The Tenth Annual Tooth Fairy 200 meter foot race was held in conjunction with the Halloween carnival, drug awareness and fire safety month at White Sulphur Springs Elementary school.

One hundred and seventy-three runners in grade K-2nd ran a 200m course around the playground, racing against the clock for sprinters glory. Categories for racers were by grade level with the fastest times for boys and girls being crowned Tooth Fairy Grand Champions.

“This was an idea that was cooked up ten years ago to get the younger students involved with fitness, hygiene and to tie their own shoes,” said physical education teacher Tracy Asbury. It worked as several kids learned to tie shoes during the week. “That’s a lot less bending over for faculty and parents, less tripping too,” Asbury added, laughing.

This year’s titles were won by second graders Collin Friend winning for the third time in three tries to take the Boys Grand Champion with a lap of 33.11 seconds. Second grader Jala Ramey recorded a lap of 38.43 seconds to win the Girl’s Grand Champion trophy. Grand Champions were awarded a special certificate and some gifts while grade level champions received recognition at a school assembly and prizes.

“With good running times being turned in each year, either the course is shrinking or my students are getting faster,” said Asbury. “There were no new records set this year, but there were probably more teeth missing than in years past. The thing about this race is that we will have new qualifiers all of the time,” he said. “The Tooth Fairy is the busiest dude I know of, even busier than Santa and Easter Bunny. There isn’t a recession with the Tooth Fairy.”

This has become quite the prestigious award for K-2 students, adding to the saying, “The will to win must be accompanied by the will to prepare.”

“All of the excitement and anticipation for the race encourages the younger students to work harder in PE class,” said Asbury.

In closing, Asbury and the students would like to dedicate this year’s race to Coach Robert Zopp whose tireless work with youth in Greenbrier County and his mentorship with other coaches and teachers will endure long past his life. In his living memory, we dedicate the 2017 WSSES Tooth Fairy 200. The list of winners is as follows:

WINNERS OF THE 2017

WSSES TOOTH FAIRY 200

“Missing teeth and tying shoes”

Grand Champions:

Boy: Collin Friend 33.11, 2nd, Mrs. Londeree

Girl: Jayla Ramey 38.43, 2nd, Mrs. Miller

Kindergarten Champions:

Boy: Colton Anderson 43.06 Mrs. Stacy

Girl: Nevaeh Coleman 43.22 Mrs. Stacy

First Grade Champions:

Boy: Chris Thompson 36.46 Mrs. Weikle

Girl: Bella Douglas 38.82 Mrs. Weikle

Second Grade Champions:

Boy: Owyn O’Dell 35.17 Mrs. Miller

Girl: Rayne Miller 39.85 Mrs. Miller

A total of 173 students qualified and participated.