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Second annual ‘Coach A 5K” to help upgrade school’s technology

Date: 8/16/2011

Aug. 17, 2011

By Debbie Gardner

Assistant Editor

SOUTHWICK — It’s time for local runners and walkers to once again lace up their trainers in honor of a town coaching legend.

The second annual “Coach A 5K Run/Walk for a Legend” is scheduled to step off from Powder Mill Middle School on Route 57 on Sept. 11.

Runners and walkers can begin signing in at 7 a.m. with an event kick-off slated for 9 a.m. The entry fee is $22 either pre-race or the day of the event. All participants who register for the race before Aug. 25 will receive a T-shirt.

According to race director and Southwick-Tolland Regional High School (STRHS) girls cross country coach Lee Haseltine, all proceeds from this event, which honors the 50-year career of the school’s track and cross country coach Dick Atkinson, will be donated to support the education of STRHS students.

“I [hosted the race] on Sept. 18 last year and I had over 200 runners and walkers,” Haseltine said, adding that in its first year, the race netted $2,900 for the school.

“Hopefully, I can raise that much this year,” he said.

STRHS Principal Pamela Hunter said last year’s donation was used to replace some much-needed athletic equipment, including uniforms for the girl’s cross country team. She plans to use a portion of this year’s donation to supplement athletic department needs and the rest to upgrade the school’s technology.

“Dick Atkinson is such a supporter of this school. We are so glad this is being done [to honor him],” Hunter said of the second annual Coach A 5K.

Haseltine said he chose Sept. 11 this year both because it was a Sunday — last year’s Saturday race put participants on very busy streets — and because it did not conflict with other town-sponsored events, such as youth sports.

“There’s nothing going on [on Sept. 11] and it will be early in the morning. There’s going to be hardly any cars,” Haseltine said. “It should be pretty quiet.”

Race participants, however, will find plenty going on that morning, beginning with a tribute to the 10-year anniversary of 9-11 by singer Gary Jones before the race and food, music, raffles and race prizes following the completion of the 5-K — or 3.1-mile course — which will be timed by Fast Feet.

Haseltine said Jones will perform the National Anthem and “America the Beautiful” beginning at 9 a.m., with the race stepping off at 9:11 a.m. Free ice cream courtesy of MooLicious, massages, and first, second and third place prizes for both male and female runners in each age group await course participants at the completion of the race.

Participants can enter by decades beginning with age 10 to 19 and ending with age 70 to 79 by sending a check made payable to “The Coach A 5K” to: Lee Haseltine, 11 Salem Road, Southwick, MA 01077.

For more information call 569-0939 or e-mail Haseltine at leehaseltine@yahoo.com

Debbie Gardner can be reached by e-mail at debbieg@thereminder.com



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