Tigers’ marathon raises money for program
Running was just one part of the Midnight Madness for the Tokay High boys and girls cross-country teams on Friday evening.
Other parts of the event included soccer and Ping-Pong, and the night concluded with a funny 1990s movie.
The 50 members of the school’s varsity and frosh soph boys and girls’ teams competed in the annual fundraising event. Tokay coach Karey Harty, who enters her 10th season running the program, said that the event has been running prior to taking over the program.
Before the start of Midnight Madness, Tiger runners solicit people and businesses to be sponsors. Harty said some people or businesses sponsor runners per lap or give a flat sponsorship.
Then the Tokay runners run for six consecutive hours, relay style, on the track that surrounds Hubbard Field, with a new group coming onto the track every 30 minutes. The event started at 6 p.m. and lasted until midnight.
“We tally up all the laps,” Harty said. “Usually, we run 300-plus miles.”
Last year, Harty said that the Tigers raised more than $8,000. That money goes into
the program toward paying entry fees for the Tigers competing at invitationals during the season, plus uniforms and travel bags.
When Tiger runners weren’t competing, most would play friendly games of co-ed soccer on the football field, and tossing a frisbee. The friendly soccer game had two teams that were coached by two of the Tigers’ top runners in Cameron Wisely for the boys and Janette Vasquez for the girls. On the east side of the stadium, near the bleachers, a Ping-Pong table was setup.
“Just playing around, having fun,” Harty said. “It’s a team bonding experience.”
After the madness of running is completed, Harty treated her runners to food and the 1994 movie of Ace Ventura: Pet Detective that stars actor/comedian Jim Carrey.
“It was before their time,” joked Harty. “A few kids have heard of it.”