Jr. Bix attracts more than 3,000

Font Size:

Default font size

Larger font size

By Nate Taylor | Saturday, July 26, 2008 |

Participants from the 7-year-olds' race break from the starting line during Friday's Jr. Bix. Buy this Photo

VIDEO: AP Top Stories
Here's the latest news for Saturday, November 22, 2008: Bush's APEC warning…
Watch Video

Related Media

These little ones were ready to go.

It’s 5:55 p.m. Friday, and they can’t wait for this race.

One by one, here they come. The first to go are racers in the 6-year-old division. The kids are shuffled through ropes while parents and supporters are surrounding Fourth Street in downtown Davenport.

Like horses that are brought to the starting gates at the Kentucky Derby, kids slowly are shuffled to the starting line by 10 volunteers. The sun is in the runners’ eyes, but they don’t care. It’s now time.

You can hear the announcer on the megaphone give the signal.

“Get ready. Get Set. Go!” he says.

And they're off.

Like a mini stampede of small tennis shoes, 3,084 kids ran in the 2008 Alcoa Jr. Bix. Participants ages 5 and under ran 70 yards, 6- 7-year-olds ran a half-mile, and kids ages 8-to-12 ran seventh-tenths of a mile.

There were moments captured in time during Friday’s races.

There was the 6-year-old boy with the race number F2104. He tripped over and fell on the asphalt during the first part of the race. His face had tears. Then the crowd encouraged him to get up.

The boy got back on his feet, and his Rick Ankiel T-shirt became a blur. He finished the race with a smile from ear to ear.

Moments like that is what parents such as Kelly Burich hope people will remember from this event.

“It makes you proud as a parent to see these kids have fun while getting some exercise,” she said. “This day is always a fun day during the year.”

The mother from Rock Island was one of the parents that ran with their kids for 70 yards. Burich’s 2-year-old son, Jack, was excited to tell his mother how much he enjoyed the event.

“I love running,” he shouted after the race.

Another parent that watched their child run was Chad Walbers. His 3-year-old daughter, Kenna, was running for the first time.

“This is her first time running in any competitive race,” the father said. “She usually doesn’t run that fast. She really surprised me.”

Although parents watched their children run for the first time, other kids such as Emma Whigham have run the race for five years. This is something Emma loves.

“I really enjoy running with my friends,” she said. “I like to win, too.”

And she should. Emma finished her race first and got to have two big balloons that made the number 10. The No. 1 in silver, while the zero was in gold. Emma grabbed the two big balloons and left to go find her mother, Melinda.

Last year, Emma won the 9-year-old race. She took her balloons home that night only to find they had blown away the next few days. This year, Emma has a different plan.

“I’m not letting go this year,” she said. “I learned my lesson.”

The following moment the daughter and mother held hands. They then walked into the crowd, only to show the big balloons above all the others who were having fun.

Nate Taylor can be contacted at (563) 383-2477 or ntaylor@qctimes.com.