AJ West holds superhero-themed Fun Run

Over 150 participants in largest Fun Run to date

By Ryan Sparks • May 15, 2024 2:15 am
PHOTO BY RACHEL ROSE Members of the Aberdeen Bobcats track and field team run with a participant at the AJ West Fun Run on Friday in Aberdeen.
PHOTO BY RACHEL ROSE Members of the Aberdeen Bobcats track and field team run with a participant at the AJ West Fun Run on Friday in Aberdeen.

Over 150 runners took part in the annual AJ West Elementary School Fun Run on Friday in Aberdeen.

Thanks in part to a grant from the Washington Education Association’s Chinook regional office, the 2024 version of the approximate one-mile run consisted of 161 runners, members of the Aberdeen High School track and field team, Miss Grays Harbor and dozens of staff members and volunteers.

PHOTO BY RACHEL ROSE Miss Grays Harbor Joslyn Williams (left) encourages a young runner at the AJ West Fun Run on Friday in Aberdeen.

PHOTO BY RACHEL ROSE Miss Grays Harbor Joslyn Williams (left) encourages a young runner at the AJ West Fun Run on Friday in Aberdeen.

“WEA chinook gave us the grant to make it possible. This was the third year in a row and the event was the biggest one yet, even with the heat,” said Tiffany Montoure of the Aberdeen School District.

Runners dawned capes and masks in the superhero-themed event that consisted of three laps around the school.

PHOTO BY RACHEL ROSE AJ West Fun Run participants pose for a superhero-themed photo as part of the event festivities on Friday in Aberdeen.

PHOTO BY RACHEL ROSE AJ West Fun Run participants pose for a superhero-themed photo as part of the event festivities on Friday in Aberdeen.

Winning the race for the second year in a row was fifth-grader Jack Nelson, who completed the course with a time of 6:55.

Fellow fifth grader Brantley Goodwin placed second with a time of 8:20 and fourth-grader Aaron Garcia Oropeza placed third (8:22).

After the race, participants and families enjoyed a barbecue meal and the Parent-Teacher Organization held a “basket bingo” event to raise money for the school.

“A huge thank you to the staff of AJ West for making this possible for our students and the community,” Montoure said.

PHOTO BY RACHEL ROSE Two runners are all smiles as they participate in the AJ West Fun Run on Friday in Aberdeen.

PHOTO BY RACHEL ROSE Two runners are all smiles as they participate in the AJ West Fun Run on Friday in Aberdeen.

Results

1, Jack Nelson, 5th grade, 6:55. 2, Brantley Goodwin, 5th grade, 8:20. 3, Aaron Garcia Oropeza, 4th grade, 8:22. 4, Micah Tripp 5th grade, 8:30. 5, Ramona Jean Stanton, 5th grade, 8:53. 6, Josselyn Chavez Meraz, 3rd grade, 9:05. 7, Harlow Stensgard, 3rd grade, 9:08. 8, William Sanders, 4th grade, 9:12. 9, Kyle Demasters, 2nd grade, 9:22. 10, Emily Palacios-Venegas-Santillan, 5th grade, 9:23.

PHOTO BY RACHEL ROSE A competitor runs in the AJ West Fun Run on Friday in Aberdeen.

PHOTO BY RACHEL ROSE A competitor runs in the AJ West Fun Run on Friday in Aberdeen.

PHOTO BY RACHEL ROSE A.J. West alum and current Miss Grays Harbor Joslyn Williams and the school’s mascot AJ pose for a photo at the AJ West Fun Run on Friday in Aberdeen.

PHOTO BY RACHEL ROSE A.J. West alum and current Miss Grays Harbor Joslyn Williams and the school’s mascot AJ pose for a photo at the AJ West Fun Run on Friday in Aberdeen.