Track and Field

This summer, Eddie and Ben participated in a track and field camp. To say it was awesome would be an understatement!

The kids learned skills such as running relays, discus and shot-put, javelin, long jump, high jump and they even had fun too. It was so cool to see how good some of these kids were and how much fun the volunteers made it. A local church ran the camp, so the children had small group time and there was a very supportive atmosphere.

The final night of the camp, there is a track meet. Each kid was able to pick two field events and three running events in which to compete. Friday morning on the last day of camp, the kids would try to qualify in the field events to see if they would compete in the evening's track meet. Otherwise, we would be there all night with shot putters and javelin throwers.

Ben tried to qualify in the hurdles, but as this photo shows, his foot got caught and he ended up taking a pretty bad fall. He got a banged up body and had to pull out of his long jump qualifier. Poor little guy.

At the track meet in the evening, Eddie started off by winning first place for 8 year old boys in the long jump and then he competed in the high jump. To say we were proud would be an understatement. He did a great job on his jump and won first place!

He was all smiles! Earlier in the week, he had declared the high jump his "favorite." So, I was happy that he competed so well in his favorite.

After dinner, Ben competed in the 100m and the 200m. Here he is in the 200m. He ended up crying at the finish line and walking across the line. His body was still banged up from the morning and I think he was sore. We are very proud of him for still competing in the track meet. He did a great job. 

 Eddie came in second place in the hurdles and then ran a 800m and a 400m. He is running the 800m here and finishing up the race beating all those teenage girls in the background. Go Eddie go! He came in first! He also came in first in the last event of the night, the 400m. He stayed in second place the whole time around the track and then decided to pounce on the straight away to take the lead. One of the boys in his group who was in the lead starting blocking Eddie from getting around him. Every time Eddie would try to pass, the boy would move and block him. Finally, the pastor said on the microphone "You can't do that son." and the boy had to let Eddie pass. Way to persevere Eddie! (and he did apologize to Eddie afterward...water under the bridge)

Thanks to my dad and Kathy for getting all these great pictures. Here are the proud parents of the evening. I could get used to being a track mom! And I think my dad could get used to being a track grandfather. Track and photography...he was in hog heaven!

And here are my boys with all their ribbons and their "God's champion" medals. Way to go boys! We are very proud of you and your efforts!