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Relays added for this year’s Intra-City Track Meet

ELKINS — Area youth from preschool through fifth grade are invited to participate in the Mayor’s Johnny Keller Intra-City Track Meet on Tuesday at the Elkins High School track.

Registration will be from 4:15 until 5:15 p.m. Field events will begin with the softball throw and standing long jump at 4:30 p.m. and running events will begin with a 100 meter fun run for 3-, 4- and 5-year-olds at 5:15 p.m. The event is free of charge and registration can be done on the day of the event.

Following the fun run, track events will begin with the coed 4×100 meter relay, which is new this year.

“We are hoping to add a team element to the meet,” said meet director Scott Biola. “Some people really shine when the pressure is off of them individually and they feel like they are part of a group.”

Relay races will be contested in two divisions, one for second- and third-graders and one for fourth- and fifth-graders. Participants are encouraged to team up with people from their own schools.

After the relays, individuals can compete in the 1600 meter run, 55 meter dash, 400 meter dash, 100 meter dash, 800 meter run and 200 meter dash. Competitors can choose to participate in a maximum of one field and two running events. The relay race will count as one of the two running events.

Competitors will be grouped into three age categories: kindergarten-first grade; second-third grade; and fourth-fifth grade. Ribbons will be awarded to the top three competitors in each event for each age group.

There are also monetary awards for Elkins area schools with the highest rates of participation. The elementary school with the highest percentage of enrollees participating will receive a $300 prize and second place will receive $200.

The event is hosted by the Elkins Parks and Recreation Commission with help from numerous volunteers.

“Participating in the track meet provides local youth with an opportunity to try something new and enjoy the thrill of a friendly competition,” commented Elkins Parks and Recreation Commission director Tom Tesar. “By experiencing a track meet early on, hopefully some kids will be encouraged to join track or another sport when they reach middle school.”

In the event of particularly bad weather, May 23 is the scheduled “rain date.”

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