Deer Meadow School (DMS) students took the afternoon off of classes on June 22 to participate in the school's fourth annual triathlon.
About 165 students took part in the school-wide event, which started with 10 laps at the pool, a five-kilometre (K) bike ride to the school, finishing with a two-K run.
Students can complete the full course in a team. But a few decided to do the whole thing individually.
Grade 5 students Kellie Oliver and Katie Martin were two of them, who said they wanted the challenge. Both said running was the hardest part of the race, already having swam and cycled.
While Oliver and Martin were participating in their first DMS triathlon, Grade 6 student Wyatt Fleming was doing his second. Halfway between the pool and school, the chain fell off the gears on his bike. But after some quick repairs, he finished. Fleming said the best part about the event was getting out of the classroom.
Olds RCMP and the town's peace officer also helped direct traffic as students crossed intersections.
Principal Carey Collin said Deer Meadow is an athletic school where students understand the importance of a healthy lifestyle, which explains why the event's been a hit over the years.
As usual, he also participated.
"I don't like getting beat by middle school kids," he said. "I'm going to have to look at getting a job at an elementary school."
"I don't like getting beat by middle school kids," he said. "I'm going to have to look at getting a job at an elementary school."CAREY COLLINPRINCIPAL DEER MEADOW SCHOOL JOKINGLY REFLECTING ON HIS PARTICIPATION
