Lapping up the fun for funds

Marisa O’Neil

Nicholas Carey was ready to win.

His high energy matched that of the throbbing dance music blaring

in the background as he ran furiously in place, punching the air in

front of him. He punctuated the moment with a growl -- his battle

cry.

“I’m gonna win! I’m gonna beat you!” 5-year-old Nicholas said to

no one in particular, just loud enough for the other kindergarteners

to hear.

Nicholas was determined to run the most laps in Newport Heights

Elementary School’s annual Olympics PTA fundraiser and he was darned

well going to make his warmup count.

“They do this every year and the kindergarteners are always the

most excited,” Jacquie Vazquez said as she watched her 6-year-old

daughter, Stephanie, stretching with the rest of her class.

Funds are used for educational enrichment programs such as field

trips, red ribbon week and classroom supplies, PTA President Terry

Torres said. Last year, the event raised $16,000.

Group two, made up of students from Dawn Baird and Kari Holdner’s

classes, gathered around a circle painted on the field and got ready

for their race. Students had 20 minutes to complete as many laps as

possible around the 50-meter track. Each lap they completed meant

more money for their school -- plus bragging rights.

“They’ve been so excited about this,” Baird said. “They’ve been

getting ready for a while, running around trees and stretching.”

A voice over the loudspeaker called each group in turn. When it

announced Nicholas’ group, the response was loud and enthusiastic.

Little fists waved triumphantly in the air, ready for the run.

Then the race was on. The kindergarteners bolted off the start

like eager jackrabbits.

“This is insane!” one parent marveled as the children tore around

the track.

“They’ll slow down,” room mom Beth Zehnder assured.

Zehnder’s husband, Pete, stood outside the fray, squirting water

into the mouths of thirsty runners. Their 4-year-old son, Ben, joined

the run with sister Olivia even though he wasn’t old enough to be in

the class just yet.

At the five-minute mark, as predicted, the runners’ pace slowed as

“Unbelievable” by EMF played in the background. Some began to walk

and a couple of parents handed out cups of water to the weary.

“I’m tired,” 5-year-old Jose Chavez panted as he took a water

break, then tossed his cup to the ground and took off again.

Dylan Phillips, 5, seemed particularly parched. He stopped for

water on every other trip around the track.

At the halfway point, the children seemed to get their second wind

and picked up the pace.

But 5-year-old Jamaida Guttierriez decided to take a break. She

sat in a folding chair decorated with a yellow balloon, cheering on

her classmates.

With one minute left to go, Nicholas -- who was starting to show

signs of wear -- picked up his pace. As the announcer called the

finish, he broke into a last-minute sprint.

Afterward, the children gathered around the volunteer scorekeepers

to find out their final tally.

“I did the most laps!” Nicholas declared proudly. “I did 35!”