“This is the first call for the 3-and-under 50 meter dash,” the announcer of the Walla Walla Parks and Recreation all-comers track meet announced Sunday, April 19. The meet provided a great activity for families on a beautiful Sunday afternoon.
“We come every year,” said a mother waiting in line for her son to throw the javelin, another little one sleeping in the stroller beside her. “The kids just have a blast.”
Held at the Borleske Stadium track, the meet included field events such as the softball throw, javelin and long jump, which took place during the running events (50 meter dash, 100 meter dash, 200 meter dash, 50 meter hurdles and the mile). Peter Harvey, CFO and treasurer of Whitman, helped start the event. It has been held twice a year since 2003. He and his wife are still active volunteers at the event.
Each event was divided into age group, with the youngest groups at 3-and-under and the oldest at 10-12 years. Though there were 72 kids pre-registered, a total of 160 kids participated, which Recreation Coordinator of Walla Walla Parks and Recreation, Angela Potts, said is a pretty standard turnout for the spring meets.
“We always get a lot of kids at the spring meet because the weather is so nice, but we’ve had trouble getting people at the fall meet,” Potts said. Because of this, the fall meet has been moved to July this year.
As the participants waited to run in their race, some “warmed up” by running back and forth across the width of the track, while others used the preparation technique of clinging to their mother’s leg.
Volunteers helped organize the events, in addition to those who work with Walla Walla Parks and Recreation. Making sure the youngest runners knew when to start running was no easy feat, and required the help of parents too.
“Remember, Jake, when you start, I want you to go all the way through it, ok?” a father reiterated to his son.
As the whistle blew to start the first heat of the 3-and-under 50 meter dash, some kids took off toward the finish line, while one girl turned around the opposite direction and ran into her father’s arms. Another boy crossed the finish line with his thumb in his mouth.
However, some kids took the event very seriously.
“Daddy, hurry up and tie my shoe before my big race!” one girl anxiously said.
Others shared tips with their parents and friends.
“It helps me when I run next to my friend,” one girl commented.
“I started this whole new trend on the javelin throw,” a boy explained to his friends. “You guys have to get in on the secret.”
Andy Coleman, recreation supervisor of Walla Walla Parks and Recreation who was in charge of the event, said that he was very happy with the way the meet turned out, due to a combination of great weather and hard-working volunteers.
“Of all the events we offer this is my favorite,” Coleman said. “It seems that all the kids, no matter what place they come in, have a smile on their face and a handful of ribbons. It is why I’m in this business.”
