By Zach Manges
Zionsville’s All Comers Track program is back for another summer. The group of runners meets at 7 p.m. every Thursday during the months of June and July at Zionsville West Middle School. The all-ages running club is for casual and competitive participants alike.
“It’s about 70 percent family-oriented and 30 percent competitive. We have a lot more kids than adults, so it’s just balanced that way,” said co-founder and primary coordinator of the program Brandon Daugherty. “Then for adults that don’t mind the casual environment, it’s a fun way to get a track workout and compete against others that might be able to push you.”
Daugherty started the group in 1997, however in 2006 it disbanded due to family obligations. In 2009 Daugherty moved back to Zionsville from Brownsburg and connected with the middle school to re-establish All Comers two years later. For Daugherty, bringing back the program was simply out of love for the sport.
“Running is my passion in life. It was a matter of enjoyment when we started the series and I wanted to bring that back for new families today. I felt like it was something I could do with the help of friends and family,” Daugherty said. “I knew it could be a good community event. We could teach kids how track works and grow the popularity of the sport.”
Currently, the program consists of distance and sprint races, though Daugherty frequently hears requests for other events including the long jump, high jump, hurdles, and pole vault.
“If we get more dedicated support, I can see it evolving into a more complete track meet,” Daugherty said. “If not then, we’ll just continue it as a community event and a friendly environment for people to learn about track.”
The program, which is sponsored by The Runners Forum, hopes to gain some more competitive participants, though above all it remains a place for athletes ranging from toddlers to seniors to come together and share in the sport.
“For anyone with interest in running, it’s the perfect casual environment to come out and have a good time,” said Daugherty. “That’s the most important message we try to get out there.”
