Give it up to (Ann Arbor Track Club) Cross Country Classic race director and founder, Ron Beasley, for rollin’ with the times and continuing to develop this top-notch event that benefits runners of all ages, in more ways than one.

Beasley created the Cross Country Classic “in order to provide grade school and middle school age athletes, a tune-up meet prior to the Amateur Athletic Union and USA Track & Field Junior Olympic State Cross Country Championships.”

Ron noted the need for a meet consistent with Junior Olympic Programs since the widely held 1-mile and 2-mile events hosted by high schools and local race directors, are unlike the 3K and 4K races held for bantam and midget athletes.

What began as a “mock meet” in 2003 with a total of eleven finishers in the 3K and 4K events combined, has evolved into an authentic, fun and highly competitive cross country meet.  This year’s Classic, held for the first time at

Concordia University on Saturday October 30, 2010, was privy to nearly 200 youth, collegiate and unattached runners under mostly cloudy skies, temperatures in the 40s. There was a buzz in the air as athletes prepared themselves for their individual events being held on Concordia’s true to form collegiate course.

First up was the Collegiate/Post-Graduate 8K, standard distance for men’s college cross country.  A competitive field of varsity athletes, university run clubs and several unattached runners were led by University of Michigan Running Club’s, Duriel Hardy, in 25:47 on Concordia’s challengingly hilly cross country course.

Also present was Scott Wagner, president of U of M’s Running Club, who described the meet as a “fantastic opportunity.” “Our national championship meet is in two weeks,” Wagner elaborated, “so this was a perfect tune-up race to prepare us.  The course was a lot of fun; it is always a blast to get to run on true cross-country terrain like that.”

The Collegiate/Post Graduate 5K, standard distance for women, followed the men’s race and was won by Mollie Pozolo, another member of U of M’s Running Club, in 20:02. Close behind in 21:34 and getting ready for her team’s last cross country meet of the season was Concordia University varsity runner, Marion Rodriguez who also thought the course challenging.

“It was tougher,” Rodriguez asserted.  “Our other meets were more flat.” Following the collegiate women was the Open 5K run.  Athletes devoid of double digits on up through their 70s toed the line and gave it their all.  David Medeiros claimed overall victories in 19:24 followed by Stani Bohac in 20:24.  Bohac described the course as “interesting and intellectual, with short site lines leaving no opportunity for runners to coast.”

Laura Kramer finished first for the women in 24:20, and the youngest of the group, 7-year-old Vimal Alokam, completed the race in 34:31.

Rounding out the morning were the 4K and 3K events, each with its own start. Boys and girls, 59 in all, from various run clubs and those unattached, ran together and commanded the course, each earning a well-deserved medal and exuberant applause from coaches, parents, grandparents, veteran runners and more, upon completion of their race.

Eight year old AATC member, Nathan Dempster, said that his favorite part of his 3K race was when he “ran through the forest.”  Nathan’s very proud grandparents traveled from South Haven to see him run, and Dempster’s parents spoke highly of their son’s coaches and added that they are pleased that Nathan has the chance to run with other children his own age who enjoy the sport as well.

Beasley, along with sentiments from race participants, was pleased with this year’s venue and hopes to return to Concordia University for the 2011 Cross Country Classic to be held once again on the last Saturday of October, proceeds of which benefit the Ann Arbor Track Club Youth Division.

For questions and information on next year's race, please contact Ron Beasley at (734) 330-7931 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it