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Track and Field Event
FAST START INVITATIONALCentral Florida's First Invitational Track and Field Event for Elementary School Students
Winter Park, Florida - "Can we do this every weekend?!?!" -- 2006 Fast Start Participant
When the organizers of the Fast Start Track and Field Invitational drew up plans for the inaugural event, they could not have believed it would turn out as well as it did. "The event was an unmitigated success" said a beaming Scott Millson, Founder and Organizer at the closing ceremony of the first such event of it's kind in Central Florida. Indeed, an estimated 1,500 parents, teachers, students and volunteers came in force to enjoy a day of fun and excitement designed to foster better health and fitness for elementary-age students through friendly competition.
Fast Start was created to promote and nurture a love of fitness and track and field events in elementary students living and attending public schools associated with the Winter Park Health Foundation's Consortium of Schools. The program's first competition took take place on Saturday January 28th, 2006 at the Winter Park High School Track. Nearly 500 students from Aloma, Audubon Park, Brookshire, Dommerich, Killarney, Lake Sybelia and Lakemont elementary schools participated in the inaugural event. "The events ran like a well oiled machine" said Millson, who is already working and planning on the 2007 Invitational, which promises to be even bigger. Parents, students, administrators, and PE teachers from all seven participating elementary schools were energized and motivated by this year's event and promised to return next year with an even BIGGER roster of friendly competitors! One parent commented, "What a wonderful experience for our children and their families. We not only enjoyed watching our son try a whole new experience, but were thrilled to see all the excited faces from around our community."
Events scheduled mirrored standard track and field events and included events from 100m dash up through 800m dash as well as other relay and field events. The highlight of the day was the 4x100 shuttle relay, which generated a wonderful sense of school pride and excitement amongst the athletes and their families. Local businesses and foundations provided in kind and financial support for this year's event and the Winter Park High School track and cross country teams lent their expertise and encouragement to the student athletes.
The 2006 Fast Start Invitational was the first of what we know will be many similar events in Greater Orlando, which will help in promoting the love of running and fitness in our young children.
Contact Information:
Scott Millson (skmillson@cfl.rr.com): 407 466 8036
Ron Ben-Zeev (Rbenzeev@cfl.rr.com): 407 221 7000
E-mail the editor at KidsRunning.Com with comments on this article. goodrow@infionline.net
