Full to the brim with students, buses flooded the Brownwood area on Friday and Saturday, March 18th – 19th, for the annual Bluebonnet Relays. Students attending schools of all sizes met at Gordon Wood Stadium to compete in a variety of track and field events, including relays, discus throwing, shot put, jumps, and pole vaulting. The Bluebonnet Relays have been held annually in Brownwood for several years, but this year the addition of students from Brownwood Intermediate, East, Northwest, Coggin, and Woodland Heights Elementary Schools made the turnout exceptional.
“We had over 1,100 athletes from as far away as Lubbock come to compete,” said coordinator Don Hood, head track coach at Brownwood High School. “The Bluebonnet Relays are one of the biggest High School track meets in the state; 69 teams were represented in eight divisions.”
For the first time, the district expanded relay invitations to younger students. First through sixth graders hit the ground running, with several Brownwood students earning medals. Preparing for and participating in the relays provides a unique opportunity to expand upon the normal outdoor activities in which children this age usually participate. “Many of these kids play football, soccer, softball or baseball all year,” Hood said, “and they never have an opportunity to know how exciting and challenging track can be, or if they have a talent for it. Our hope was to create a spark or a dream of being able to do well at running.”
In addition to offering new experiences and learning opportunities, the students begin to understand and appreciate the importance of physical fitness. The results from this year’s relays will most likely influence next year’s turnout. “Hopefully, more schools will see the turnout and enthusiasm and will try to find ways to create opportunities for kids to learn to run, learn to live healthier lifestyles and learn to compete,” Hood said. Brownwood’s physical education instructors support the program and are preparing their students for 2012; this long-term fitness outlook is another objective of the department. The teachers want to encourage their students to begin and continue upon what Hood calls, “a path of fitness through running.”
Parents and coaches weren’t the only pleased participants in this new endeavor; the students themselves received due applause and self-respect for their achievements. Being new to track and field events, many students found the long-distance running a challenge, but a conquerable one at that. “Some were surprised at how hard it was to run that far,” Hood said. “Most were satisfied that they were simply able to run that far without stopping.”
Eleven Brownwood elementary students medaled in the relays this year. Principals, teachers, and coaches are already making plans for next year’s Relays, hoping to include more students and generate more overall interest. “The PE teachers [have been] very supportive and helpful in preparing the kids and getting them excited about the opportunity,” Hood said. “The response is very encouraging.”
Relay runners are pictured above. Below are participants from East and Woodland Heights Elementary Schools. Photos contributed by BISD.
East Elementary Relay participants
Woodland Heights Elementary Relay participants.
