Uniontown makes changes for track & field day
Track & Field Day has been a staple at Uniontown Area High School for many years, which allowed the students in fifth grade to compete against individuals who would be their classmates, whether it was next year, two years or three years down the road depending on what elementary school the students attended.
The students at Ben Franklin and Lafayette Elementary/Junior High Schools would compete to see who has the best athletes in the city schools, while Franklin and Marclay Elementary would pit the school from the valley against one of the mountain schools. Menallen and Wharton followed a similar path.
The trend continued until this year, as the district decided to make a change and have the meet held on one day between all the elementary schools in the district.
The event was held on May 20 at Bill Power Stadium, as members of the varsity track & field team at UHS assisted in pulling off the large event, as students from Ben Franklin, Franklin, Lafayette, Menallen and Wharton came together to discover some future Red Raiders.
Uniontown athletic director and dean of students Harry Kaufman worked with Franklin and Menallen principal Joseph Galie to organize the event.
“Around the holidays, Dr. (Kelly) Swartz, our assistant superintendent, tasked Mr. Galie and myself to organize a one-day fifth grade track & field meet,” Kaufman said. “Along with Coach (Cedric) Lloyd (head varsity track & field coach), Danae Rugola-Uphold (elementary physical education teacher), Bill Dice (elementary physical education teacher) and all the fifth-grade teachers in the district, we were able to put together a fantastic event.
“I would like to thank the UASD school board, building administrations and all the parents and guardians who helped us out. Having all the fifth graders from the different schools, as well as members of our varsity track & field team, share Bill Power Stadium was awesome to see.”
Kaufman noted that Easton Hull and Ratu Uluilakeba set records in the boys high jump, and Bella Davis broke the record for standing broad jump.
The event is scheduled to continue and become a permanent fixture for the district.
“The event exemplified ‘Red Raider Pride,’ and we are already looking forward to next year,” Kaufman said.