Meet's goal is to keep kids on right track

By Catherine E. Toth
Advertiser Staff Writer

As their classmates cheer them on, above, runners pass the batons during the second leg of the 800-meter relay for fifth-graders. Photos by Bruce Asato • The Honolulu Advertiser

And that's exactly what meet organizers had hoped for.

"I really liked being a fan," said Emma, a sixth-grader at 'Aikahi Elementary School, whose team won the 800-meter relay. "I liked watching my friends go out and run. 'Cause when you're running, you can hear everybody cheering for you. The whole school comes, even those not competing. They just yell and scream."

Kaneohe Elementary played host to the non-competitive track meet, which drew more than 500 fifth- and sixth-grade competitors from 10 schools on O'ahu to the Castle High track.

The purpose has always been to get kids involved in sports, to teach them teamwork and sportsmanship, to generate school spirit and to promote running as a way to keep kids out of trouble, organizers say. No times are kept; no scores are recorded.

"One of the things we feel really good about for our kids in the meet is that it's not about who came in first or eighth," said Kaneohe Elementary principal Mitchell Otani, the meet's organizer. "It's about them trying hard and putting their best effort forward and not giving up. Those are the types of lessons you learn. Athletics is life on a small scale. They learn to persevere and work hard and give their best every time."

Everyone who participates receives a ribbon when they cross the finish line. The top three finishers in each event earn medals.

"As long as you try your best and finish, you come away with something," Otani said. "Working together and teamwork are important. Pass the baton, cheer on fellow teammates, learn to root for outstanding performances."

Cheering never ends

May 17 was a perfect day for a track meet. Slightly overcast, not too hot, and with a slight tradewind, more than a thousand kids convened at the Castle High track, dressed in matching T-shirts and uniforms in a spectrum of colors. Though only 62 students from each school could participate, the rest of the fifth- and sixth-grade classes were there, cheering on their classmates in a lesson of camaraderie and school pride.

Carli Gardner was one of them, sitting in the stands with her mom. The sixth-grader from Kaneohe Elementary had to pull out of her events two weeks before the meet when she broke a toe. It was Carli's last year to compete, and she couldn't hide her disappointment.

"But I went and cheered on the team anyway," she said afterward. "I hoped they would do good and that nobody would get hurt."

Only 11, Carli already knows the benefits of participating in sports, a lesson she learned from her many years of gymnastics competition.

"Try your hardest and just enjoy it," she said.

That's exactly what Pat Gardner hoped her daughter would learn.

"The most important thing is (sports) keeps them busy and occupied in healthy activities," said Gardner, a longtime gymnastics coach. "It helps keep them out of trouble, builds life skills, teaches them discipline and that hard work pays off. It definitely does in sports."

Most children at this age understand the concept of winning and losing, says Dr. Ronald Hino, a pediatrician at Straub Pali Momi. The important thing is how they deal with it.

"Besides teaching them about (the benefits of physical activity), sports is a way of teaching them how to interact and work with each other," Hino said. "Participation is more important (than winning)."

With obesity among children and adolescents on the rise nationally, many experts encourage parents to get their children involved in some kind of physical activity.

"They should help their children find a sport they like to do," Hino said. "Some kids like competition and being on a team. Others are perfectly happy riding a bike. It's just important they get involved in some physical activity ... and make it a habit."

They're off and running in the girls 400-meter relay for sixth-graders at the Kaneohe Elementary Invitational Track Meet.

Not everyone was able to compete in the track meet. Physical education teachers at the various schools selected their representatives. It wasn't always based on physical ability.

At 'Aikahi Elementary, selection was also based on attitude, said principal Roberta Tokumaru.

"They had to work for it," Tokumaru said. "And in order to participate the criteria was their (school) work had to be done. The kids know that."

Tokumaru believes in "multiple intelligences," a concept that emphasizes the fact that different children have different abilities. Physical fitness, she said, is a kind of intelligence. And encouraging students gifted in this area is important in stimulating enthusiasm for what they do best.

Briann Wong is one of the athletically gifted. A standout in soccer, the sixth-grader from Kaneohe Elementary easily won the 400-meter dash, with the runner-up finishing nearly 100 meters behind.

Always on winning teams, Briann learned a hard lesson this year. Her soccer team finished near the bottom in its division.

"But she went out there and always did her best," said Briann's mom, Pat Wong. "She was out there no matter what, trying to help the other kids learn different skills. She was always willing to help them, never talking down to them."

Briann doesn't like losing, but the 12-year-old understands that it's part of competition.

"It's kinda hard to lose," she admitted. "Mostly because sometimes our team just doesn't try and they give up ... But I got used to (losing) after. I just told myself, 'Next game.' "

Briann's twin brother, Cramer, also competed in the track meet. Besides soccer, both also play basketball.

Pat Wong encourages her children's participation, and sees the prospect of valuable lessons in sports.

"To be able to handle the losing part is important," she said. "To take it all in stride. It's a game. Have fun. Enjoy it."