The big race drew 19 runners who raced around the track as the crowd cheered them on.
On Saturday, a few hours before the Kentucky Derby, 19 third-graders lined up for a 1-mile event during Chukker Creek Elementary School's annual track meet at South Aiken High School.
Eighteen boys participated in the 1-mile race, joined by Emmalee Sturgell, 5.
They all finished the race, including Emmalee, who attended the meet to watch her older siblings. She just likes to run.
"She did a whole mile," said her mother, Jennifer. "She just pushed through it. ... On her bicycle, she has done several miles."
For the third straight year, physical education teacher Christie Weimer coordinated the meet with her teacher friend, Alecia Kinard.
Nearly 100 kids in second through fifth grades took part by grade level in a wide range of events, including a softball throw.
The event complemented the school's new running club, which Weimer initiated earlier this year.
Each Monday and Wednesday, nearly 200 kids stay after school to run ... and run some more.
On Saturday, Carson Browder was breathing heavily after winning a 400-meter race. He, too, relishes opportunities to run, enjoying the after-school practices, as well.
"I just like to stay fit to get ready for the races," he said.
Such activities are nothing new for Weimer.
In past years, she worked in the fitness industry and sports marketing before earning an elementary education degree. She is amazed how more and more Chukker Creek students want to get involved with the running club.
"There are so many kids who don't play team sports," Weimer said. "But they like something challenging, and this is another way to be with their friends."
About five laps on the school's track equates a mile. The physical education period lasts about 30 minutes, and many students will get a 3-mile run completed in that short time.
Saturday's event "gives them the experience of what a real track meet is like," Weimer said. "Alecia and I are extremely lucky to have so many parents at Chukker come out and help us. We couldn't have done this without the parent-volunteers."
Like most of the young athletes, Annie Hobson and Lindsey Greene brought a welcome approach to the meet.
"It doesn't matter who wins the competitions," Annie said. "We just want to have fun."
Senior writer Rob Novit is the Aiken Standard's education reporter and has been with the newspaper since September 2001.