WORTHINGTON - Heron Lake-Okabena and Round Lake-Brewster students left their books at home and came to Worthington’s Trojan Field on Thursday to participate in a track and field trip day.
Jeff Drent and Donna Cook, physical education teachers at RL-B and HL-O, have brought their third- and-sixth-graders to the WHS facility for nine years. Drent explained that HL-O has a track and field program, but doesn’t have a facility with all the equipment Worthington has.
Drent and Cook, along with some seventh-grade students and other school employees, kept track of the results and made sure participants were following each event’s rules.
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“We rented the track and we have a good time with the kids,” Drent said. “It's a big undertaking, but it’s a lot of fun.”
For the entire day, students have the opportunity to participate in traditional track and field events. During the morning, they jumped and got dirty with field competitions such as high jump, softball throw and long jump, among others.
After a brief lunch break, students participated in events that included a mile run, 4 x 100 meter relay, and 800- and 50-meter runs.
Drent added that the collaboration with Cook not only introduces students to new activities, but also challenges their athletic skills.
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“It’s a good experience to be in a different environment and competing against kids that are not in the class,” he said. “In physical education you get comfortable with your classmates, and this way you are up against some other competitors.”
HL-O fifth-grader Emma Rasche has accompanied her class to Trojan Field for three years. She has been part of the HL-O track and field program, and noted that she most enjoys the high jump of all the events. She competed Thursday in the high jump, 800 meters and 50 meters.
“I think it’s really fun, and it's a good experience to help kids be healthy and do exercise,” she said.
Eric Pineda, a RLB fourth-grader, was another students who, despite the cold weather, was enjoying Thursday's activities. He was patiently waiting for the long jump event while talking with his classmates about his strategy.
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“I like long jump and softball throw the most,” Pineda said.
Drent explained that the distance-running events aren’t the most popular events among students. High jump and softball throw lead the list of favorites, he said.
“Everybody really loves the 50 meters - maybe because it’s the shortest event and everybody thinks they’re fast, so they like that,” he said.
Rasche is among those students who don’t exactly look forward to running the mile and participating in the long-distance events.
“I am not the best at it and it really tires me out, but sometimes it’s good because it’s kind of private and you can go away from everybody,” she said.
Although Rasche enjoys the adrenaline of the competition, she said her favorite part of the field trip has nothing to do with the events.
“My favorite part is to make new friends and just have fun,” she said.
