The grade 6 boys 100 metre race at the Apple Bowl
(JOHN MCDONALD / iNFOnews.ca)
June 10, 2015 - 1:27 PM
CENTRAL OKANAGAN - Rain or shine, the end-of-year track meet for grades 4 to 6 elementary students must go on. This year, the heat was the obvious enemy at Kelowna’s Apple Bowl.
“I’ve never seen it quite this hot though I’ve seen days where it was pretty warm and I’ve seen days when there was a torrential downpour,” says Jim Bradshaw, coordinator of the Divisional track meet for the Central Okanagan School District.
“Certainly that was one thing we did mention is that teachers needed to make sure the kids were well-hydrated and had a place where they can retreat from the heat," he says.
Notwithstanding the heat, close to 1,000 students from 24 local schools gathered at the Apple Bowl to compete in long jump, triple-jump, shotput, discus throw and 100 and 800 metre runs, culminating in the relay race.
Despite their relative youth, Bradshaw says the students represent the top athletes at their respective schools having already gone through a school-based track meet to winnow out the top contenders.
“They take it very seriously. Judging by some of the kids, it’s not just fun-based,” he says. “Look at some of the grade 6 and they are jumping phenomenal heights. You should see some of the runners.”
Bradshaw says the schools limit the kids to a maximum of two events plus the relay race but in practice, most schools keep it to one event per student.
“It increases participations and reduces conflicts with other events,” he says.
To contact the reporter for this story, email John McDonald at jmcdonald@infonews.ca or call 250-808-0143. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.
News from © iNFOnews, 2015