The Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) is proud to announce that two student-athletes have been chosen to represent the organization at the Ohme-Hochi Road Race in Japan. Since 1975, the Ohme-Hochi Road Race and the B.A.A. have traditionally exchanged athletes and ambassadors as a way to celebrate each race’s respective culture and connection.
The B.A.A. welcomed submission for applicants from all cities and towns along the Boston Marathon route, and selected a pair of Hopkinton High School students to represent the B.A.A. Amanda Hansen, a senior, and Kayla McCann, a junior, were selected based on their academic, athletic, and community service experience. Both Amanda and Kayla will participate in the Ohme-Hochi 10K in Japan.
Amanda is a member of the Hopkinton cross country team; is in the National Honor Society; has served as a WBZ-TV spotter for Boston Marathon television coverage; and is the recipient of the MIAA Educational Athletics Achievement Award.
Kayla is also a member of the Hopkinton cross country team; is in the National Honor Society; has been part of the Student Council for three years; has also served as a WBZ-TV spotter for Boston Marathon television coverage; and has participated in a Kenyan marathon runners dinner in advance of the annual race. She has also participated in both the B.A.A. Middle School 1K and B.A.A. Relay Challenge on Boston Marathon weekend in Boston.
While in Japan, Amanda and Kayla will learn about Japanese culture, will participate in the Ohme-Hochi 10K, and will interact with local student athletes.
- Name: Amanda Hansen
- Backgound: 17 years old, senior at Hopkinton High School, Hopkinton, MA
- Why I would like to participate:
"In my opinion, cultural immersion is the most important and impactful influence in my life, and to have the opportunity to travel to Japan for a week is incredible and I'd appreciate every part of it. Not only would I be able to experience a whole new culture, but I would be participating in a sport that I'm so passionate about and thankful for. The work that the B.A.A. does for the Boston Marathon each year is amazing and it's given me so many opportunities, from participating in Spotters Network to simply being able to watch the race in our town and cheer on runners at the start. I want to get even more involved by embarking on this once in a lifetime trip, and I have no doubt that if I was given the opportunity, it would be everything and more that I dream of."
- Name: Kayla McCann
- Background: 16 years old, junior at Hopkinton High School, Hopkinton, MA
- Why I would like to participate:
"My name is Kayla McCann and I’m currently a junior at Hopkinton High School. Our High School is one of the top five best high schools in Massachusetts due to our academic standards. We are also involved in the community in that we host many foreign exchange students, including Japanese students, each year, and we are involved with the elite Kenyan runners around the time of the marathon. Being the start of the Boston Marathon and having all this involvement in the community has inspired me to take interest in sociology classes at school, and I’ve always had the dream to one day run the Boston Marathon. I would really enjoy participating in this cultural exchange and 10k program because it will enable me to experience new cultures and open up my horizon on different parts of the world, as well as participating in an activity I’m passionate about. I have participated in the B.A.A. 1k and relays to represent my school and I am looking to further my participation in B.A.A. sanctioned races until I hopefully reach the Boston Marathon. I believe this will be an amazing opportunity that both my teammate and I will embrace if we get chosen to represent our school in this program and the 10k."