By DEBBIE ALEXANDER Special to the Palisadian-Post The international Olympics are not until this summer in Beijing, but Canyon Charter Elementary School got a head start last week at its annual Olympics Day here in Pacific Palisades. The event arrived early this year, but children were pumped up and ready to run nevertheless. ‘The kids did extremely well and it was tough because the date got pushed up, but I trained them pretty hard,’ Coach Joey Medaglia said. Olympics Day is also a school fundraiser and some of the funds are already earmarked to purchase more sports books for the library. ‘It was great,’ shared parent Karen Parcell, who helped organize the event. ‘And we had a surprise guest later in the day future [National Football League] Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk from the St. Louis Rams and Indianapolis Colts. He was just terrific with the kids.’ Faulk set numerous school records at San Diego State and played in two Super Bowls with the Rams’a 23-16 victory over the Tennessee Titans in Super Bowl XXXIV in 2000 and a 20-17 loss to the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XXXVI two years later. ‘He tossed the ball around with them and they were thrilled to meet a real big name athlete,’ Medaglia said of Faulk. According to third-grader Hank Korsan, the running seemed harder because he graduated to the big track, but proved worthwhile. ‘It was so cool to meet Marshall Faulk, even though I am a Green Bay Packers fan because my dad played for them.’ The object is for the students to do their best running in 10 minute intervals around the grass field. The two track sizes are 90 feet x 40 feet for grades K-2 and 120 feet x 60 feet for grades 3-5. ‘Thirteen laps on the big track is a mile,’ Medaglia added. On average the upper classmen top out at about 17 laps while the younger grades average about 20. Prior to hitting the track there is a quick warm-up with lots of stretching. Mrs. Durand’s first grade class agreed that Olympics Day was a blast. ‘Did anybody run 25 laps?’ Medaglia asked. A name was mentioned, but most kids shook their heads no. Olympics Day kicked off with the opening ceremonies, where each class paraded a colorful handmade banner around the yard. Ms. Henderson had everyone recite the ‘Olympic Oath,’ which encourages good sportsmanship. Prior to the big day, track & field star Khadevis Robinson and his trainer Ann Merrem visited the school and inspired the children. “The high level of enthusiasm, sportsmanship and positive energy generated by our Olympics Day created a very special day for our students, staff and parents,’ observed Principal Carol Henderson. “It was great to see everyone working together and having so much fun.” Kindergarten teacher Mrs. Gorman was worried because, for the first time, her class was scheduled to run right at 8:30 a.m. ‘It actually was wonderful and perfect,’ she shared. ‘I would be glad to do it that way again.’ Once again, donating old sneakers was encouraged for Nike’s ‘Reuse a Shoe’ program that recycles the rubber into sports courts in under-privileged neighborhoods. ‘My kinder, Peter had the most fun and he was so proud,’ parent Chiara Sussman said. ‘It was very festive, well-organized and the weather was fantastic.’ Each child got a special Olympics Day t-shirt, water, a Popsicle and a metal. As a special lunchtime treat, ice cream from Cold Stone was donated for the entire student body. Instead of gold, silver and bronze medals, two bikes from Helen’s Cycles and a $100 Best Buy gift card will be randomly given away to three lucky students after spring break.
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