Xavier University Athletics
Track Athletes Train Local Elementary Students for Flying Pig Marathon
04.29.16 | Track and Field
Kilgour Elementary students slated to run in the Flying Pig Kids’ Marathon 26th Mile
CINCINNATI – When head track and field coach Ryan Orner called junior Aaron Peterson with a volunteer opportunity in January, he couldn't pass it up.
"I always thought that if I was in elementary school again that it would be the coolest thing ever if college athletes came and participated with us everyday," said Peterson. "So a couple of us decided that we need to give back to the community around Xavier."
Peterson, along with teammates William Becker, Grayson Jenkins, Matt Mekaelian and Sean McKinney decided to help K-4th grade students at local Kilgour Elementary School train for the local Flying Pig Marathon. The Xavier athletes have also been joined by Bearcat runner Nick Grimmer.
The K-4th grade students are racing in the Kids' Marathon 26th Mile on Saturday, April 30 and have been training on Tuesdays after school for the last four months with the group.
"My favorite part about going to Kilgour Elementary school is seeing the progression each and every kid makes from week to week," said Peterson. "It is crazy to us how much they have improved from the first day."
The group of 15-20 kids meets with the student-athletes after school before running a mile around the local Hyde Park school. The experience has been beneficial for both the kids and the volunteer runners.
"The best part of the group is seeing both their progress in fitness and the relationships we make with the boys," said freshman Matthew Mekaelian. "This is a group that I will never forget. Being able to see their faces at the end when they realized how much they have accomplished is incredible to see."
At the end of the training sessions, there is a guest speaker who talks about fitness and running. The guest speakers have even included a Boston Marathon participant in local runner Elizabeth Schlaudecker.
The opportunity to run at an early age allows the kids to experience running as a team sport, just as they would see soccer, baseball and football. The afterschool program also allows the Xavier runners to share their background in the sport.
"I never got into running until my sophomore year of high school, so seeing these guys run miles in elementary school is amazing," said Mekaelian. "The boys love to hear that the sport they are doing is a collegiate, professional and Olympic sport. It gives them the motivation to push through their training."
Although this week was the last training session at Kilgour Elementary, the Xavier students expect to continue volunteering at the school – and raise the number of participants in the afterschool program.
"As a group we are hoping to come back next year and work with the group again," said Peterson. "We hope to see even more kids in the club and hopefully make an even bigger impact on the community."
"I always thought that if I was in elementary school again that it would be the coolest thing ever if college athletes came and participated with us everyday," said Peterson. "So a couple of us decided that we need to give back to the community around Xavier."
Peterson, along with teammates William Becker, Grayson Jenkins, Matt Mekaelian and Sean McKinney decided to help K-4th grade students at local Kilgour Elementary School train for the local Flying Pig Marathon. The Xavier athletes have also been joined by Bearcat runner Nick Grimmer.
The K-4th grade students are racing in the Kids' Marathon 26th Mile on Saturday, April 30 and have been training on Tuesdays after school for the last four months with the group.
"My favorite part about going to Kilgour Elementary school is seeing the progression each and every kid makes from week to week," said Peterson. "It is crazy to us how much they have improved from the first day."
The group of 15-20 kids meets with the student-athletes after school before running a mile around the local Hyde Park school. The experience has been beneficial for both the kids and the volunteer runners.
"The best part of the group is seeing both their progress in fitness and the relationships we make with the boys," said freshman Matthew Mekaelian. "This is a group that I will never forget. Being able to see their faces at the end when they realized how much they have accomplished is incredible to see."
At the end of the training sessions, there is a guest speaker who talks about fitness and running. The guest speakers have even included a Boston Marathon participant in local runner Elizabeth Schlaudecker.
The opportunity to run at an early age allows the kids to experience running as a team sport, just as they would see soccer, baseball and football. The afterschool program also allows the Xavier runners to share their background in the sport.
"I never got into running until my sophomore year of high school, so seeing these guys run miles in elementary school is amazing," said Mekaelian. "The boys love to hear that the sport they are doing is a collegiate, professional and Olympic sport. It gives them the motivation to push through their training."
Although this week was the last training session at Kilgour Elementary, the Xavier students expect to continue volunteering at the school – and raise the number of participants in the afterschool program.
"As a group we are hoping to come back next year and work with the group again," said Peterson. "We hope to see even more kids in the club and hopefully make an even bigger impact on the community."
Players Mentioned
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