However, recently, that select group of talented athletes, representing all six North Bergen grade schools as well as Guttenberg's Anna L. Klein School, was participating in the district's annual Elementary School Track Meet Championships.
The meet, which was coordinated by high school athletic trainer Steve Polute, was the culmination of a year-long effort in which the physical education teachers at the respective schools teach the students the proper way to run and compete in many events. Then, the top three from each grade are chosen to participate in the championships.
"This meet was held for many years in the 1970s, but then it somehow stopped along the way," Polute said. "Four years ago, I introduced the initiative to bring it back. The mayor, the Board of Commissioners and the Board of Education were all supportive of the idea. Before we reinstituted it, the kids had no idea what track and field was all about."
For years, since many of the youngsters who were interested in track and field entered high school with little or no formal training or experience, the results on the high school level suffered.
However, the results have been much improved in recent years, as evidenced by the NJSIAA Group IV state championship captured by North Bergen High School senior Javier Cuevas two weeks ago, and the sixth place finish in the Meet of Champions that teammate Kevin Thompson posted in the 200-meter dash.
In fact, Polute was quick to point out that Thompson competed in the elementary school track meet for two straight years, before exploding onto the high school scene this year as a freshman.
"Kevin Thompson came through the program and had a great season," Polute said. "It's good to see our kids succeed."
Stars of tomorrow
There were many stars of tomorrow competing in this year's meet, including two rising stars from Kennedy School, namely 14-year-old eighth grader Frank Almanzar and 14-year-old seventh grader Neruda Portes, who really stood out.
In the eighth grade competition, Almanzar, who is also a fine basketball and football player, won the gold medal in the 800-meter run in 2:22 and captured the long jump with a leap of 18 feet, eight inches, breaking the meet record formerly held by Thompson.
"He broke the record by four inches," Polute said. "Frank did very well."
Almanzar said that he got ready for the meet by practicing hard the week prior to the event.
"I was lifting weights and practicing at home, so that got me ready mentally," said Almanzar, whose participation in athletics will be highly anticipated when he arrives at North Bergen High School in the fall. "I felt I was going to do good, because I was prepared."
Without a track to train on near his home, Almanzar did the next best thing.
"When my mother needed something from the store, I ran to the store, then ran back," Almanzar said. "I kept the meet in my mind when I was running. Every little thing helped."
Portes was the top performer in the seventh grade class, winning the 200-meter dash, the long jump and the football throw. He was the lone performer to capture three championships.
"It was a little weird for me, because I never ran that much before," Portes said. "I just wanted to do good in the football throw, so I'm glad I was able to do well in everything. I was pretty excited about it."
"They both have unbelievable athletic ability," said Kennedy School coach Carl Quimby. "Frank really did well. He won his running event by about 12 seconds, ahead of the field by 30 or 40 yards. No one was even close."
Although Almanzar and Portes combined to collect 50 team points, it wasn't enough for Kennedy School to collect the overall team title. That honor went to Robert Fulton School, which had 216 team points. Horace Mann was second with 202, followed by Kennedy with 127.
Three Fulton School students did well. Cesar Salmeron won the seventh grade 800 and 1,600-meter championships. Among the girls, Sierra Eastmead won the eighth grade girls' 800 and 1,600 meters, while Angie Rodriguez won the seventh grade 100 and 200-meter dashes. The Fulton girls also captured gold in the 1,600-meter relay.
"I think it gives all the students a chance to look forward to track and field in high school," Quimby said. "It's a good introduction to the sport, but it is also good interaction between the kids of all the schools."
Polute was very proud with the way the event turned out.
"I think it's very highly successful," Polute said. "The students learn about competition while enjoying a day in the park. And they learn what a track meet is all about. It really is a great experience for the kids."
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