Dog park stalking not running

Hi dog Smokey loves going to the dog park and dog beach, he goes to one or the other everyday. When hes at either he doesn’t run with other dogs, he will chase for 10 feet then wait for the other dog to return from his fetch and head him off or block him. And if a dog sprints by he’ll nip at them. I s this normal, safe, is there a way to get him to just keep running and not act like a lion in the tall grass waiting for a hapless elk.