On Friday some 300 students in the sixth, seventh and eighth grades tested their skills at cross country, to the cheers of family and friends. The competition involved 17 schools from around the island.

This level of competition has no financial support from the Department of Education, but it does have the backing of dozens of schoolteachers and staff who volunteer to be officials at the sporting events. A grant and snack sales after school also help support the program, paying for coaches and supplies, said Fran Bellinger, sports director at King Intermediate and founder of the intramural competitions.

The games have touched the lives of thousands of students, some of who have gone on to distinguish themselves athletically, like Juliana Sanders, a Rainbow Wahine volleyball player, Bellinger said.

Sandra Huang, 13, left, gathers with her intramural cross-country teammates. Intramural sports are more about preparing students for life than making star athletes, said King Intermediate's sports director. Rebecca Breyer • The Honolulu Advertiser

"I just want to give these kids exposure so they can tap something they have inside," Bellinger said. "You have something inside that nobody knows is there until you put it to the test."

Fraser-Ann Fellezs, 12, has been testing herself in cross country since the beginning of the season and has found a sport that she likes. In a field of 100 girls, Fellezs has been finishing around 12th, an excellent first-year record, Bellinger said.

But Fellezs said she nearly quit after the first practice.

"I never tried it before and the first practice was really hard so I didn't want to (run) but I just stuck with it because I wanted to try something new," Fellezs said. The sense of accomplishment of just making it through each practice has made it worthwhile, she said.

Plus she said, "I like this better than any other sport that I did because it keeps me more in shape. It helps me on endurance."

Other runners said they participate for the fun of it and to meet new people. They just want to learn how to run fast and smart. But their coaches know the students are learning and changing, becoming more confident, and more able to focus and gaining skills to play sports at the high school level if they choose.

"This age you have to draw a fine line between pushing them and making it fun because at this age they're willing to learn but they're still young," said Jimmy Edwards, cross country coach. "I think what we're mainly focusing on at this level is getting them involved, introducing the sport, hopefully turning them on to it, teaching them basics and when they get to the next level they'll know what to expect."

Bellinger, a PE teacher, began the intramural competition with the support of the school principal. He offered two sports because there wasn't any school organized sports for intermediate students. She organizes the events and sells the snacks after school. Some 57 teachers were involved in the cross country meet, she said.

On Saturday and Oct. 30, and Nov. 6 and 13, students will compete in volleyball tournaments from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the school gym.

Not only do the students learn and compete in sports, they are also treated to activities such as a UH Wahine volleyball game or UH men's basketball game.

"The kids are really good, that's why we do it," Bellinger said.