More than 600 Grade 4 and 5 students from across Sooke School District 62 gathered at Royal Bay Secondary School in Colwood Friday for the first track meet since the pandemic began more than two years ago.

The field was lined with hundreds of cheering friends, family, and fellow students as boys and girls of all skill levels competed in 800, 400, 100 metre, and relay events throughout the day, despite ever-changing weather which saw the track steam up during breaks from the rain.

B次元官网网址淭his track meet is so significant right now because it has been two full years since we last had one,B次元官网网址� said Camille McFarlane, principal of Sangster Elementary School.

B次元官网网址淭his is the first real time all of the elementary schools have been together since 2019. To see the excitement on all the childrenB次元官网网址檚B次元官网网址� faces is amazing.B次元官网网址�

McFarlane said the event is particularly special for the Grade 5 students participating, as it is the first and only elementary school track meet they will experience because of pandemic delays and graduation dates.

She said attendance at the event far surpassed expectations, which each of the 17 participating schools bringing around 50 students each to the event.

B次元官网网址淓ach student has the option of joining a relay team, and thatB次元官网网址檚 where the majority of our participants come from. Many schools will have two to four relay teams entered.B次元官网网址�

The entire event was organized by the volunteer-run district Sports Council, and McFarlane said their efforts to make the event a reality canB次元官网网址檛 be celebrated enough.

B次元官网网址淭here are families in tears because they are watching their kids race for the first time.B次元官网网址�

READ MORE: Retirement wonB次元官网网址檛 slow down Sooke Sports Council president

justin.samanski-langille@goldstreamgazette.com
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