Youth Trophy Cup Runs

The Youth Trophy Cup Runs was initiated in 1997 by Bill Krause. The two, both Honeoye Falls residents, have enjoyed organizing and conducting the festival together every year since.The desire was to expose children to the simple thrill and fulfillment of running, which some might then come to enjoy as a life-long means of fitness and good health. Many have, in fact, gone on to enjoy running on the

fine HF-L cross country teams and beyond. In its first year, the event was also a travel-soccer fund raiser. In the years since, it has provided funds for local sports programs, including for Manor School physical education supplies. Long-time, local sponsors of the Youth Trophy Cup Runs are Edward Jones, Honeoye Falls MarketPlace, M&T Bank, Molye Chevrolet and Salvatore’s Old Fashioned Pizzeria. Bill, Bob and the many volunteers - high school runners and community adults – all delight in the excitement of the day. All draw inspiration each year from witnessing the sheer joy and simplicity of children that just love to run as fast as they can. There are no plays to learn, no formations, no drills or skills-work – just the natural exhilaration found in running. The formula and format of the event have not changed much since 1997. The event name was modified after a year or two, replacing "Kid’s Trophy Cup Runs" with "Youth Trophy Cup Runs". The first year, it was held at the end of the school year, on June 21. That changed the next year when the event took its place as part of the HF-L school’s tradition - its Fall Weekend sports celebration. The race courses, adjusted just a couple of times, were relocated, in 2011, from the High School to the Middle School due to layout changes with the fields and grounds. 2012 was the first year YTCR was affiliated with HF-L Community Programs. What has never changed are the rewards – the yellow finish-line tape, the three great trophy cups with names engraved of every year’s winners, twenty-four children receiving medals for first, second and third, standing on the podium, photos galore, eighty or so children receiving finisher ribbons and having their names and finish times read aloud. Moreover, there is pizza, apples, water and the joy of companionship with schoolmates all celebrating their running accomplishment together. Participants must live in the HF-L school district. All of this is a formula that has been working, without fail, for over twenty years.