Alumni and Community Run to Support Maine South Cross Country Team at July 30 Hawk Harrier 5K
The Maine South Boys Cross Country program will be hosting the 2nd annual Hawk Harrier race, which will take place at 9 a.m. on Saturday, July 30, 2016. The event will include a 5K (3.1 mile) race, refreshments and awards for each age bracket.
The 5K course starts on the beautiful tree-lined campus of Maine South High School in Park Ridge, IL and ends on the school's state-of-the-art track. Runners will be chip-timed by Realtime, Inc. All participants will receive a Hawk Harrier T-shirt, and awards will be given to the top three males and top three females in each age bracket.
Back in 1972, the race was conceived as a heated competition between the current Maine South cross country team and program alumni. After 43 years of the annual race, it was opened to the running public and Maine South supporters in 2015.
Coordinated by Maine South coach Dave Fermanich, the race has served as both a kick-off and a highlight of the cross country season.
"I really want to get the community involved in rallying around the team, and what better than a race," says Fermanich. "This area has a huge running community, and this race gives them a chance to come out and run a 5K while supporting the cross country team."
Sean Senf, 2010 Maine South graduate, cross country team alum and member of the storied 2009 and 2010 state qualifying teams, still holds a top 20 spot in the course record book. Senf, former Niles West cross country coach and Illinois State University runner, plans to return to the Hawk Harrier this year.
"I'm excited to see who shows up," says Senf. "There are guys who ran in college and are in great shape, and others who are older who are still grinding away. Everyone is out there doing their own thing. It's love of the sport and it's about loving what you're doing."
Senf's father and reigning Maine South IHSA State Race record holder (1976), Steve Seng, also runs in the alumni race, along with noted alum and uncle Dave Senf (1973). "It's a family affair," says the youngest Senf.
Current Maine South team members are excited about running side-by-side with the the alums. Senior Reese Jordan, cross country team state qualifier and 2016 Track & Field All State athlete, is looking forward to the competition.
"The alums push us to go harder," says Jordan. "They definitely inspire me because they have done some great things at our high school."
One recent alum, Dave Eckhart (class of 2011), is helping with this summer's team camp. "Dave's always pushing us to go harder through our workouts. It will be awesome to run against him and some other great runners that we all knew were great athletes," says Jordan.
The entry fee is $30. Proceeds from this year's event supports the Maine South Boys Cross Country team. Placing 13th as a team in the IHSA State 3A Meet in 2015, the Hawks are slated to have another strong season. Online registration is recommended at: tinyurl.com/hh5k2016. Race day registration is also welcome beginning at 7:00 a.m. See the website for more information.