Youth Track League In Full Stride

May 14, 2018 -  By all accounts, the new Youth Track League in place at Brookwood, Eastwood, Free Orchards, Lincoln Street, Reedville, and W.L. Henry Elementary Schools – made possible by a generous grant of $15,000 from Nike through the Oregon Community Foundation and in-kind support from Providence Health Systems – has been a resounding success. The goal was for 30-50 students per school to participate, and actual numbers are more than double that – with Lincoln Street boasting a whopping 115 athletes!

We caught up with students and their coaches at Eastwood Elementary School on Tuesday, May 8, to learn more about their experience with the program.

Eastwood’s team fields approximately 60 students in grades 4-6 and has three coaches: Leslie Barnes, Jenny Taguchi, and Tim Wright, all of whom are teachers at the school. None has coached previously – they all simply thought it would be a great experience and a meaningful opportunity for the students. Aside from the head coaches, the team gets some assistance from PE teacher Mark Myrick and 4^th grade teacher Chris Brodniak as well.

On the day we visited, students were also getting a visit from two Providence Health Systems representatives. Those representatives talked to the students about the importance of being safe and kind. On a large foam core-mounted “Be Kind” sign, staff members wrote down ideas from the students about how they could be kind to one other. The board will become a reminder of the students’ personal commitment to kindness throughout the remainder of the season and is something they will bring with them to the year-end meet on May 31.

Providence staff are visiting each group at least twice during their season to promote healthy, positive lifestyles and to give students incentives like unstructured backpacks containing safety lights and granola bars. At the final meet - where students will compete in the 100, 400, long jump and turbo javelin - Providence will have an Activity Zone in the infield of the track where they will run a variety of health-based activities for kids as they wait for their event to be called.

Students are pumped up about the track league, which, for some, is their first experience with an organized sport. “It’s amazing!” exclaimed one student. “Like, a challenge,” explained another. Still another, not wanting to appear excited to an uncool level, remarked: “it’s better than being at home watching TV…” That student’s effort in a practice relay race moments later belied his indifference, however, and proved that he’s actually quite into the experience.

Many thanks to Rian Petrick, Executive Director of Extracurricular Programs and Community Outreach, for conceiving of the program and coordinating the funding and partnership of Nike and Providence. Thanks also to the principals of the hosting schools, to the coaches, and to the students for participating.

Please plan to come watch the first annual Youth Track Meet on Thursday, May 31, from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. at Hare Field, 1151 NE Grant St. All are welcome and admission is free!