On March 7 a small group of high school track & field members helped volunteer at the annual 5th grade Track-O-Rama. The high schoolers helped time events, rake and measure long jump. This event allows all the elementary schools in the district, including Cathedral, to come together to compete as an individual school.

Junior Jarrett Gronski was one of the members of the high school track team that was asked to volunteer at the event. He went to Northern Lights Elementary School and participated in Track-O-Rama in 2013. He competed in the 400m dash, 4x800m relay, and tug-o-war that year.

“I was excited to have the opportunity to help kids have a fun time,” Gronski said.

This year Gronski will be participating in the 300m hurdles, high jump, and the 4x400m relay.

Senior Steven Pearson was another member of the high school team that was asked to volunteer at the event. He went to Cooper Elementary School and participated in Track-O-Rama in 2012. The year he participated he did the long jump and 200m dash.

“I lost my race at Track-O-Rama and it was the first race I had ever lost. I knew that I had to get faster and that I was going to join track,” Pearson said.

This year Pearson will be triple jumping, running the 200m dash, 100m dash, 4x100m relay and 4x200m relay throughout the season.

Head girls track coach and Great Lakes Elementary physical education teacher Sam Wilson was one of the teachers that helped organize the event.  She said that she was very impressed by the amount of organization in the event provided by the help of the student and staff volunteers. She also mentioned that Track-O-Rama gets her excited for the high school season and being able to see who the potential athletes could be for the high school team in the future.

“The kids had a wonderful experience at a community event and displayed excellent teamwork and sportsmanship,” Wilson said.

The high school season started March 4 and their next meet is the annual Simpson Invitational at UWS on March 29 at 4 p.m.