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20 teams to compete in Community Cup
By Sean Barron
YOUNGSTOWN
Twenty teams are on tap to compete in the 22nd annual Youngstown Area Community Cup, set to begin at 8:30 a.m. Saturday at Morley Pavilion in Mill Creek MetroParks’ Wick Recreation Area.
Most teams will be divided into red, white and blue divisions and will compete in several sporting events, noted Jennifer Quinlan, director of the event, which is organized by the Central YMCA.
Businesses from all over the Youngstown area will take part, and teams will receive points based on the position they finish in each contest, as well as for bringing volunteers.
The event’s three primary goals are to develop increased awareness of the importance of health and fitness, promote greater pride and teamwork within an organization and increase community pride, organizers said.
Divisions are based largely on the size of businesses competing, as well as how well teams performed last year, Quinlan explained. The red division typically consists of larger teams and highly-competitive participants, whereas the blue division is usually made up of smaller companies and newer teams, she said.
Saturday’s five events will be a 10-kilometer run, an obstacle course, 3-mile walk and 20-mile bicycle time-prediction relays and a tug-of-war, Quinlan noted.
Last year’s Community Cup brought in 16 teams, she said, adding that 30 to 40 competed during the event’s early years.
The Community Cup will wrap up with the tug-of-war competition at 2:30 p.m. followed by an awards ceremony, she said. Top finishers in each division will receive a trophy, Quinlan added.