The Sun
Sunnyvale's Newspaper

Photograph by Lea Tauriello

Fremont graduate Brian Cooper, pictured in his days as a high school runner, is expected to be the No. 1 "seed" in the Watermelon Run's alumni division.

Firebirds off and running

By Dick Sparrer

The high school year may begin this week at Fremont, but things will really get off and running for the Firebirds in the weeks ahead.

Fremont hosts back-to-back cross-country meets in the coming weeks, the first featuring Fremont stars from the past and present and the second featuring many of the top cross-country stars from throughout the area.

Fremont will host its annual Watermelon Run on Sept. 11 when current Fremont runners, alumni and the coaching staff all participate in a 3:30 p.m. run across the school campus.

Four-time Watermelon champion Brian Cooper, now a member of the cross-country team at De Anza Community College, will be the favorite in the alumni division, which it would seem would make him the No. 1 "seed."

But the alumni division is open to all Fremont graduates, and all of them, just like all the runners in that Thursday field, will receive free watermelon for their efforts.

Runners will race for top honors in the following divisions for male and female competitors: freshman, sophomore, junior, senior, alumni, and faculty. Each of the winners will take home a whole watermelon as a championship prize. Many of the watermelons are donated by Chuck's Produce of Sunnyvale.

The Fremont band will join in the festive atmosphere of the Watermelon Run, performing at the start of the race.

A week after running for fun in the run for the melons, the 'Birds will be running for real when they host the annual Firebird Invitational, set for Sept. 18, 3:30 p.m.

Many of the area's outstanding cross-country runners will join the Firebirds for the run across the Fremont campus.

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Firebirds off and running

The Sun
Sunnyvale's Newspaper