Brush Creek fifth-graders off to the races

Forty-two fifth-graders from Brush Creek Elementary School ran in the third annual Brush Creek Biathlon last week. The race, which was the brain child of physical education teacher Shelli Fullhart, is designed to get students out to push themselves to do something that they never thought they could, she said. Competitors ran half-a-mile, then biked three and completed the race with another half-mile run. At the finish, they were greeted by hundreds of parents, classmates and teachers, who had gathered on the outside lawn to encourage the biathletes.The race came down to a photo finish with the top male competitor, Casey Kerrigan, finishing just ahead of the top female, Kaitlin Samuelson, for first and second overall.”I’m so tired I just want to go sit on my couch,” said Kerrigan, 11. “I knew Kaitlin was going to push me. For a while I thought she was going to win.” Fullhart said the race had no losers and that finishing made everyone winners.”I’m really proud of everyone today, that was a hard course” Fullhart said. “The final two racers weren’t going to make it, and all the kids and parents went out and cheered them on to the finish and they made it. That’s what this race is all about.”The biathlon has been in existence since the school opened three years ago. Fullhart hopes it’s a tradition that will continue for a long time.