Elementary cross country meet on tap

LYNN — The first annual Massachusetts Elementary School Cross Country Championship will be held Tuesday, Nov. 11 (Veterans Day) at Gannon Golf Course in Lynn.Hosted by Lynn Parks and Recreation and Gannon Golf Course, the goal of the event is to expose more youngsters to running and to hopefully encourage schools to introduce their students to the sport at a young age by means of a running club or through a “school spirit” event.Joe Abelon, who runs (as in stages)the Lynn Summer Cross Country races at Lynn Woods with Bill Mullen,is organizing the event along with Lisa Nerich from Lynn Parks and Recreation. Abelon has been busy trying to spread the word about the meet to elementary school across the state.”It’s a healthy, inexpensive, lifetime activity,” Abelon said. ‘It(the meet) is a great time and there’s no cost. The Lynn Parks and Recreation Department puts it on.”The event has evolved over the past five years, starting out being just geared toward Lynn elementary students and held at Lynn Woods and then expanding last year to encompass all of Essex County. This year schools from across the state are invited.The meet starts at 9:30 a.m. There are two courses, one about.6 miles for the younger runners and the other loop about 1.2 miles for the older or more competitive runners and those who are running with their classmates as a team.The school does not need to have a formal cross country program or team in order to participate. There will be no combined schools or town “all-star teams.” Runners must be students of the elementary school they represent. Home schooled students in grades 1-5 are eligible, but run as individuals. The course is mostly grass and the event is spectator friendly.For information on the meet and how to register, go to www.lwrun.org. Abelon can be reached at 781-593-6562 or [email protected]. Nerich, Lynn Parks and Recreation, can be reached at 781-477-7096 or 781-268-8000. Entrants will be notified by email if the race is postponed due to weather. Information is also available atwww.ci.lynn.ma.us/. On the latter site, follow the links City Hall/City Departments/Park and Recreation/Events and Activities. Info on the courses is available at http://www.usatf.org/routes/view.asp?rID=545891.