F.E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, Wyo. - Before a big race, one might find runners engaging in any of several pre-race activities. They might be stretching, meditating, warming up or doing something quirky and superstitious to increase their odds of winning.
Children and teens raced around the track for the America’s Kids Run race, and shortly after, competed in track and field events.
According to www.americaskidsrun.org, America’s Kids Run has its roots in the Bloomsday Race in Washington State. The 7.46-mile course proved too difficult for children, so coordinators created Junior Bloomsday for them. After a great deal of military support, Junior Bloomsday became America’s Kids Run, and military children run it all over the world.
Chuck Finney, 90th Force Support Squadron youth sports director, headed the coordination of the event.
“It’s just so we have a day to have some fun events for the kids,” he said.
Finney said he has hosted the kids run for 12 years and the track meet 20 years.
A local Boy Scout troop visited the base for the race. One of the troop’s members, Brock Thompson, 15, finished first in the kids run.
Thompson said he is an avid runner, but he mostly runs non-competitively.
“Part of the scout oath is keeping physically strong, and we’re here to do that,” he said.
Tech. Sgt. Dan Johnson, 153rd Command and Control Squadron client systems, brought his child to compete in the race and said he encourages parents to take advantage of the services offered by Finney and the Youth Center.
“If people do have kids, they should check out the Youth Center,” he said. “They have activities for kids of all ages to keep them active.”
The following competitors won in their respective events and age group:
America’s Kids Run
Age Group Winner
5 to 6 Joy Brisby
7 to 9 Zachary Taylor
10 to 11 Abigail Taylor
12 and older Brock Thompson
Long Jump
Age Group Winner
5 to 7 Sarah Drost
8 to 9 Imogen Bolden
10 to 11 Victoria Balser
12 and older Alex Pachniak
500-meter run
Age Group Winner
5 to 7 Sarah Drost
8 to 10 Nevaeh Green
11 and older Michael Shang
Sack Race
Age Group Winner
4 to 6 Reagan Drost
7 to 9 Sarah Drost
10 to 11 Victoria Balser
12 and older Brock Thompson
70-meter run
Age Group Winner
4 to 6 Reagan Drost
7 to 9 Ian Bazinet
10 to 11 Everett Taylor
12 and older Michael Shang