Area children run in 22nd annual Kids’ Classic

May 10, 2008 06:30 pm

— By Seth Putnam
news@joplinglobe.com
Cloudy skies and inclement weather Saturday couldn’t put a damper on the crowd’s enthusiasm during the 22nd annual Charles Spradling Kids’ Classic at Fred G. Hughes Stadium.
Area children in kindergarten through sixth grade sped around the track amid cheering and applause from the sea of spectators.
Darla Armstrong, run coordinator and physical education instructor at Stapleton Elementary School, said that 1,026 children registered early for the races and that about 75 more signed up on Saturday morning.
“We were worried about our numbers because we had fewer early entries because of the weather, but we’re on track now,” Armstrong said, though rain and lightening later prevented the kindergarten boys from racing.
Armstrong said that Charles Spradling, former principal at Kelsey Norman Elementary School, started the annual race in 1986 with the goal of providing an outlet for children at his school to be active.
“With obesity rates so high, our whole goal is to get kids to get off the couch and be active,” she said.
All proceeds raised during the event will go to local children’s charities, including Children’s Miracle Network.
This year, Armstrong made it a point to encourage environmental responsibility. Green ribbons adorned each medal awarded, symbolizing “going green” and taking care of the environment. Students in her physical-education classes decorated cardboard boxes with drawings and statements encouraging spectators and competitors to recycle their plastic bottles.
Saturday’s events were full of good-natured rivalry.
In the third-grade race, five boys from Cecil Floyd Elementary School finished in the top six for the third year in a row. Third-graders Jackson Auer, Koltyn Theilen, Spencer Newell, and Trey and Blake Coulter have all placed in different combinations since first grade.
Newell was the victor this year and said that his hard work and practice helped him clinch first place.
“Every night I run a half mile on the treadmill,” he said. “It feels really good (to win.)”
Theilen, who placed fourth, was excited that he was able to edge out some of his competition.
“I finally beat one of the twins,” he said, referring to the Coulter brothers.
Allison Ham, physical-education instructor at Cecil Floyd, said she thought it was intriguing that her students have placed in the top finishers with such regularity.
“It’s interesting that they’ve been in the top six for the last three years when there are so many (runners) in the race,” she said.
A number of other activities were offered in addition to the races. Event staff held a raffle for bicycles, toys and outdoor games, and a helicopter crew from Freeman Health System gave tours. There was also an inflatable obstacle course and a “bike rodeo” held by Safe Kids in order to teach children the meanings of hand signals and traffic signs.
“I always remind parents that safety starts with them,” said Jo Sitton, coordinator of Safe Kids. “It’s important that they be responsible with safety and watch their kids.”


Race results
Results of Saturday’s Kids’ Classic (in order from first, second and third place) were:
Sixth-grade girls: Kolleen Gladden, College Heights Christian School; Allie Hagler Crane Middle School; Rachel Mina, Central Arkansas Christian School.
Sixth-grade boys: Matt Riechman-Bennet, North Middle School; De’sean Garner, Memorial Middle School; Khaled Graham, South Middle School.
Fifth-grade girls: Kaylin Turley, Harding Academy; Kylie Vaught, Crane Middle School; Brianna Mertens, Royal Heights Elementary School.
Fifth-grade boys: Austin Zengel, Cecil Floyd Elementary School; Anthuan Jackson, Cecil Floyd; Reece Tholen, Carl Junction Intermediate School.
Fourth-grade girls: Lexie Vaught, Emma Lander and Kylee Moore, all of Crane Middle School.
Fourth-grade boys: Robby Williams, Crane Middle School; Donovan Graham, Duquesne Elementary School; Ian Bird, Emerson Elementary School.
Third-grade girls: Patience VanHoose, Duquesne Elementary School; Ilah Wallace, Columbia Elementary School; Jenna Scroggins, Crane Middle School.
Third-grade boys: Spencer Newell, Trey Coulter and Jackson Auer, all of Cecil Floyd.
Second-grade girls: Jessica Zengel, Cecil Floyd Elementary School; Elizabeth Peterson, Duquesne Elementary School; Laurel Singh, Cecil Floyd.
Second-grade boys: David Maynard Jr., Harry S. Truman Elementary School; Alex Mina, Central Arkansas Christian School; Payden Armstrong, Seneca Elementary School.
First-grade girls: Madison Hicks, Crane Middle School; Macy Gray, Columbia Elementary School; Karen Luna, Cecil Floyd Elementary School.
First-grade boys: Zeke Sappington, Mark Twain Elementary School; Grant Jones, Cecil Floyd Elementary School; Mason Auer, Cecil Floyd.
Kindergarten girls: Avery Gage, Cecil Floyd Elementary School; Kaitie Richey, Cecil Floyd; Sophie Kendall, Royal Heights Elementary School.

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