CC Junior Championships

 "CC Junior" is an annual tradition where Nighthawk team members host younger siblings for a cross country meet of their own. Nighthawks are assigned jobs such as race directors, "golf carts" (run as fast as you can ahead of the racers), "sag wagons" (make sure no one gets lost), timers, chute organizers, snack wranglers, award presenters, and more. Races include the 400m (ages 3-5 only), 800m (anyone age 8 or younger), and the 1600m (anyone age 11 or younger). This year, we had over 25 siblings participating, accompanied by dozens and dozens of cheering fans. Cutest thing ever.

2nd Annual CC Jr.

The 2nd Annual CC Jr. run was a success! This family event is our way of thanking the younger team-siblings for being our biggest fans. The sibs (20+ of them) enter races of various distances (up to 1 mile) while the Nighthawk runners serve as meet directors, race starters, timers, chute helpers, awards presenters, and more. Thanks to all who participated!

Geezers

Another early-season favorite: the Geezer Chase 2-mile fun run in St. Louis Park. Non-CC runners (parents, siblings, and friends) get a 2-minute head start, and the CC runners chase the "geezers." Brings an entirely new level of motivation! :D Thanks to all for the fun and sportsmanship.

Cross Country Junior Fun Run

Team siblings come watch and cheer for so many meets, so this was their chance at a race of their own--and this time, the Nighthawks were out there cheering for *them*! Cutest thing ever (e.g., "I have to take off my warmups"). Several of these kids have been working out with a few of the team moms at a local park during regular CC practice on Mondays, so there were some pretty impressive performances out there.

 It was also an opportunity for a few of our high school student-athletes to take on a service project of organizing an event: plan the races (various distances depending on age group, up to one mile), promote the event, take registrations, purchase awards and post-race snacks, enlist their teammates as race-day volunteers...and make sure the course was mowed and marked, the horses in, and the electric fences OFF. ;)

Overall, lots of smiles from kids and spectators alike. Looking forward to having these "juniors" on the team in the future!

Geezer Chase!

This is a 2-mile fun-run/fundraiser for another CC team, and it's a great way to get parents and younger siblings involved. Geezers (advertised as 18+ but there were a *lot* of young kids out there) get a 2-minute head start, and then the CC runners take off and chase the Geezers. Total chaos. Totally awesome. And a few real showdowns out there! Next week the official racing season begins. Stay tuned.