Cross-country 'cross generations

It was in every sense of the word a “fun” run. For some who have not been to the university in some time, the event, the run, was nostalgic. A trip down memory lane through a school that is at once familiar and different.

Former Ateneo baseball program head Jimmy General broached the idea of reviving the cross-country run at the start of 2009 while shooting the breeze with AAA President Mike Valencia. Cross country running, as introduced by the late Fr. Austin Dowd, S.J., was a staple of Ateneo sports life back in the 1950s to the mid-1990’s until it died down by the end of the latter decade.

The idea was an instant hit amongst the Ateneo Alumni Association braintrust and the planning for the event was put in motion.

While the term “cross country” no longer applies as the run that once took Ateneans through the campus, out to Katipunan Road and to the challenging roads of nearby La Vista, it still is somewhat a scenic run through the idyllic Ateneo campus.

Since then, events like these have been termed as “fun runs;” something that today’s generation is more attuned to. Mick Perez, a former Ateneo track athlete himself and current Program Head and Coach of the college teams was brought in to help in the implementation of the run along with former Blue Eagle center Vincent Araneta overseeing the project that was labeled “the AAA Sesqui Cross Country Fun Run.”

“We’re bringing back a tradition,” said an excited Valencia who once participated in these runs back in school.

Toby Tanjuatco, a former trackster and running enthusiast himself was excited about the event. “I used to run this when I was in school and have many great memories of it. I am looking forward to that.”

Over 850 people (including non-alumni and students) signed up for the run that was held last Sunday, November 15, 2009 with the starting and finishing line at the Ateneo High School parking lot. Of the 850 who registered, paid, and received a race singlet, 604 of them actually took part in the race that was one of three such events that day. But the Sesqui Cross Country Fun Run also saw runners from UST, FEU, UE and other schools participate.

Fr. Benvienido Nebres S.J. opened the event and fired the starting gun for the 5.6K race while Valencia got the second race, the 2.8K going.

For Christine Caoili, a parent involved with the Ateneo Students Parents Council, it was her first time to join any run and it was an eye opener for her. “I can’t wait to join the next one.”