Washington Shines as SB Track Champs

Athletes from seven local elementary schools competed in track-and-field events May 14 at the Westmont 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 Westmont alumna and Adams Elementary School principal Amy (Bergenske) Alzina and Westmont head track-and-field coach Russell Smelley.

Washington edged out Adams 192 to 184 points. Franklin finished third with 108 points.

Westmont 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 Westmont Dining Commons. Alzina, who became the youngest principal in Santa Barbara School District history when she was 29, competed on the Westmont cross country and track-and-field teams before graduating in 1998.