This past Tuesday, October 9, the annual Fairfax Relays cross country event was held on the BFA Fairfax campus.
For over a decade, this race has brought thousands of runners to BFA Fairfax, sporting their best costumes, and enjoying the competitive running community. It also serves as one of the highlight events of BFA Fairfax’s Homecoming week.
Former BFA Fairfax Cross Country coach Fred Griffin started this event over a decade ago. In his words: “It was a process. We held a conventional relay for a couple of years but then parents wanted some obstacles, hay bales, and water jumps. We kept getting more interest from schools, but it started getting crazy when we began giving monstrous cookie plates and expanding concessions. Somewhere around ten – eleven years the ball of wax came together with costumes, music, outrageous prize plates, and the PA system….a regular carnival!”
This year’s race did not disappoint. 458 middle and high school runners took part in costumed team categories of 4-person mixed gender, 4-person male or female, 2-person mixed gender, and 2-person male or female. Prizes were awarded not only for the race winners but also for the best costumes in each category.
Another important aspect of this event is the overwhelming school and local community support. Parents, staff, students, athletic teams, the Fairfax Fire Department and Fairfax Rescue all contributed to everything from concessions and parking to safety and security. Without their assistance, this annual highlight of Homecoming week would not be possible.
Current BFA Fairfax Cross Country coach Karen Witalec-Krupa shared “This year’s event was one of the smoothest on record. The creativity of students gets better and better each year, and it’s really great to see the student-athletes taking a break from serious racing to have fun and enjoy themselves as we prepare for the big championship races (NVAC, State Championship) coming up in the next couple of weeks.”
BFA Fairfax thanks everyone for their support of this very fun and exciting day. We hope to see you next year!
Geri Witalec-Krupa is an Athletic Director/Assistant Principal at BFA Fairfax is a regular contributor to THE FWSU STORY. You follow her @GLWit
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