Sportsmanship and community spirit were as dominant as the performances at the Oak Harbor Summer Games Friday, Aug. 31, at North Whidbey Middle School.
The Games, sponsored by the North Whidbey Running Club of the North Whidbey Park and Recreation District, attracted 31 participants ages 3 to 12.
In addition to seven track events, the Games included a water balloon toss, gunny sack race and dodgeball contest.
NWRC coach Curt Vieke said, “It truly showcased what I believe in the most: bringing community, family and fitness together.”
He added, “Nothing beats seeing the ‘turbo’ boosts of 3-year-old Roland Garrett as he runs the 100 meter dash, Ava Keener taking a lead in the 100 meter then stopping so her best friend Jamie Gibson can catch up and run with her or the siblings of the Albus, Coonan, Jay, Mathis, and Turner families competing together.”
Another act of sportsmanship, Vieke said, happened when Haven Brown said the judges made a mistake and another runner, Gabe Harpe, finished just ahead of him in the mile.
Vieke said, “Just another reminder of what great kids we have here on the Island.”
Community members from the Albus, Coonan, Gibson, Keever and Garrett families helped coordinate the event and Charlynn Raimundi donated ribbons to go with the medals for awards, according to Vieke.
Results (Some events had two heats and two people for each place.):
Ages 4 and 5:
100 meters: 1, Ben Albus, Roland Garrett; 2, Ava Keener; 3, Jamie Gibson.
Javelin toss: 1, Albus; 2, Gibson; 3, Keever.
Long jump: 1, Albus; 2, Garrett; 3, Gibson.
Ages 6 to 8:
100: 1, Noah Turner, Hayden Jay; 2, Jackson Wesley, Katie Blaine; 3, Lydia Harpe, Isabel Carr.
400: 1, Harpe, Josh Albus; 2, Jay, Madelyn Coonan; 3, Wesley, Carr.
800: 1, Jay; 2, Coonan; 3, Genesis Mathis.
Long jump: 1, Josh Albus; 2, Harpe; 3, Turner.
Javelin toss: 1, Turner; 2, Scooter Fagan; 3, Wesley.
Ages 9 to 12 old:
100: 1, Haven Brown; 2, Evan Smith; 3, Dylan Rydell.
400: 1, Sam Martin, Kyle Coonan; 2, Gabe Harpe, Luke Turner; 3, Rydell, Joanna Blaine.
800: 1, Rydell; 2, Gabe Harpe; 3, Smith.
Mile: 1, Rydell; 2, Kyle Coonan; 3, Gabe Harpe.
Long jump: 1, Brown; 2, Andre Albus; 3, Rydell.
Javelin toss: 1, Smith; 2, Rydell; 3, Gabe Harpe.
(Below: Ben Albus shows off his ribbons and awards.)
