By TIM KELLY
Bill Moreland, longtime Ocean City winter and spring track coach and cross country coach, announced this week that the 39th edition of the Alumni Cross Country Run will take place 10 a.m. on Christmas Eve at Ocean City High School’s Carey Stadium track.
Since 1979, Moreland was involved in the Red Raiders’ running programs’ fabulous string of success, including numerous Cape Atlantic, South Jersey and state and Meet of Champions team and individual titles. He retired from teaching in 2008 and from coaching in 2015 after 36 years in various boys and girls head coaching and assistant coaching roles at O.C.
Though officially retired, Moreland is still very involved in the program, talking to the current coaches and runners on a regular basis. The Alumni Run still occupies a special place in his heart.
“It’s a great way for me to stay in touch with some of the people from a while ago,” he said. “Some have already retired from their careers, but they come back to say hello and to run.”
The event normally includes about 50 competitors. It is scored as a “meet” pitting the current high school runners against the alumni. However, the run is open to anyone who would like to participate.
“We’ve had parents of participants who’ve run, or others who want to compete,” Moreland said. “We call those folks adopted alumni.”
Refreshments will be served after the run, Moreland said.
Moreland is a longtime advocate of a low-mileage training method, which allowed his athletes to improve during the season and peak for big races and championship meets. He’s a dedicated runner himself who had a daily workout regimen that stretched on for many years.
In 2016, Moreland received a long-overdue induction into the South Jersey Track and Field Hall of Fame.
Moreland has said his goal was for his runners to enjoy the sport and to pursue it beyond high school and as a lifetime activity for recreation and health. The fruits of that labor as a coach will be on display at the Alumni Run.
Some participants take it very seriously and compete for the all-important bragging rights, while others take a more laid back approach. Regardless, everyone enjoys catching up with old friends and running or watching the event, he said.
Some great athletes in local cross country and track history are sure to be on hand. OCNJDaily.com is not going to name names here and risk omitting some outstanding harriers from a very long list.
“I’m not (going there) either,” Moreland said, chuckling, while adding this event is typical Ocean City.
“People ask me all the time what makes Ocean City so special for running and (the running community). “Our environment is conducive to the sport and it’s unusual to see a course anything like ours,” he said. “I just tell them it’s in the water.”
