The Observer, April 22, 2005
Volume XXXVII, Issue 26
Annual Hudson Relays take on meaning for sophomores
In continuation of a long-standing university tradition, the Hudson Relays will be held on Saturday, April 23. Beginning at 9 a.m., the 26-mile race will start at the Adelbert Rock.
The event is co-sponsored by the Office of Student Activities, the Office of University Alumni Relations, the Undergraduate Alumni Association, and the University Program Board.
The Hudson Relays is held annually in honor of the move of Western Reserve University to University Circle from Hudson, Ohio. The tradition began in 1910, with a race from Western Reserve University in Hudson to the Adelbert Rock.
In 1990, due to safety and traffic concerns, the race was changed to 26 miles around the current campus and University Circle. Presently, the race begins with a commemorative run that features runners from Western Reserve Academy in Hudson.
Case participants from student, faculty, and alumni teams begin their run at 9 a.m. The race is officially launched after President Hundert reads the annual message from the headmaster of Western Reserve Academy as delivered by the commemorative runners.
There are four student teams for each class in the undergraduate level. The fifth team is a combination of alumni, faculty, and staff. Each student team is mandated to have between 42 and 50 runners with at least 10 student women running the 14 legs of the race required of women.
A faculty member must run the first leg of the course, while the Class Vice President is required to run the second to last lap. The Class President finishes the race. Each leg is approximately one-half mile in length.
Each team's goal is to receive a medal and appear on the "The Rock" behind Adelbert Hall, which holds a record of the winning teams from year to year. According to regulations, the alumni/faculty/staff team may place, but not "win."
To motivate the teams and promote class unity, team members are treated to a pre-race spaghetti dinner. Runners are also given T-shirts for their participation.
It seems the reigning juniors are taking a shot at a three-year winning streak, making them only a single win away from the legendary steak dinner. Meanwhile, the freshman, sophomore, and senior classes are determined to prevent another win by the juniors. "I think that we have a really good chance of winning this year. This is because we have better runners this year and we also have a pump-up party the Friday before the race. We are also going to win this race for Brett [Childs]," Class of 2007 Treasurer Peter Chung said.
Childs, a second-year biomedical engineering student, was killed in a car accident on August 21, 2004. Childs was a member of the team last year. Runners for the Class of 2007 plan to wear armbands in memory of Childs.
The annual Springfest celebration will be follow the Hudson Relays at Frieberger Field from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.
News Editor Elizabeth Zheng contributed to this article.
