When he was just in junior high, former Durango High School running star Joe Maloney chased Rogan Brown in youth cross country races.
Just like Brown once chased Tad Elliott.
The tradition of youth development and that chain of chasing has allowed Durango to develop a strong running tradition and pass the sport on to a next generation.
That tradition will continue Wednesday and Oct. 15 at DHS, while the DHS cross country team and Durango Parks and Recreation again are sponsoring their annual youth cross country races.
Registration will begin at 3:30 p.m., and there are two different races.
There’s a 1-mile race for preschool to fourth graders that parents are welcome to run with their children, and fifth through eighth graders can run a 1½-mile course.
“It makes a huge difference,” said Gerry Geraghty, who organizes the races. “It’s an opportunity for them. What’s happened, over the years, is kids that have participated at a young age eventually will become seniors in high school.”
Then, as the cycle continues, they will help the younger kids run their own races. “You see high school kids registering the kids that come, see the high school kids timing and scoring the event and see high school kids running with the kids, showing them the way and encouraging them,” Geraghty said. “I set it up, and they take over.”
kgrabowski@ durangoherald.com
