Local elementary cross-country program is a winner

In 2018, public elementary schools in Biddeford, Saco, and Dayton along with St. James in Biddeford launched a low-cost Cross-Country program for third, fourth, and fifth-graders, offering not only physical competition but also valuable lessons in personal goal-setting.

The leader pushing for this program back in 2018 was Jeremy Ray, superintendent of schools in all three school districts. Inspired by seeing similar programs Down East, Ray and others decided to bring this opportunity to their local community, and it has since grown into a successful program. Despite initial challenges, like COVID affecting participation, the program now thrives with strong community support and a partnership with local organization Running Passion.

Running Passion provides the teams with brand new sneakers, socks, and equipment for $20 a student, as a way to break down the barriers between the “have and have nots,” said Jeremy Ray, during a September school board meeting.

The organization is also “willing to provide scholarships for anybody that needs it,” said Suzanne Ray, resilience coordinator for C.K. Burns School, and wife of Jeremy Ray. She added that providing everyone with new sneakers and good equipment has created a positive environment.

Joe Aiken, third grade teacher at Biddeford and a coach of Biddeford Intermediate School (BIS), also commented on how this partnership has allowed students to come together from all backgrounds, providing a more accessible program, at virtually no cost, rather than other organized or club sports in the area.

 

Third graders race at the Biddeford Intermediate School meet on Oct. 9. PHOTO BY CALLY GUDROE

The goal was to create an affordable, accessible after-school activity that encouraged broad participation, and organizers said it has exceeded expectations.

"It’s been exciting to see kids with disabilities and those who’ve never been part of a club or sport join the team and have success. Watching them cheer for each other, from the first finisher to the last, shows how successful this program has been,” said Jeremy Ray.

At practice, kids ages 8 through 11, engage in activities centered around improving and gaining confidence in their running. For the Biddeford Intermediate School, “a favorite of the students is ‘Sharks and Minnows’,” said Nate Molleur, Assistant Principal at Biddeford Primary School and a coach for BIS. Molleur says BIS practices also consist of stretching and short-distance running.

Across the river at the C.K. Burns School in Saco, 140 students race outside for practice every Monday and Thursday between 2:40 and 4 p.m. They begin with stretching and warmups before each grade moves through three stations of activities–each station run by two of the six coaches of the team. One station focused on the importance of pacing yourself.

“That’s one of the great things about running, it's not about who wins, you’re getting yourself better,” says Suzanne Ray. A huge component of this program is learning how to set personal goals, she says, as they “can translate across the board. You’re thinking about what your goals are going to be in your learning and in your social [life] and all of those different components.”

 

Third graders playing freeze tag at C.K. Burns practice on Oct. 3. PHOTO BY CALLY GUDROE

Students set personal goals to strive for during meets, learn how to be a better teammate through cheering for their peers, and take time to reflect on their successes after practice.

“In the first race, I got 23rd and now I’m in 12th!” shouted one student. “I was 33rd, now I’m 30th!” yelled another. Both students sported bright, excited smiles.

“Participating in this program helps show kids that just because something is very hard, it does not mean it is impossible,” said Justin Frecker, a teacher and coach at BIS.

The fourth graders of the team have seen a lot of improvement in pacing themselves and learning the importance of stretching and warming up. When students can pace themselves, they can push themselves harder, learn how to perform effectively in challenging situations, and use these skills throughout the rest of their lives, said Molleur. Students have also gained valuable knowledge in sportsmanship, teamwork, and competing with others.

Suzanne Ray said the program allows the students get to spend time with their friends a couple of days a week after school, being social and having fun.

“As coaches and teachers, it gives us another opportunity to get to know the kids outside of the

Beyond the field, both the coaches and Jeremy Ray said that they’ve seen impacts on the community as well.

Jeremy Ray commented on the significance of having positive interactions with students and their parents. The program “helps build the relationships that we [school’s staff] have with them, and it gives us an alternative way to talk about and witness kids achieving success,” he said.

He added that it’s important for parents to see their children involved—whether they’re winning a race, competing in a meet for the first time, setting personal goals, or simply feeling proud of their accomplishments and being part of the school environment.

The Biddeford school community is constantly buzzing with excitement each cross-country day, said Aiken. The school’s teachers are some of the team's biggest supporters, with almost all of them present at each meet.

The coaches explained how parent involvement was another key factor in this program.

Parents contribute by donating snacks and volunteering, while community members and staff come together to cheer on the kids and help with the events, said Suzanne Ray.  The meets also provide a valuable opportunity for students from different schools to reconnect with old friends in a supportive environment.

"We have so many parents that come out to watch and cheer on, and it's been really awesome. I think people really enjoy it. It's a nice community activity that we get to do for those three weeks in a row, and the kids love it. And I think the families enjoy it too,” she stated.

“Watching families come together and cheer on each other’s children is incredible,” said Molleur, “often I hear from parents from Saco and Biddeford that they wish our season was longer.”

One of the challenges encountered throughout the course of this program has been transportation, but the schools have been trying to accommodate buses for any and all participants, said Jeremy and Suzanne Ray.

Another challenge is trying “to figure out what’s next for kids, to make sure that we provide opportunities throughout the year,” said Jeremy. This includes providing a wide range of offerings—whether academic, club-related, or athletic—while keeping barriers and costs low so that more students can participate.

Jeremy Ray said that as the program has introduced cross-country to more children on the elementary level, local schools are finding that middle school cross-country teams are now growing.

The program has three meets each fall between the St. James, Dayton, Biddeford, and Saco schools. The meets consist of a 3/4th mile run for the third graders, and a mile run for the fourth and fifth graders.

The meets are not scored in the same way as middle school or high school competitions. Instead, the coaches track each student's position as they cross the finish line, promoting internal motivation for the students to continue challenging themselves.

The program's final meet took place on Wednesday, Oct. 9, at Biddeford Intermediate School. The event kicked off at 3:30 p.m. with the third graders running their race, followed by the fourth and fifth graders competing in the mile run. Each student crossed the finish line with a smile, many finding a final burst of energy as they rounded the last corner, spurred on by the cheers of their parents and coaches.