Hundreds of students compete in Little Olympics

Gracie Bullock, 9, races in the relay event Saturday, May 7, 2016, during the Jefferson City Area YMCA's Little Olympics, held at Jefferson City High School. The event featured races such as the 40-yard dash, 60-yard dash, 240-yard shuttle, 300-yard shuttle, 440-yard run, ball throw and broad jump.
Gracie Bullock, 9, races in the relay event Saturday, May 7, 2016, during the Jefferson City Area YMCA's Little Olympics, held at Jefferson City High School. The event featured races such as the 40-yard dash, 60-yard dash, 240-yard shuttle, 300-yard shuttle, 440-yard run, ball throw and broad jump.

Fourth- and fifth-grade students from 16 Jefferson City public and parochial schools competed in track and field events Saturday at Adkins Stadium for the 67th Little Olympics.

For the past 17 years, the YMCA of Jefferson City has hosted the sporting event designed to bring together students in the community who don't normally interact with one another, said YMCA Sports Director Craig Hall. Prior to the YMCA, the VFW ran the event.

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Zared is a 10-month-old black-and-white cat with a pink nose.

"It's the one event where we are all coming together on the same day," he said.

Children - with up to eight per heat - competed in the 40-yard and 60-yard dashes. They also ran in the Tom Ward relay, in which four racers each run 60 yards. The Sone relay was similar but with each student running 75 yards. Field events included the broad jump and ball throw.

"It's about kids having fun - that's the main thing," Hall said.

Audrey Klinger, a fifth-grade student at Lawson Elementary, said she had fun representing her school for the second time at the Little Olympics. She placed second in the 60-yard dash and the Tom Ward relay, helping Lawson earn the first place overall title.

"You're getting to show your true talent," she said.

Jared Bisges, South Elementary physical education teacher, said Little Olympics is a "big deal across the city," and it's an opportunity for the students to show off to their friends.

"The event gives them a chance to get out and be competitive," Bisges said.

Little Olympics gives his students a "big boost" at the end of the year, he said, and many schools hold in-school and after-school practices.

Metals were given to students in first through eighth places.