Lutheran High School hosted the Elementary Track meet on May 14th. Students in grades 4 through 8 traveled from as far away as Wichita and Topeka, Kansas and Concordia and Alma, Missouri to compete in the event.
Athletes competed according to grade level and gender in both track and field events. Events include races from 100 m through 1600 m and 4 x 100m Relays. This year the 100m hurdles was added as an exhibition event. Athletes also competed in the field events of Shot Put, Discus, Turbo Javelin, Triple Jump, Running Long Jump, and High Jump. Younger athletes also participated in Standing Broad Jump and Softball Throw.
Scores are given to the top six finalist in each event and at the end of the event an overall winner is announced. This year, Bethany Lutheran (Overland Park, KS) won the girls’ division, but Calvary Lutheran (Kansas City, MO) was the Meet Champion. Calvary had not won the top spot since 1985 and beat out reigning Champion Hope Lutheran (Shawnee, KS) who had held the position for the past 9 consecutive years.
The eighteen school competing in the meet included Bethany, Calvary, Christ Lutheran (Overland Park, KS), Clinton Christian (Clinton, MO), Heritage Christian (Overland Park), Holy Cross Lutheran (Wichita, KS), Hope, Martin Luther Academy (KCMO), Messiah Lutheran (Independence, MO), Mount Olive (Overland Park), Our Savior Christian Academy (Platte City, MO), Santa Fe Elementary (Alma, MO), St. Paul Lutheran (Concordia, MO), St. Paul Lutheran (St. Joseph, MO), Timothy Lutheran (Blue Springs, MO), Topeka Lutheran (Topeka, KS), Trinity Lutheran (Alma), and Trinity Lutheran (Atchison, KS).
The Elementary Track meet was first held in 1975 and has been held every year since with the exception of one meet. In 2005, the meet was cancelled because of rain for the first and only time in its 41-year history. It was originally sponsored by Immanuel Lutheran School, but the Lutheran High School of Kansas City began hosting it when Immanuel closed.