Dana Neer knew he knew he had big shoes to fill as he took over the Haynes-Apperson sports festival from Dave Granson, who had led it for 25 years.

And a blending of rich tradition and new ideas are marking this year’s fest, which continues this weekend, highlighting the best in Kokomo athletics.

“Dave has been a great mentor to me in this,” Neer said Friday. “He has had a great balance of coaching me through and he’s given me advice when needed but he’s also stepped back from it, and he has just allowed me to put my own touch to it, and that’s just the mark of a great leader.”

One of those new “touches” this year is the first canoe and kayak race for the Haynes-Apperson sports festival.

Canoers and kayakers will have the option to participate in a shorter, warm-up sprint race at 11 a.m., followed by a longer 3-mile race at 11:30 a.m. The races will start in Foster Park, and the longer race will finish at Camp Tycony.

“We’re looking at it experimentally this year, and we hope we have a fair number but not too many this year, so we can manage it,” Neer said.

Originally, Neer, an avid canoe enthusiast and kayaker, thought about doing some kind of race but all the pieces weren’t quite coming together.

Out of the blue, he said, Dave Trine called and asked if the sports festival didn’t need a canoe race. Neer said it was almost too good to be true.

“I think that the Wildcat Creek is probably the most underutilized natural resource in Howard County, probably in the state,” said Trine.

Organizers discussed where to start the race, and Trine said downtown made the most sense so that people — kayakers and non-kayakers alike — could check out the action.

Trine, is an amateur kayaker himself, said there’s a chance the event could expose new people to the sport.

“It’s very peaceful,” he said. “Sometimes our own personal lives can be pretty hectic, and it’s just you and a kayak and your partner, you can get more in tune. All of a sudden, the big issues don’t seem so big.”

Another crowd-pleaser will be the kids track meet, which kicks off at 9 a.m. today. Kautz Field at Memorial Gym will once again be packed with the fierce competition that only the area’s tiny athletes can bring.

Dozens of the area’s future track stars from ages 2 to 12 will try their hands at 25- and 50-yard dashes and the standing and running long jumps. (“Long,” however, might be subjective. Most kids walk away with jumps of a few inches and a big smiles on their faces.)

Neer says he has a lot of memories from the Haynes-Apperson, especially from the track meet.

“My favorite all time thing is watching those kids run and giving them a low five as you go past,” He said.

Neer said years ago, he was handing out low-fives as one little girl came by. With so much going on, he said, she must not have been looking at all the other kids as they ran past.

“She looked at my hand and took her gum out and placed it in my hand,” he said with a laugh. “She was told not to run with gum in her mouth, I guess. That’s my all-time favorite memory.”

And for the runners who are slightly older, the Haynes-Apperson Festival 4-mile run, 3-mile walk and 1-mile fun run is always a favorite.

Club Kokomo president Gena Sheets says the run truly takes the hard work of dozens and dozens of race volunteers to make the event happen.

Sheets says the course is a good one for runners who are looking for a good local race or even walkers who just want a fun way to join in the festival.

“Three miles is absolutely do-able for someone who’s been walking a couple blocks in the evening, and they can grab a friend and get out there and chat and walk,” Sheets said.

And, as always, participants walk away with a commemorative Haynes-Apperson Festival T-shirt.

The 1-mile fun run starts at 7:30 a.m., and the 3-mile walk and 4-mile run will begin promptly at 8 a.m. Registration at the event is $15.

For more information, visit www.haynesappersonfestival.org.

• Erin Shultz is the Kokomo Tribune Life & Style editor. She may be reached at (765) 454-8587 or erin.shultz@kokomotribune.com.



HAYNES-APPERSON SPORTS FEST SCHEDULE:

Women’s slowpitch softball tournament

• WHERE: Northwest Park

• WHEN: Through Sunday

• INFORMATION: (765) 456-7275

Men’s slowpitch softball tournament

• WHERE: Northwest Park

• WHEN: Through Sunday

• INFORMATION: (765) 456-7275

Tennis tournament

• WHERE: Kokomo High School, Foster Park and Highland Park tennis courts

• WHEN: Through Sunday

• INFORMATION: (765) 628-0392

Three Man Jam 3-on-3 basketball tournament

• WHERE: Foster Park

• WHEN: Today

• INFORMATION: (765) 457-4630

Golf tournament

• WHERE: Chippendale Golf Course

• WHEN: Today

• INFORMATION: (765) 453-7079

Track Meet for Kids

• WHERE: Kautz Field, Memorial Gymnasium

• WHEN: Today

• EVENTS: 9 a.m. standing long jump (2 to 8 years old), 9:25 a.m. 25-yard dashes (2 to 5 years old), 9:30 a.m. running long jumps (9 to 12 years old), 9:45 a.m. 50-yard dashes (6 to 12 years old)

• INFORMATION: (765) 883-5782

4-mile run, 3-mile walk and 1-mile fun run

• WHERE: Memorial Gymnasium

• WHEN: Today

• EVENTS: 7:30 a.m. 1-mile fun run, 8 a.m. 3-mile walk and 4-mile run, 9:30 a.m. awards

• INFORMATION: (765) 490-2821

Free throw contest

• WHERE: Foster Park

• WHEN: Contest at 1 p.m. today, registration at noon

• INFORMATION: (765)457-4630

Horseshoe tournament

• WHERE: Highland Park

• WHEN: 9 a.m. today and 6 p.m. Monday

• INFORMATION: (765) 437-9727

Kayak & Canoe Festival

• WHERE: Foster Park and Camp Tycony

• WHEN: ½-mile sprint race starts at 11 a.m. today at the foot bridge to Foster Park, 3-mile long race starts at 11:30 a.m. at the Washington Street Bridge and ends at Camp Tycony

• INFORMATION: (765) 419-0367

Sunstroke 74

• WHERE: Kokomo Cycling & Fitness, 1500 East Boulevard

• WHEN: 8 a.m. July 4

• INFORMATION: www.breakawaybicycleclub.org

Karate Competition

• WHERE: Memorial Gymnasium

• WHEN: 11 a.m. today