In 17th Year, Tiger Turkey Chase Continues to Grow

By Louis Stewart

774 runners, along with over one hundred volunteers came together Thanksgiving morning, for the 17th Annual, , Tiger Turkey Chase.  The five mile road race began at the School.  The starting gun went off at 8:00 AM. 

25 minutes and fifty seven seconds later, Oliver Ames High School, Assistant Cross Country Coach, Kyle Sousa, broke the tape at the finish line.  

Georgetown University Sophomore and Past Oliver Ames all-time great,  Jenna Davidner was the first woman finisher in a time of 29:30.  For complete results, click here.

Davidner and Sousa were followed by a host of athletes that come together every year, in what has become a homecoming for OA Cross Country Alumni and local road runners.

The race is the chief fundraiser for the Oliver Ames High School Cross Country Program.  In 1995 Oliver Ames Cross Country Boosters President George Harrington was looking for an alternative fundraising opportunity. Collecting cans was not cutting it.

The first year, fewer than 100 runners stepped to the line.  The race has grown exponentially since then.  2011 saw the inception of computer chip timing to handle the large volume of athletes.

Race participant Marty Weiner commented on the organizational efficiency of the event. 

“These people know how to do it.  The race goes off on time.  Results and awards are handed out.  By 9:00 AM everyone is home cooking turkey and watching football”.

The efficiency and success of the event coincides with the success of the team it sponsors.  This year the Oliver Ames Cross Country teams were undefeated during the regular season.  They won the .  They .  They .  The boys’ team   The girls’ team finished second.  The boys’ team finished third at the and the girls’ team finished twelfth.

Jim Kent, current OAXC Boosters’ President summed it up best.  “Our goal is to grow this thing, support the program and keep it efficient”.