Running

By Jennifer Hynes
Special to The Citizen

The elementary and middle-school Cross-country (X-C) Challenge, set for May 21st at Oak Grove Elementary School in Peachtree City, will once again bring together teams from Fayette County schools in friendly competition.

Elementary and middle-school coaches in Fayette County are pleased to see the development of a youth program that encourages fitness and competition. Many of the elementary schools sponsor running clubs, letting students run or jog at school in the morning to burn off steam before they settle down for a day of learning.

Two members of Peachtree City Flash youth track team were the overall winners of the 7th annual Kedron Elementary School Heart-to-Heart 5K road race on February 12. Christian Schreckhise, 13 years old (right), won with a time of 19:40, while Josh Warren, 14, took a close second place. The boys, both students at Rising Starr Middle School, led some three dozen PTC Flash teammates on the hilly course.

The Peachtree City Flash youth track and cross-country team finished a successful season by qualifying 39 runners and four age-group teams for the USATF Junior Olympic national cross-country meet in Birmingham, AL, recently.

Five Braelinn students participated in the IronKids Alpharetta event at Wills Park on Sept. 12.

Turkey Trot at Spring Hill, Nov. 7
The 6th annual Turkey Trot will take place on Saturday, Nov. 7 at Spring Hill Elementary school located at 100 Bradford Square in Fayetteville.

Forty-one members of the Peachtree City Flash youth track and cross-country team participated in Tyrone’s Founder’s Day 5-kilometer race recently, taking awards in several age brackets. The team’s head coach, Don Livingston (back row, right), joined the young runners and took second place overall. Flash members are ages six to 15 years, training for cross country in the fall and track and field in the spring.

Two Peachtree City boys finished first and second (out of 105) in the IronKids Triathlon in Alpharetta, Ga. on Sept. 14 in the 9 year old division. Nathan Price came in first, with a time of 27:03 and Bryce Smith was second, with a time of 27:18. They trained together in Peachtree City for a couple of months for the event. The distances for the race were swim 150 yards, bike four miles, and run one mile.

On Saturday Sept. 12, Cleveland Elementary held their 3rd annual Curious Trail Run. The run consists of a one mile fun run and a 5k fun run.The Curious Trail Run is part of the PTC Rotary Club Grand Prix series. The Peachtree City Running Club provided the technical support for the course and at the finish line. There were approximately 60 runners.

By Bob Dalton
Special to The Citizen

The 2008-2009 Grand Prix Race series winners were honored at a recent Rotary Club of Peachtree City luncheon.  Each winner received a special plaque in appreciation for participating in many races and for winning their age category.      Jointly sponsored by the Rotary Club of Peachtree City and the Peachtree City Running Club, the race series began five years ago to promote youth exercise and good health, while providing fund raising opportunities for local elementary schools.