2nd Annual Robert Cipriano Cross-Country Meet Set for Oct. 19

Editor's note: This press release was submitted by Dearborn Public Schools.

This annual Robert Cipriano Cross-Country Meet is scheduled for Oct. 19 at Ford Field Park in Dearborn.

The meet will begin at 8:30 a.m. with a 1 mile race for Dearborn Public Schools staff members. At 9:30 a.m. hundreds of fourth through eighth grade students will hit the course in a series of 1 and 2 mile races.

Parking for the Cipriano meet is available on the lower level of Ford Field Park near the baseball diamonds just west of Brady Street. 

Once again, the district has teamed up with the Dearborn Education Foundation, the Dearborn Track Club and the city of Dearborn to coordinate the event. Last year, nearly 850 students took part in the event. A brief awards ceremony will follow each race with the top 10 finishers receiving a medal.  

Dearborn Public Schools students have spent the first weeks of school getting in shape and qualifying to run in the big event. Elementary qualifying time is 10 minutes for 1 mile (both boys and girls) and middle school qualifying time is 20 minutes for 2 miles (both boys and girls).

Teams from each elementary and middle school will compete in 10 different races arranged by age group and gender. All runners will receive a ribbon for participating, and medals will be awarded to the top 10 runners in each age group. A plaque will be awarded to each grade/gender winner, and a trophy will be presented to the top elementary and middle school team.

“We’re looking forward to another great event that honors a great man who made running a big part of his life,” said Dearborn Public Schools Superintendent Brian Whiston.

The yearly event honors Robert Cipriano, former director of business services for Dearborn Public Schools who also oversaw athletics in the district. He was killed in April 2012 when Mitchell Young and Tucker Cipriano broke into the family's home and attacked the family.

Parents and community members are encouraged to attend the event and cheer on the students. The final race between eighth grade students wraps up at 1 p.m.