LYNN — If you’ve attended a Lynn youth track meet, ran an event in Lynn, or even ran in a Greater Boston League or Northeastern Conference meet, then chances are, you’ve come across Joseph Abelon.
Abelon, a retired Lynn Classical math teacher, has been involved with Lynn track – in some capacity – since the first dash he ran in middle school.
When Abelon was in high school, he joined the track team.
“I was pretty quick for a little kid,” Abelon said. “Then, I went and competed in high school.”
“I think track is the best sport for kids to get involved with,” Abelon said. “Most sports have a limited roster, but for track, it’s very seldom to see a cap of how many kids are allowed on a team.”
Then, when road racing became more popular, Abelon and his late friend, Donald MacCaulay, decided to start a timing business.
“Mac and I came up with a manual way of scoring large fields of runners as they cross the finish line,” Abelon said. “Then, we came across James Gallagher, who’s a computer-oriented person and he developed a scoring program. The first time I got involved with computer scoring was through him.”
This summer, Abelon, who volunteers at Lynn Parks and Recreation, has been busy with different events in Lynn. One event he helped run was Lynn’s fifth grade elementary track and field championships.
“It’s the largest meet of its kind in the country,” Abelon said. “Most elementaries don’t have a formal track and field program for youngsters. In our 18 elementary rosters, every single kid in the fifth grade is involved. We have 1,200 youngsters in the city of Lynn on the track team. It takes us four days to complete the meet because of how many kids we have.”
Abelon was quick to mention Colleen Peterson for her help and involvement.
“The Health and Wellness Director Colleen Peterson was instrumental to us in getting information out,” Abelon said. “This was a joint effort between the Lynn Parks and Recreation and Lynn Public Schools. Colleen was very important in making this happen.”
After the fifth grade championships, the next event on Abelon’s agenda was the Lynn Summer Youth Track Series. It was its ninth year, and saw more than 390 kids registered.
“I enjoy kids having fun and working hard to get better,” Abelon said. “I have to thank the local Lynn Public High Schools sending kids to help run this event, in addition to the Lynn English ROTC students who were phenomenal in helping out the event.”
The last event Abelon is involved with this summer is the Lynn Woods run. It began the final Wednesday in May and goes until the final Wednesday in Sept. There are three different events, a race that is under two miles long, a two to four mile race, and then a four to 13 mile race.
Around the community, Abelon is respected for his hard work and dedication.
“I think Joe Abelon really brings it every summer with the meets,” St. Mary’s Track Coach Tristan Smith said. “He gets everybody involved – from young to old.”
