Briarwood Run kicks into gear Sunday

Briarwood Run kicks into gear Sunday

By JIM GINDIN

NEWS SPECIAL WRITER

Local track enthusiasts, take notice. The 1986 running season is underway.

Runners from throughout the area will don shorts and tank tops Sunday, and shake off the winter sweatsuits and earmuffs for the ninth annual Briarwood Run.

Briarwood is holding three races (5, 10 and 20 kilometers). Awards will be given to the top five finishers in six age brackets for men and women.

"Michigan runners always rank us in the top 25 to 30 races in the state - for professionalism and other factors," said manager Phil Morosco at Briarwood.

All races will begin at 9:00 a.m. from the southwest corner of Briarwood Mall.

This year, Briarwood will donate all proceeds from the race to the Galens Medical Society, which aids children's health care in Washtenaw County.

Galens, a service organization composed of Universtiy of Michigan medical students, helps fund the Mott Children's Hospital Workshop and the Ronald McDonald House in Ann Arbor.

In addition, the group purchases equipment and books for children, has sponsored health fairs for indigent youngsters, holds several Red Cross Blood Drives and sends sick children to special camps.

The race should provide between $3,000 and $5,000 for the Galens, said Morosco. He expects about 1,500 runners, a little more than half for the 10 kilometer division.

After the fixed costs of running the race - providing medical services, race packets and trophies - the money earned depends completely on the number who register. Morosco said there was no reason not to expect the same numbers as last year.

This is the first year proceeds have gone to the Galens. Last year, as in the seven before that, the Ann Arbor Track Club received the money.

The club originally approached Briarwood about sponsoring a race nine years ago.

"We have a lot of stores that sell sportsware and related items," Morosco said. "It seems a natural tie-in."

Entry forms for the race are available at the Briarwood Information Center. The registration fee is $6, and will increase to $9 beginning tomorrow.

A group of runners from a single neighborhood can compete as a team, with an award going to the team with the most finishers in the three races combined.

Corporations can sponsor a team as well. For a fee of $300, a company can enter a team of five to 15 competitors. Separate awards will be given to the highest-placing team.