700+ P-H-M Students Complete Running Mile Race

More than 700 fourth and fifth graders from Penn-Harris-Madison's 11 elementary schools completed the Running is Elementary mile race Thursday at Penn High School's cross-country course behind Elm Road Elementary.

Students trained for six weeks with coaches at their schools before competing in the culminating race. Cindy Batalis, a physical education teacher at Mary Frank Elementary, created the event to encourage running among students. The P-H-M Education Foundation sponsors it.

Weather cooperated with sunshine and mild temperatures. Rain held off until all four races concluded.

In fifth grade girls competition, a Northpoint student won in 6:49.07. Horizon won the team title. A Northpoint student captured the fifth grade boys race in 6:14.75, with Northpoint also taking the team championship.

A Horizon student won the fourth grade girls race in 7:06.27, and Prairie Vista won the team title. In the fourth grade boys race, a Walt Disney student finished first in 6:34.34, four-tenths of a second ahead of a Moran runner. After the race, the two runners, who had never met, posed for a photo together. Northpoint won the team title.

Martin's, Culver's, Kona Ice and Tom's Coffee provided post-race support. Royal Excursion provided transportation, Benchmark Family Services helped offset costs, and attorney Katy Wrona sponsored the event.