Washington Shines as SB Track Champs
Athletes from seven local elementary schools competed in track-and-field events May 14 at the ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ track. More than 250 students from Roosevelt, McKinley, Adams, Cleveland, Franklin, Monroe and Washington Elementary schools battled for local bragging rights, competing in about a dozen events. The annual Track and Field City Championships began two years ago under the leadership of ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ alumna and Adams Elementary School principal Amy (Bergenske) Alzina and ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ head track-and-field coach Russell Smelley.
Washington edged out Adams 192 to 184 points. Franklin finished third with 108 points.
ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ track-and-field athletes, who are competing at the national championships May 21-23 in Gulf Shores, Alabama, served as volunteers, timing and measuring the events.
Following the meet, the athletes toured the campus before eating lunch in the ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ Dining Commons. Alzina, who became the youngest principal in Santa Barbara School District history when she was 29, competed on the ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ cross country and track-and-field teams before graduating in 1998.