It was a cold and blustery day on Friday, Oct 24, a perfect day to run in the 9th Annual Pumpkin Invitational cross country competition.
Nineteen middle schools from Oakland County made their way to Oakview Middle School in Lake Orion to compete.
As the 7th and 8th grade boys were running the two mile course, many of the spectators weren’t surprised to see T.J. Carey, an 8th grader at Waldon Middle School take the lead and then win the two mile run.
‘Nobody can beat him,? said one spectator.
Carey’s father Tim said, ‘What makes me proudest is that T.J. is an honor student.?
T.J. said it is his coach Amy Lublein he has to thank for teaching him great techniques.
‘I want to contine to run cross country in high school and then compete at the college level,? said Carey.
Lublein said the reason T.J. wins is because he loves it.
The coordinator of the annual event, Oakview Middle School teacher Carl Zoolkoski, said, ‘Every race that I have seen T.J. run in this year, he has won.?
Zoolkoski said the Pumpkin Invitational has a long standing tradition.
‘The night before the competition our Oakview team has a pumpkin decorating party and puts the name of each school on a pumpkin. Then we line the pumpkins on the field with a bucket of candy for each team,? said Zoolkoski.
A cross country coach for ten years, Zoolkoski said he likes what cross country running teaches young runners.
‘The reason why I continue to do it is because I think distance running teaches young people perseverance and a hard work ethic that they can’t really get from team sports,? said Zoolkoski. ‘That is because ultimately every runner has to run their own two mile race and they have to convince themselves mentally that it is something they can do and they have to push themselves beyond their own expectations.?