Larry Penkava
RANDLEMAN — There were cheers and tears as some 40 school girls completed their first 5K race Saturday.
Girls on the Run, a program at Randleman Elementary School to help girls develop self-confidence while having fun, culminated with the 3.1-mile course through the city streets. Each girl received a medal for completing the course and the top three were awarded trophies.
Lauren Seedlock, a third-grader, came in first, followed by fifth-grader Hannah Willard and Lauren Garner of the fourth grade.
“It was incredible,” said Joan Burton, one of the team coaches along with Angela Harris and Shelly Harris. Communities in Schools representative Shelley Kirby helped coordinate the race and provided medals and trophies.
“The girls did great,” Burton said. “They kept working hard. Those who finished first went and ran with the last girl. That brought many to tears.”
All the girls who set out on the course crossed the finish line, even one who was 20 minutes late because the family dog was having puppies, said Burton.
“We plan to do (Girls on the Run) again in the fall and make it an annual event,” she said. “We had lots of support,” including donations from area businesses and the Randleman Police Department.
As their community service project, the girls decided to have a bake sale and donate proceeds to the Special Olympics of the Triad, Burton said. The girls brought the food in and helped collect money, more than $100.
“We have had at least one to two practices a week since February, typically Tuesdays and Wednesdays,” said Burton.
Sessions focused on self-esteem, positive self-concept, working together, peer pressure and more. The goal of the program is to promote healthy lifestyles among girls ages 8 through 11 through running.
It’s a national program with a Web site at www.girlsontherun.org.
“We’ve had several e-mails from parents with accounts of the transformation they’ve seen in their daughters,” Burton said. “That makes us feel good.”
