Caribou High School, which has a strong tradition in cross country, is gearing up for its annual alumni cross country races, set for Friday at 7:30 p.m. at the high school.

The meet was originally scheduled for Friday, Aug. 22, but had to be re-scheduled due to Caribou’s girls soccer team hosting Fort Kent that evening.

Caribou’s cross country course starts and finishes on the school’s soccer field.

The Vikings’ coaches had the option of revamping the start and finish of the race while keeping the original date, but tradition took over.

“We could’ve changed the course but [boys] coach [Roy] Alden really liked to keep the same course,” said Caribou girls coach Thomas Beckum, who is planning on running in the race.

Registration will get under way around 7 p.m., and runners in various age groups will go off at different times.

Middle school athletes and runners ages 50 and over will go off first, followed by the 40- 50 age group four minutes later, then the 30-40 age group a minute later, then the open class (30-under) a minute later.

“Anyone can win, that’s what makes the race so unique,” Beckum said. “It gives other people an opportunity to win a race that normally don’t.”

A unique thing about this event is runners will experience that rare thrill of running under the lights.

Along with the start and finish areas on the soccer field, Caribou’s trails, which have lights, are the same used by the school’s ski teams in the winter.

“I think we’ve got one of the best cross country courses in the state,” Beckum said. “It’s pretty well maintained, it’s got lights throughout the whole course [so] you can run at nighttime throughout the whole course.”

While some of the best runners ever to wear the maroon and white of Caribou, such as Jeff Alden, have returned for the event, the community support has been outstanding.

Beckum is expecting 70 to 100 people to sign up, with those numbers including runners from throughout Aroostook County, Caribou’s middle school cross country teams and occasionally the soccer squads.

And, they’re not afraid to have a little fun.

“Sometimes we get people with crazy outfits, it’s pretty neat,” Beckum said. “One year we had boys in Daisy Duke [outfits].”

He added that University of Maine runners have participated in the past, including 2006 race winner Paul Rupprecht.

“It’s just so much fun, I really enjoy the race, it’s probably my favorite race in the whole County,” Beckum said. “It’s one of the biggest attendance-wise, we get runners that don’t run races normally.”

The top six overall finishers will get T-shirts.

While we’re on the topic of runners from Aroostook County, congratulations to 10-year old Brandon Theriault of Fort Kent, who had a successful showing in the Hershey Track and Field North American Final in Hershey, Pa. earlier this summer.

Theriault, the Maine state champion in the 50, 100 meters and softball throw, took home second place in the softball throw with a toss of 157 feet, 1/2 inch.

Bishop run next weekend

Another traditional late-summer cross country race, the Warren Bishop Memorial Run is just around the corner.

This fun race, hosted annually by Hampden Academy’s cross country team, will commence at 9 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 23 on HA’s cross country course behind the school.

The race, which honors the memory of former Hampden runner Warren Bishop, consists of a 2.8-mile loop. Walkers are also welcome, and they’ll do the first loop of the course (1.5 miles).

Registration will start at 7:30 race morning, and forms are available at Hampden Academy. The race traditionally serves as a time trial for Hampden’s cross country teams.

Those seeking more information may call HA coach Dick Balentine at 862-4562.

rmclaughlin@bangordailynews.net

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