BOSTON, Mass. - (October 24, 2000) - More than 350 youths from 11 of Boston's Middle Schools will compete in the City Cross Country Championship at Franklin Park in Dorchester on Thursday, October 26.

For the fifth year, Boston Parks and Recreation has worked in conjunction with Boston Public Schools to showcase the sport, while the program is conducted by the Boston Athletic Association and adidas. The culmination of the innovative partnership each year is the Championship event when all schools travel to Franklin Park to contest the one mile race over hill and dale.

Since its inception, more than 1225 youths have participated in the program, which includes several weeks of instruction by B.A.A. coaches both during physical education classes and after school. With a mission to introduce cross country running to youths in Boston neighborhoods who otherwise would not receive exposure to the sport, the partnership is achieving another objective: education through sports.

The program has grown annually, and many of the youths who received their initiation to running through the Program are currently competing in high school cross country, indoor track and outdoor track. Also, in response to increased interest generated by the Middle School Cross Country Program and Championship, the B.A.A., adidas and Boston Parks and Recreation now present seasonal youth running programs throughout the Boston area.

Last year, the McCormack Middle School in Dorchester swept every category, winning the boys individual and team races, the girls individual and team races, and the relay race.

The Playstead at Franklin Park (near the entrance to the Franklin Park Zoo) is the site of the competition, which begins at 10:30 a.m. with the girls race. The boys race follows at 10:50 a.m., and the relay begins at 11:15 a.m. An awards ceremony is scheduled for 11:30 a.m.

Last Sunday, the B.A.A., adidas and Boston Parks and Recreation presented the Mayor's Cup Cross Country and Youth Races, also at Franklin Park. The meet was organized by USA Track & Field. Next month, on November 25, the partnership again will work in conjunction with USA Track & Field - New England to stage the USA Fall Cross Country Championships, an event which will crown the country's top regional running club.

Boston Middle School Cross Country Program and Championship participating schools: Grover CLEVELAND Middle School, Dorchester; Henry DEARBORN Middle School, Roxbury; Sarah GREENWOOD Middle School, Dorchester; Solomon LEWENBERG Middle School, Mattapan; John W. McCORMACK Middle School, Dorchester; MISSION HILL Middle School, Roxbury; William B. ROGERS Middle School, Hyde Park; William Howard TAFT Middle School, Brighton; Frank V. THOMPSON Middle School, Dorchester; James P. TIMILTY Middle School, Roxbury; Phyllis WHEATLEY Middle School, Roxbury.

For additional information, please contact Jack Fleming at the B.A.A. (617-236-1652) or Billy Ryan at the Boston Parks and Recreation Department (617-635-4505 extension 6209).

Special thanks to 
Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Coordinator for providing us this press release.
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