Run links city unity, fund raising

Community event to benefit high school track, cross country athletes

Bragging rights and financial stability of the Free State and Lawrence high schools’ track and cross country programs will be on the line at the second annual Crosstown Unity Run.

The merger of rivalry and teamwork Aug. 9 is designed to raise money for programs at both high schools. There will be a 10K race, a two-person, tag-team 10K and a 1-mile walk/run.

“This is to fill the (funding) gaps, which there are a lot now, for the track programs,” said Steve Lee, co-director of the race and president of Free State’s Track Backers organization.

Steve Riley, the benefit’s co-director at LHS, said the goal was to raise about $5,000. Proceeds will be split by the two high schools.

Crosstown Unity Run got started last year after the Lawrence school board adopted $3 million in cuts and fee increases to balance the district’s budget. At least $1.7 million in budget cuts likely will be adopted this summer for the 2003-2004 school year.

Riley said funding for the cross country and track programs had run so short that LHS track coach Jerry Skakal took out a personal loan to repair the Lions’ javelin runway.

City high school track athletes, from left, Lacey Elmore, Lawrence High junior; Johnny Rathburn, LHS senior; and Alysha Valencia, Free State sophomore, are among those who will participate Aug. 9 in the Crosstown Unity Run. The community event will raise money for the high schools' track and cross country programs.

“That’s the kind of thing we’re trying to keep from happening,” Riley said. “Coaches are paying a lot of money out of their own pockets.”

The mile event will begin and end at LHS. The entry fee is $10.

The 10K races start on the track at Free State and finish at LHS. Participants can team with another runner and split the 10K into equal parts. The entry fee is $15 before July 30, and $18 after that date. Participants can buy a bus pass from LHS to Free State for $2.

“From Free State to LHS, it’s exactly 10K,” Riley said. “People don’t believe it, but I measured it.”

¢Register and learn more about the Crosstown Unity Run

Lee said the 10K event would pit a team of Free State and LHS alums against current high school runners from those schools.

“It’s a different twist,” he said.

The Crosstown Unity Run on Aug. 9 will feature a 10K race, a two-person, tag-team 10K and a 1-mile walk/run. Proceeds benefit Free State and Lawrence high school track and cross country programs. For more information, visit www.unityrun.com.