Indiana where he still resides. But Martin
hasn’t quite left his roots and he said that he had seen how successful the Indiana
middle school cross country program was and wanted to bring it to New
Jersey.
This is the first year in Skillman. In 2013, 2014 and 2015 the meet was held at
Six Flags, Great Adventure in Jackson. Skillman
is more centrally located for all of New Jersey kids.
The format of the
races is somewhat different from USATF, although USATF rules are applied. All of the children run 3 kilometer. Like USATF they are split by gender.
Take a look at the course map on the event website http://www.njmsxc.com. It is a spectator’s dream course with four
opportunities to watch your kid. One at
the start, one on the first loop and going out to a dog leg turnaround, one
when coming in from the turnaround and then at the finish.
You’ve got to love this.
The individual winners in the championship races will be given a trophy,
a 361 Champion Jacket and a pair of 361 shoes, thanks the Jorge Lopes, the 361
rep and Runners Haven in Randolph, both sponsors. In fact, Maryellen and Kevin Higgins of
Runners Haven will be on site with merchandize available for purchase. Lopes, who is a competitive runner like
Higgins will also be onsite.
The top 3 teams will receive medals. The winning team will take home the state
champion trophy and the top seven athletes on the team will also get a 361
Champions Jacket.
Here’s where it deviates from USATF in a big way. The head coach will also receive a jacket and
a pair of 361 shoes. Not bad, coach.
And guess who is going to be handing out the awards. None other than our own New Jersey super
star, Olympian Robby Andrews.
Children who are unattached can enter either event or run on
the recreation department team. For the
USATF event they must be current members of USATF.
The Middle School championship invites schools to send
children to the event, but children whose school is not participating can enter
unattached. Membership in USATF is not
required.
SHADES OF DEATH AND 6.66 MILE RUN
When you see Reno Stirrat, 62, of Rockaway on the start
line, you know everyone else in the M60 division is running for second. At the 6.66 mile run that was held alongside
the Shades of Death Half Marathon this past Sunday in Allamuchy, Stirrat went
one better. He was the first finisher
overall in a time of 44:31. Alexandra Niles of Fairfield was the women’s winner
in 43:35.
The Shades of Death was won by Sam Teigen of Hawthorne in
1:19:05. Lauren Jackson of Augusta won
the women’s division in 1:29:00.
##.
Race Results can often be
found at www.compuscore.com or at www.bestrace.com
A calendar of USATF
sanctioned events can be found at www.usatfnj.org
or at www.raceforum.com for running and
tri and biathlon events.
Contact Madeline Bost at madelinebost@verizon.net
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