Twenty-two Collinsville High School students completed the GO! St. Louis Half Marathon on Sunday, April 8, 2018.
The event was part of the 2018 GO! St. Louis Marathon and Family Fitness Weekend. The CHS students are part of Students on the GO! – a program created by GO! St. Louis that gives high school students the opportunity to train for and complete a half marathon.
Students on the GO! is “a team-based fitness program to engage high school students in the St. Louis bi-state region to lead an active and healthy lifestyle. The program provides students with an opportunity to focus on accomplishing challenging fitness goals, such as completing 5K, 10K, and half marathon events throughout the year. The program engages students to experience the benefits of goal setting, discipline, teamwork, improved health and a feeling of accomplishment in a positive environment.”
CHS is one of 15 area high schools who participate in the program.
Participants in Students on the GO! follow a 20-week incremental training program lead by volunteer faculty members. The GO! St. Louis staff, along with outside experts, support the team with motivation, nutrition tips and training tools to carry out the program. Students train a few days a week after school and then complete one weekly long run on Saturdays in Forest Park.
The Collinsville Kahoks were very well represented: Senior Benny Hernandez was 1st place among the students and 36th overall with a time of 1:24. Three more CHS boys placed in the top 10 students – Axel Muniz, Theo Paxton and Adrian Ochoa.
Many CHS students set personal records, running much faster than their previous half marathon. Others were running ran a half marathon for the first time.
CHS Teacher Emily Reed reported, “Our students trained through all sorts of challenging conditions this year, and were all ready for the big event on Sunday. The race started and finished at the Arch, crossing the Mississippi river using bridges. It gave the students a chance to experience St. Louis in a completely different way!”
“We’re all so proud of them! A number of students have been part of the district for many years. Some students mentioned that past teachers had e-mailed them and they really loved that!” said Reed.
2018 Collinsville High School Students on the GO! participants:
Blerta Beluli
Emily Falbe
Jessica Frisbee
Maggie Fitzgerald
Benito Hernandez
Makenzie Kell
McKenna Laing
Jessica Leavy
Nick Leek
Axel Muniz
Adrian Ochoa
Anna Ogan
Theo Paxton
Hannah Pettit
Ashley Sanchez
Esaul Sanchez
Grace Skipper
Nate Stehman
Kayla Tirey
Kevin Varela
Meleny Varela
Matt Wilde