Hundreds of elementary school students converged on the Dave Boyd Sports Field at Santa Maria High School on May 18 to race in the Santa Maria-Bonita School District’s 24th annual track meet.
Parents, teachers, friends, and family members cheered the young athletes on from the stands in the Ralph Baldiviez stadium. Third- and fourth-grade students competed in a 50-yard dash and a 400-meter run. Fifth- and sixth-grade students sprinted in a 100-yard dash and put their long-distance running skills to the test in an 800-meter run. Teams of four students also raced in 400-meter relays.
Students from Adam Elementary School claimed first place with 121 points. Ontiveros students took second and Oakley took third.
All of the participating students had to qualify for the district-wide meet through mini-track meets held at their individual schools during lunchtime and recess. Each child competed in up to two events and a relay.
This article appears in May 24-31, 2012.