Grand Rapids Hosted First Koho Classic Meet
The youth cross country event brought together runners from four regional school districts to compete.
Updated on Oct. 9, 2026 in Running
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Grand Rapids held its first annual Koho Classic Cross Country Invitational for fourth through sixth grade students. Over 100 young athletes participated in the races at the local sports complex.
Why it matters
The program was established to encourage children to participate in a healthy, noncontact sport within their community. Organizers aim to promote long-term physical activity through structured athletics.
The meet featured a 1.5-mile course across three loops, with 28 runners competing for the Rapids boys team and 26 for the girls team. Overall, 9 boys and 5 girls from Rapids finished in the top 20 to receive medals.
The players
Geno Ongaro
He is a student from Hibbing who secured first place in the boys race.
Lia Caddy
She is a student from Rock Ridge who secured first place in the girls race.
The details
The event utilized official race infrastructure including starting boxes, a gunshot start, and electronic timing. Grand Rapids Community Education coaches and volunteers organized the meet, which served as the conclusion to a five-week youth running program.
Timeline
The Koho Classic cross country meet occurred on Monday, October 5, 2026.
Season Trajectory
This inaugural meet marks the formal launch of organized youth cross country competition in the region. Coaches have already indicated plans to expand the scope and participation of the program in the coming year.
With 14 local Rapids runners placing in the top 20, the team showed a strong performance relative to the field of 100 competitors. This sets a baseline for future participants in the youth program to measure their individual progression.
The takeaway
Engaging youth in organized, noncontact sports provides a structured foundation for building long-term fitness habits. Early exposure to race conditions like electronic timing can prepare students for higher-level athletic competition.
What happens next
Coaches have scheduled the expansion of the youth running program for the next academic year.
Further reading
For more information on local events, visit our Running section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Grand Rapids Herald-Review.
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