The 13th annual Tooth Fairy 200 meter foot race was held in conjunction with the Halloween carnival, and drug awareness and fire safety month at White Sulphur Springs Elementary school. One hundred and seventy-three runners in K-2nd grade 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 13 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 too as several kids learned to tie shoes during the week. That’s a lot less bending over for faculty and parents, less tripping too.”
The trail of runners have shown up to compete on the XC and Track teams at EGMS and GEHS over the years. Several runners have gone on to compete at the collegiate level as well. “Of course, this makes ole Coach pretty proud,” stated Asbury. “It’s also nice to see the students learn how to train and compete in sports and recreation too.”
This year’s titles were won by second graders Braxton Honaker, winning for the third time in three tries to take the Boys Grand Champion with a lap of 32.70 seconds. Second grade girl Athena Marshall recorded a lap of 35.14 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. 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-2nd grade 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.
WSSES would like to dedicate this year’s Tooth Fairy 200 contest to Ronald Edward Asbury, a wonderful father and youth sports coach that guided many youth down the right path of life, and instilling a passion for sports and personal discipline, coaching for 57 years, and parenting for 63 years!
Winners of the 2022 WSSES Tooth Fairy 200 are as follows:
Grand Champions:
Boy: Braxton Honaker, 32.70, 2nd grade
Girl: Athena Marshall, 35.14, 2nd grade
Kindergarten Champions:
Boy: A-Damion Thompson, 43.06
Girl: Paisley Masters, 43.60
First Grade Champions:
Boy: Ryker Hill, 36.16
Girl: Joella Craft, 38.02
Second Grade Champions:
Boy: Mason Flavin, 33.88
Girl: Kadence Sharp, 37.80
Mason Flavin (left), Braxton Honaker, Paisley Masters, A-Damion Thompson, Athena Marshall, Joella Craft, Ryker Hill (Absent: Kadence Sharp)
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