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Running to relive memories
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The distance between St. Francis Junior and Degree college is 7 km and students marked the Golden Jubilee with a 7K run
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Photos: Nagara Gopal
FUN RUN Students, alumnae and staff from the college participating in 7K run
Maybe some of them would have anyway woken up at 6 a.m. for a Sunday morning jog. But not all 4000 of them. That was the number of registrations at Parade Grounds for the 7K run as a part of the Golden Jubilee celebrations of St. Francis Women’s College from Parade Grounds to the college at Begumpet.
“This is like coming back to the family,” said P. Srilatha of ’89 batch. “I used to be a naughty brat... used to get thrown out of class etc. But now they love me again,” said RJ Adonica Rodricks of ’06 batch.
Two batches of current students dressed in dark grey and red track pants and white T-shirts and bandanas did a couple of cardio warm up numbers.
“You girls are in the run to be the cheer leaders,” suggested V.V.S. Laxman amidst approving cheers when he addressed the crowd. Actor Venkatesh, P. Gopichand spoke next. “It’s every guy’ dream to be amidst the girls of St. Francis,” said Ram Charan Teja, silhouetted in the background of the rising sun (or son, if you may).
“This is a fun way of spending a Sunday morning,” said Srilekha Rao, a participant. “No, I’m not an alumni. I’m here for charity and fitness,” she added.
“Do not dehydrate yourself. Use the water points along the road from here to Begumpet,” were the words of Venkatesh as he launched the logo balloon and flagged off the run. They were off.
Some sprinted, some jogged, some walked... they grabbed water sachets gratefully at the water halts manned by students of the college.
A brass band welcomed the participants as the run culminated inside the campus of St. Francis at Begumpet.
The already packed lawns hemmed in on three sides by the three storied building reverberated with cheers of the students as the run concluded.
Awards were given away for the fastest runners with non-Franciscans (Madhu Babu and Nagalakshmi), St. Francis staff (Maria Rani) and St. Francis students (Patricia) cornering glory.
“Today I’m living every minute of the time I did, 27 years ago,” summed up Chandana Chakrabarti, a ’81 alumna.
BALAJI VITTAL
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