Nearly 1,000 elementary students from SD62 gathered for a day of track and field events at Royal Bay Secondary School on Friday.
Seventeen different schools sent students between grades three and five to participate in events like shot put, relay, 800-metre, 400 m and 100 m races.
Lorraine Van Dyk, a grade four/five teacher at Sangster Elementary and Jack Showers, a grade four/five teacher at Savory Elementary, have been organizing the track meet for the past 20 years.
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B次元官网网址淭his is the best day of the year,B次元官网网址� Showers said.
The two of them want to provide sports activities for kids and also organize leagues for handball, basketball, soccer and cross country.
Van Dyk said the track meet is great for younger students who want to participate in a sport and be part of a team. She said many of the students get very excited for the event in the days leading up to it.
B次元官网网址淲e had a student on the podium one time who said this is the best day of his life,B次元官网网址� Van Dyk said. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e had kids who have had stomach pains for a week because theyB次元官网网址檙e so excited and anxious about it.B次元官网网址�
Parents, family members and teammates cheered on runners as they made their way around the track to the finish line. Many of the students showed great sportsmanship as well, cheering on runners from other schools.
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Josh SimicichB次元官网网址檚 11-year-old son, Sam, was participating in a few events Friday. He said this is his sonB次元官网网址檚 third year taking part in track and field.
B次元官网网址淚 like it a lot, I feel proud of him,B次元官网网址� Simicich said. B次元官网网址淭hey get to have a lot of fun too.B次元官网网址�
Every student that participates in the track and field meet gets a ribbon. Those that win also get the chance to stand on the podium.
Van Dyk said track and field is a sport students can really get involved in and continue as they get older but most of all, it makes them part of a larger team.
B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 nothing like wearing your school shirt,B次元官网网址� Van Dyk said.
shalu.mehta@goldstreamgazette.com
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