Youth cross country is a ‘family’ affair | Scarborough – Scarborough Leader
Youth cross country is a ‘family’ affair | Scarborough Scarborough Leader
Most people look forward to the first time their children can walk, but Kathy Werner remembers can’t waiting until her kids could run. The Scarborough resident …
Runners on the Scarborough youth cross country team prepare for a race at the beach during a previous season’s meet. About 50 to 100 youth participate in the program, which is still accepting registrants for the spring session. (Courtesy photo)
Most people look forward to the first time their children can walk, but Kathy Werner remembers can’t waiting until her kids could run.
The Scarborough resident, mother of four girls and head coach of the city’s youth cross-country program uses the exercise as a bonding activity both under her roof and in her community.
“It’s fun because it’s something we enjoy doing, and it’s nice to share that enjoyment with other families,” Werner said. “Hopefully, through coaching, we get other families and kids excited about running and being active … It is kind of a family of running.”
Werner started her sixth year at the helm of the Scarborough cross-country team with the group’s first practice Monday, and, despite the season getting underway, she encourages young runners to register and join in the run.
Children, ages 6 to 12 years old, can still sign up for a $50 fee by visiting the Scarborough Community Services Department, located at 259 Route 1.
Practices are held each Monday and Thursday from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. through May 30 at Memorial Park.
Scarborough races in the Coastal Running League with city teams, such as Portland, Cumberland and Falmouth, among others.
Runners who want to compete can participate at any of four regular-season meets, held on Wednesdays at 4:15 p.m.
A championship meet is scheduled for June 1.
Since many of the teams’ members are multi-sport athletes, optional meets are an attractive aspect of the league, said Scarborough Youth Program Manager Ryan Colpitts.
Another neat feature is the various terrain each host city offers on race day. One meet, runners make their way through a course in the woods, and the next time out a field serves as the landscape. Scarborough’s race, Werner’s favorite due to the hard sand at low tide, is held at Pine Point Beach on May 15.
The meet is not only at a distinctive location, but the afternoon gives the town a chance to display one of its charming hallmarks.
“Scar- borough is known for its beautiful beaches,” Werner said. “It’s nice when other teams come … there’s a sense of being able to use the beautiful nature of what Scarborough has.”
About 50 to 100 youth participate in the program each season, and the coaches teach them proper warm-up and stretching routines and focus on speed and distance workouts. There’s never a dull moment, said Werner, and much of practice is filled with games disguised as physical exercise.
“If they’re running … that’s the most important thing,” Werner said. “My goal is for kids just to be active, enjoying it and having fun.”
Michele Greer, Hannah Goodwin and Wayne Keller fill out the coaching staff, and the team could always use more volunteer coaches, said Werner. Volunteers over the years have included athletes on the high school’s cross country and track and field teams.
Many former kids in the program transition onto middle and then high school teams because of their involvement at the youth level.
Her own children, Kayla, a freshman, Kristen, an eighth-grader, Hannah, a sixth-grader, and fifth-grader Hope, are making their way through the ranks.
Werner’s wish for all her runners is, whether through running or another athletic pursuit, they’ll choose an active lifestyle that allows them to use their God-given abilities. Programs, such as the one in Scarborough, play a pivotal role in setting the tone early in a child’s life.
“It is important to offer a variety of sports to our youth so they can have an opportunity to explore,” Werner said. “(Sport) also allows them a chance to be out in nature exercising with others instead of leading a sedentary life.”
2019 Coastal Running League
Spring Meet Schedule
All regular season races begin at 4:15 p.m.
• May 1
Harpswell, Chewonki, Scarborough and Freeport
at Yarmouth
• May 8
Falmouth, Portland, Holy
Cross and Scarborough
at Cape Elizabeth
• May 15
Falmouth, Portland, Holy
Cross and Cape Elizabeth at
Scarborough
• May 22
Scarborough, Cape Elizabeth, Falmouth and St. Brigid at Cumberland
Anthony Lombardi can be reached at alombardi@journaltribune.com.