Deerwood Academy Welcomes Olympians & USA Track for Run, Jump, and Throw

The origins of a future track and field star might have been inspired by the Run, Jump, and Throw event hosted by USA Track and Field and the Hershey Company at Deerwood Academy.

Deerwood Academy students enjoyed a beautiful day outside for a special event that allowed them to stretch their legs and discover new talents and a new sport.

USA Track and Field and The Hershey Company hosted a Run, Jump, Throw event where the entire school got to participate in the fun. Students went from station-to-station racing against each other in friendly competitions while being introduced to different track and field events, like hurdles, javelin, and relay races.

“Our partners, USA Track and Field and The Hershey Company, have created an activity for our youth to learn the foundational skills of track and field, discover their talents, and have fun,” Deerwood Academy Principal Joy Antone said.

As the students played, they started to notice some special guests were among them. Olympians Kristi Castlin and Mel Pender came to support the students and encourage them to remain active and know that they can achieve great things as well.

“We had some legends out here, former Olympians, and we’re just excited about the opportunity,” Antone said. “It’s powerful. It gives our students aspirations to do bigger and better things in terms of physical activity and just learning the craft of track and field.”

Castlin, an Atlanta native, took the bronze medal in the 100m hurdles at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where the American women were the first to ever sweep the event and claim all three spots on the podium.

Pender, another Atlanta native, competed in the 100m dash and the 4x100m relay in the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, and the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, Mexico, where he won gold with the relay team.

Castlin interacted with students and allowed them to take turns wearing the bronze medal she won in Rio.

“I wish I had a mentor, someone to give me access and tell me what it would be like to feel a medal around my neck,” she said. “I wanted to give that experience to as many kids as possible to motivate them. It’s so great that kids get a break from all of the technology and really be able to just exercise their brains, really use themselves, have fun with their friends.”

At the end of the event, every student received a goodie bag and a certificate of achievement from USA Track and Field.

And, who knows?

 A future Atlanta Public Schools track star or Team USA track and field Olympic medalist could have started their success story at Deerwood Academy’s Run, Jump and Throw.