Story by Madelyn Luciano
Fifth Grader, Warwick Valley Middle School
Mileage Club is a Warwick Valley Middle School running club, and it is very fun! Fifth through eighth graders run and train on the track after school. You will also learn skills like stretches, setting goals, how to pace yourself and how to run in other exciting events.
Friday Night Lights Run
On Fri., Oct. 13, we came to the track during halftime of the varsity football game. We started out with warm ups and pictures. Then we got on the track. Suddenly, all we could hear was three whistles coming from the referee and before you knew it the fun run was about to begin. We all lined up on the starting line and got into position. Ready, steady, go! There and then the fun run started. Everyone was watching one another zoom by, switching lanes and racing ahead, but no matter what everyone was a winner! Two laps around the track and that was it! We were running a half a mile, which equals 800 meters. As we all crossed the finish line we lined up and got place cards. Finally we all earned Mileage Club medals to wear!
Winners: Sixth Grade
First place: Hank Wendell: 2:57.66, overall winner; Erin Kelly: 2:59.9, overall first female.
Second place: Jake Tannar: 3:07.94; Amiya Chatman: 3:00.59.
Third place: Dillon Asturby:m 3:21.94; Janiya Chatman: 3:00.98.
Fifth Grade
First place: Henry Wright: 3:02.66, first fifth grader; Kelsy Larney: 3:16.84.
Second place: Conor McVeigh: 3:17.84; Maddie Luciano: 3:17.34.
Third place: Jake Cosco: 3:19.66; Cate Paulson: 3:23.81.
What It Felt Like
Honestly, it felt amazing! With the breeze blowing against my face, and the sound of all those people cheering my name, running under the lights was a night to remember! When I was running past people and when I made it past the finish line, it was the best! It was definitely one of the best nights of my life and one of the most exciting ones too! I hope you join Mileage Club so you can be a part of the fun too!
End of Season Wrap Up
The season wrapped up in late November with the group all together completing 3,164 laps, which is a total of 791 miles. This is about the distance from Warwick to Savannah, Georgia to Chicago, Illinois! In addition, several runners competed in the fall and Thanksgiving Turkey Trots, finishing 5Ks. Special congratulations goes to the top finishers in each grade.
Most Number of Laps
Fifth Grade Female: Savannah Martino: 50 laps, 12.5 miles.
Fifth Grade Male: Henry Wright: 57 laps, 12.5 miles, top overall.
Sixth Grade Female: Amanda Sit: 38 laps, 5.5 miles.
Sixth Grade Male: Jake Tannar: 50 laps, 12.5 miles.
For more photos and information, visit www.wvmsmileageclub.weebly.com.
