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Published on 04/27/1998 All articles from this issue

LASD students build muscles, camaraderie, at Jr. Olympics

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By Linda Taaffe / Town Crier Staff Writer

Athletes in grades four through six from all six elementary schools in the Los Altos School District proudly marched in their school colors behind the Olympic and American flags during opening ceremonies at the 39th annual Junior Olympics April 25 at Los Altos High School.

Some donned spray painted hair that matched their teams' colors, others flashed painted nails in the Olympic spirit.

Established in the early 1960s to encourage physical fitness, the districtwide event has flourished into a day when Little League games are postponed and Girl Scout field trips are canceled to allow all students the chance to participate in the track and field event.

"Track and field has something for almost every child to excel at," said Dick Liewer, assistant superintendent of curriculum, who helped revive the Junior Olympics in 1978. "There's sprinting for those who move quickly, the softball throw for strong kids. It's also a good way for them to learn healthy life skills."

Liewer said every year the event has gotten bigger. He said the first year that he tried to revive the event, he had to recruit other school districts to participate, and even then only about 175 kids competed.

Pam Harris, assistant physical education teacher in the Los Altos School District, who participated in the event when she was a student at the former Covington School in the early 1970s, said about 200 students from each school, or about 1,200 students total, participated in this year's event. She said only about four students from each school didn't participate.

Jane Croom, an Olympic committee member from Springer School, described the Junior Olympics as "a true community event." She said a committee, which included two coordinators from each school, worked hundreds of hours planning the event since November.

She said about 50 parents were at the schools training students on any given day. About 200 parents volunteered the day of the event, and the occasion drew an estimated 2,500 spectators.

Liewer said the event has also become more professional over the years. The event included trained judges and timers, computer scoring, first aid stations, a real Olympic torch and a district band that played the Olympic theme during the opening ceremony.

During the six weeks before the event, athletes trained during their physical education classes.

Each athlete competed in three of 10 events, which included the basketball free throw, the 30-second jump-rope, the 60-yard hurdle and 440 and 880 relays.

Kathy Panec, a third grade teacher at Springer School, said jump-rope was one of the more popular events at Springer, where a student broke the Olympic record at last year's event.

She said after the champion gave a jump-rope demonstration, the school store sold out of jump ropes. She said students gave up their recess to practice jump rope during the six-week training period.

Panec said the event isn't just about physical fitness. She said the event creates team spirit among classmates.

"Both the boys and girls were painting their fingernails at recess as a statement of 'solidarity.' They wanted the color to give them that extra edge so when they ran, their nails would flash with color. It was wonderful. They were really supportive of one another."

Kelsi Okuda, a fourth grader at Almond School, won second place in a three-quarter mile race. She said this was the first time she had competed in a track event.

"It was harder than what I expected, but it was fun," she said just after the race.

"It's a neat thing," Croom said. "The beauty comes from when they succeed, when someone says, 'Gee, I can jump the hurdle.'"