Some of Buckley’s elementary students will ride in Radio Flyers of Fire this weekend, as they compete in the first meet of a new White River district track team.
The fledgling K-5 athletic program is the brainchild of Justin Bolton, a Physical Education teacher at Wilkeson and Elk Ridge elementary schools. He and other PE teachers have donated their after-school time since the end of April to lead practice sessions of just under 500 students.
“Fellow PE teachers have made this happen,” Bolton said. “It might have been my idea to start the program, but it couldn’t be done without them.”
Only the third- through fifth- grade athletes will compete this Saturday.
Events are 50-, 100-, 200-, 400- and 800-meter races, two relays, and two field events: the javelin and long javelin.
The meet will be followed by a second meet on June 9, the last of the inaugural year.
“We’re going to see how it goes, and maybe do some more meets next year,” Bolton said.
The meet will take place at White River High School’s track, Saturday at 10 a.m.
