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Published on 05/05/1999 All articles from this issue

Student athletes set seven new records at LASD's Junior Olympics

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By Linda Taaffe / Town Crier Staff Writer

Schools Roundup

The six weeks of running, jumping and training paid off for the approximately 1,200 fourth-, fifth- and sixth-graders who participated in the Los Altos School District's Junior Olympics held at Los Altos High School, April 24. Athletes broke seven records - including some set as far back as 1982. No records had been tied or broken during the 40 years of the track and field event until 1998.

Tori Tyler, a sixth-grader at Loyola School, broke the 1983 record of 4: 29.2 in the 1320-yard run at this year's event with a time of 4:14.4.

Tori, who has competed in the Junior Olympics for three years, said she practiced on the school track, trying to break her time from the previous year.

"I didn't think I had a chance. I'm surprised that I (broke the record)," Tori said.

Members of the Los Altos School District launched the Junior Olympics in 1959 to encourage physical fitness. The event has grown from about 175 participants to more than a thousand participants and 300 parent-volunteers.

This year's event featured the authentic Olympic torch that athletes carried through San Francisco during the last Olympic games.

"It's really for them to see what they can do," said parent Jenie Sitler, whose son, Benjamin Sitler, broke the 1983 record this year in the 1320 yard run with a time of 4:12.

"Without this event they might not know what they're capable of. This is where dreams are made," Sitler said.

The following students broke Olympic records in the following events:

Sixth Grade Girls 1320-Yard Run

old record: 4:29.2 Kristi Paaso, 1983

4:14.4 Victoria Tyler, Loyola

4:19 Vivian Chiu, Almond

Fifth Grade Boys 1320-Yard Run

old record: 4:15.9 Brian Peace, 1983

4:12 Benjamin Sitler - Oak

4:15 Kyle Macomber, Bullis

Fifth Grade Girls 30-Second Jump Rope:

old Record: 114 - Tamako Kuhura,1996

121 Yael Levy, Springer

Fourth Grade Boys 60-Yard Hurdles

old Record: 9.6 Mark Palmer,1982

9.6 Corey Wilkening - Springer 1985

9.6 Mark Hoff,1994

9.4 Troy Hartter, Springer ( heat time, not final time)

Fifth Grade Boys 60-Yard Hurdles

old Record: 9.1 - Alex Ware

9.1 Matthew Favaro, Bullis