Owen Greeson, Jonathan Tierney and Myles Englis, members of Darlington Lower School’s Cross Country Team, were three of 1,650 runners to participate in the annual 3K Peachtree Junior Road Race, held June 5 in Piedmont Park in Atlanta.
“The best part of the race is toward the end when all the parents are lined up cheering you on, urging you to finish faster,” said Tierney, a rising fifth grader, “and, of course, finishing it and getting the T-shirt.”
According to his mother, Liz, Tierney has run the Peachtree Junior every year since he was 8 years old. “It was the first time for Owen and Myles, but they said they had a great time and are looking forward to doing it again next year,” she said. “Jonathan plans on participating in the race all five years [that he is eligible], as there is a special recognition program for kids who run the race all five years.”
The Peachtree Junior is sponsored by the Atlanta Track Club, co-sponsor of the 10K Peachtree Road Race each year on the Fourth of July. Since it’s first race in 1970, the Peachtree has become the world’s largest 10K road race, attracting approximately 55,000 runners each year.
According to the Atlanta Track Club, the first Peachtree Junior Road Race was held 18 years ago to better accommodate children ages 7 through 12, for whom the 10K Peachtree was both too long and too crowded. The 3K fun run route follows the roads within Piedmont Park, and all finishers receive a T-shirt and a pennant.
For more information, visit www.atlantatrackclub.org or e-mail office@atlantatrackclub.org
