Lions Club Relays

Current Event Status:  GO! 

 -Please check back here in the event of inclement weather or call the City of Thornton Weather line (720) 977-5908. Please remember there is no rain date for this event.

The Story:

Way back in the spring of 1984, the City of Thornton teamed up with the Thornton Lions Club to offer a series of relay races for boys and girls from local elementary schools. These races would include 4 x 100 meter relays and also a special Mayor’s Mile (4x 400)  race at the end of the event.  We also offered a new division in 2017, the “Star Strutters Unified Race” and had 17 athletes from five schools compete in two heats.  The race order has changed over the years and the event has been cancelled some years due to weather and Covid, but the event has since grown to include as many as 22 Elementary and K8 schools in the Adams 12 School District. Lions Club Relays are typically held the first Sunday in May at Adams 12 Five Star Stadium (9360 Washington Street).  This event is also a fundraiser for the Thornton Lions Club Vision Programs which provide eyeglasses, exams, guide dogs and other vision services to those in the local community who are in need. 












The Details:

Date: Sunday May 5, 2024

Where: Five Star Stadium  - 9360 Washington Street Thornton CO 80229 

When: 10:00 Parade of Athletes (Mayor's Mile, 5th grade racers- should be present.) This is optional for all other athletes including Five Star Strutters. 

Race times are approximate!  Athlete's should arrive 30 minutes prior to the posted time.  It is a 10 minute walk from some of the parking areas!

10:00 a.m.- Parade of Athletes be there by 9:30

10:15 a.m.- Star Strutters Unified Race

10:30 a.m.- Mayor's Mile be there by 10:00

11:15 a.m.- 5th Grade 4 x 100m be there by 10:45 (unless you want to participate in the Parade of Athletes)

12:00 p.m.- 4th Grade 4 x 100m be there by 11:30

12:45 p.m.- 3rd Grade 4 x 100m be there by 12:15

1:30 p.m.- 2nd Grade 4 x 100m be there by 1:00

2:05 p.m.- 1st Grade 4 x 100m be there by 1:35


Five Star Strutters - This event is an untimed celebration for all First through Fifth grade Five Star Strutter students.  The purpose of this race is to provide an athletic opportunity for students with varying abilities, giving them an opportunity to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other athletes/peers and the community.  

Five Star Strutter Parking will be reserved at Thornton Elementary School. Participants and families are allowed to enter and exit the track at the south entrance. Five Star Strutter families are allowed to remain on the field. The field will be cleared of all families after this event.

Volunteers: Volunteers are vital to the success of this event.  Please consider volunteering for a 2 hour time slot. All of these positions are monitoring the track gates to ensure that participants don't enter the track when a race is in progress.  Please see the Map page for volunteer locations.


This link will take you to Sign Up Genius.  

Parking: 

     Thornton Elementary- reserved for coaches and Five Star Strutter Athletes until 10:15 am, then open to all participants. - 50 Spaces

Five Star Stadium Lot- 125 spaces

Thornton Middle School-  54 spaces

Thornton High School lots (Use the pedestrian bridge to cross Washington) - 400 spaces


Weather:

Weather in Colorado can be extremely unpredictable! In the event of extreme weather (heavy snow or rain, lightning, tornado warnings, etc.) please check this website or call the City of Thornton weather line at (720) 977-5908 for the latest information on the status of the event. Once a decision has been made to delay or cancel the event, the first thing we will do is update this message.


There is no rain date for this event.


Please note that over the years we have run this event in a variety of weather conditions including rain, snow, wind and heat (sometimes all in the same day)! Please make sure to come prepared not only for the current weather, but changing weather conditions. Sunscreen and plenty of water are necessary!


In the event of lightning within 7 miles, the field and stands must be cleared.  All participants must return to their car for 30 minutes.  One adult from each family will be instructed to come to the field to pick up your racer from the coach. If lightning persists, the event will be cancelled. 




Tips for race day:

In a 4x100 relay:

   The first racer starts on the southwest corner of the track (Closest to the scoreboard and flag pole.)

The second racer runs the back stretch along the east stands.

The third racer runs the north side turn.

The fourth racer runs in front of the west side stands. 

See the Map page for a diagram






















When you arrive at the stadium:

3rd - 5th Grade Students:

Find a place for your family to sit in the stands and then send them to the field to check in.  Racers may be sent back to sit with families until a certain time if they are too early.  

****NEW THIS YEAR****- All athletes will enter the track at the south gate or the east gate.  The gates at the bottom of the stands will be closed. 

2nd and 1st grade racers:

Find a place for your family to sit in the stands.  There will be an "Adams 12 Athletics" tent on the southwest side of the track.  There will be an announcement in the stadium and one adult from each family will bring racers to meet with coaches at that time.  An example, "May I have your attention, at this time all second grade racers should be brought to the Adams 12  Athletics Tent."  There will be a similar message for first graders.  When second grade races are complete, there will be an announcement "At this time, second grade families please meet your racers at the Adams 12 Athletics Tent."

Please see the Map page for more info.

Parents will NOT be allowed on the track or field!