J. Colin English students run for glory at Turkey Trot
Physical fitness plays a big role in the success of students at J. Colin English Elementary School, and that was put to the ultimate test Thursday morning.
While most students were in class reading and writing, about 50 students took to the field to participate in the eighth annual Turkey Trot, where only the best of the best need apply.
Morgan Wright, physical education instructor and 2013 Golden Apple recipient, started the event to reward students who excel at running, with the reward being a turkey for the winner, thanks to a donation from Publix.
“I wanted to give the kids a reason to enrich themselves physically. We’re so worried about playing the catch-up game and intervention that we also need to reward those who are enriched,” Wright said.
Unlike many events these days where the children get a trophy for participation, Wright makes the students earn the right to run. Only the top 10 runners in grades 1 through 5 make the cut by running the fastest times in the mile.
On Thursday, they came back to run 1.5 miles, an even tougher test, with the winning boy and girl from each grade level getting an 11 to 13 lbs. frozen turkey to bring home.
“At the end of the day I also hold a drawing to give away 10 more turkeys and a pizza party for the students who complete the run,” Wright said.
The runners were sent off in staggered starts according to grade, with the runners having to complete six laps around the perimeter of the field. Teachers and volunteers were there to count the laps of each runner while the students’ parent were there to cheer them on.
Nicole Meese watched her son run and was proud of his performance.
“I think he did great. They all did a good job. They all ran fast and did great. He plays football and baseball so he loves to run,” Meese said. “He does it all the time.”
Logic would dictate that the older runners would be the first to finish. Well, yes and no. Fifth grader Usef Fouissi was the first to cross the finish line overall with a time of 10:23, but the top girl was a first-grader, Kimani Mitchell, who came home in 11:17.
Among the turkey winners were: first-graders Mitchell and Corey Seagle; second-graders Onnika Fisher and Junior Morales; third-graders Shelomit Ortiz-Rivera and Kevin Mena-Mora; fourth-graders Neveah Goode and Brandon Granados, fifth-graders Fouissi and Keila Creus.
Principal Joe Williams III said it’s events like this that helps kids excel in and out of the classroom.
“It’s a mandate the kids have 150 minutes of physical education every week, so that’s built into the schedule,” Williams said. “When you see them in action you can see how they compete the way they do. It’s an engaging program where the kids are constantly in motion and physically testing themselves.”
“I want them to feel they really accomplished something, because they have. Even if they didn’t win on this day, they’re still winners,” Wright said.