YMCA/Optimist Track Meet Held

By SUE PASCOE

Editor
The 44th annual YMCA-Optimist Track Meet was held at the Palisades High School Stadium By The Sea on April 23.

More than 150 kids, ages three to 15 years old, competed in running and field events. Optimist Club members, organized by Rick Deweese, served as timers and starters and ran the field events.

Incredibly determined, the meet allows some of the smallest kids their first taste at organized competition.

More than that, it also emphasizes the importance of exercise and outdoor fun in an age when more kids spend time in front of iPad, computer and television screens.

The following is a list of those placing first in each category:
LONG JUMP

Girls:

5-to-6-year-olds: Mae Durkin 6’11”

7-to-8-year-olds: Sammie Skuro 8’6”

9-to-10-year-olds: Noelle Tobin 9’4”

11-to-12-year-olds: Violet Barron 11’2”

13-to-15-year-olds: Georgia Kelsey 13’

Boys:

7-to-8-year-olds: Sheamus Daniels 9’3”

9-to-10-year-olds: Noah Gebo 9’8”

11-to-12-year olds: Brady Hall 11’7”
SHOT PUT

Girls:

9-to-10-year-olds: Keili Klein 18’5 ½”  NEW RECORD (Old Record: Courtney O’Brien, 2007, 17’6”)

11-to-12-year-olds: Kerry Keefe 24’3”

Boys:

9-to-10-year-olds: Alex Factor 15’

11-to-12-year-olds: James Rockwell 27’2”
HIGH JUMP

Girls:

11-to-12-year-olds: Kerry Keefe

13-to-15-year-olds: Georgia Kelsey

Boys:

9-to-10-year-olds: Cameron Hall

11-to-12-year-olds: Levy Shaked
25 METER RUN

3-to-4-year old boys and girls: Edward Durkin 8.03

5-to-6-year-old girls: Karoline Schmitz 5.03

5-to-6-year-old boys: Colin Ridgley 4.90
50 METER RUN

Girls:

3-to-4-year-olds: Katie Dahlberg 11.59

5-to-6-year olds: Skyla Burmeister 8.75

7-to-8-year olds: Sammie Skuro 8.56

Boys:

3-to-4-year-olds: Felix Gibbons 10.96

5-to-6-year-olds: Dashiel Karish 9.28

7-to-8-year olds: Curran Pendergraft 8.26
100 METER RUN

Girls:

3-to-4-year-olds: Emily Kapur 29.13

5-to-6-year olds: Mae Durkin 18.09

7-to-8-year olds: Karys Campos 17.0

9-to-10-year-olds: Keili Klein 15.31

11-to-12-year-olds: Carys McKenzie 14.21

13-to-15-year-olds: Georgia Kelsey 14.44

Boys:

3-to-4-year-olds: Felix Gibbons 23.0

7-to-8-year olds: (tie) Nikolas Koudis and Curran Pendergraft 16.44

9-to-10-year-olds: Owen Huang 15.87

11-to-12-year-olds: Oliver Nelson 14.25
200 METER RUN

Girls:

5-to-6-year olds: Mae Durkin 37.8 NEW RECORD (Old Record: Min-Jee Gales, 2015, 39.4)

7-to-8-year olds: Kit MacLean 36.44

9-to-10-year-olds: Keili Klein 32.13

11-to-12-year-olds: Carys McKenzie 31.19

13-to-15-year-olds: Georgia Kelsey 32.81

Boys:

5-to-6-year olds: (tie) Matteo Koudis and Colin Ridgley 40.15

7-to-8-year olds: Blake Sigworth 30.06 NEW RECORD (Old Record: Finn Evans, 2015, 35.38)

9-to-10-year-olds: Owen Huang 32.97

11-to-12-year-olds: Olive Nelson 29.37 (tied record set by David Price in 2012)
400 METER RUN

Girls:

7-to-8-year olds: Kit MacLean 1:27.63 NEW RECORD (Old Record: Fayre McKenzie, 2015, 1:38)

Boys:

7-to-8-year olds: Blake Sigwarth 1:18.10 NEW RECORD (Old Record: Nikolas Koudis, 2015, 1:32)

9-to-10-year-old boys and girls: 1) Finn Evans 1:18.97

11-to-12-year-old girls: Carys McKenzie 1:10.44 NEW RECORD (Old Record: Elizabeth Rene, 2015, 1:11)

11-to-12-year-old boys: Oliver Nelson 1:13.91

13-to-15-year-old girls: Georgia Kelsey
At the 44th annual YMCA-Optimist track meet, four-year-old Benjamin Algra is surrounded by enthusiastic fans as he takes third in his division in the 50-meter run. Photo: Shelby Pascoe
Lee Barron, 7. Photo: Shelby Pascoe
Cara Huang, 8. Photo: Shelby Pascoe
Colin O’Donnell, 7. Photo: Shelby Pascoe
Sienna Nocas, 7. Photo: Shelby Pascoe
Alex Factor, 9, cleared the bar during the high jump competition.. Photo: Shelby Pascoe