PHOTOS: Young Runners Compete in Multi-Elementary School Meet

"Remember, this is for your health! Just do your best to finish," shouted Jayne Donohoe to a few dozen eager-looking fourth grade girls Tuesday afternoon.

The girls were about to launch on a mile-long run across Gunpowder Elementary's grounds. It was the first of four races during a cross country meet of five elementary schools in Perry Hall and Kingsville.

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Donohoe, a physical education teacher at Gunpowder, coordinated the meet "with a lot of help," she said.

Previous meets involving Gunpowder were joined with Towson area schools, but this was the first exclusive to Perry Hall and Kingsville. It brought together students from Gunpowder Elementary, , , and .

Miranda Dillon, who won the fourth-grade girls race, said her secret lies in performing Irish dance and playing with the Pumas Travel Soccer Club.

"It feels good to win," Dillon said.

Chris Potter, a fifth-grade student at St. Stephen, ran the meet's best time—6 minutes, 15 seconds.

Leeann Grutkowski, a parent who helped with the event, said the meet helped make exercise more fun for the kids.

"That's what Miss Donohoe always says, 'Do what's fun for you; pick something you love,'" Grutkowski said.

Upcoming multi-elementary school meets include:

• Oct 20, 4 p.m. at Stoneleigh Elementary
• Oct. 27, 4:15 p.m. at Kingsville Elementary
• Nov. 3, 4:15 p.m. at Perry Hall Elementary

Fourth grade winners (as shown in photo gallery):

• Girls from left, in order of placement: Miranda Dillon, Emma Ryan, Katie Hormes, Mackenzie Click, Rachel Thomas, Kendall Rittmeyer, Haley Burns, Nicole Mason, Mariah McQueen, Elizabeth Mende
• Boys from left, in order of placement: Eryk Saquisi, Michael Gettier, Adam Grutkowski, Andrew Fitch, Mason Paradise, Timmy Ramirez, Brandon Yackwlak, Michael Wozar, Nick Morris, Austin Marschall

Fifth grade winners (as shown in photo gallery):

• Girls from left, in order of placement: Janie Kressman and Phoebe Canoles (two-person tie), Kearson Williams, Kelly Smith, Marissa Lesko, Samantha Tornatore, Ashley Jensen, Jennifer Thomas, Gabby Spenard, Caitlyn Warfield, Miranda Burton and Zoe Hammel and Elizabeth Wagner (three-person tie)

• Boys from left, in order of placement: Chris Potter, Sam Deacon, Karl Taylor, Mitchel Shanklin, Connor Draper, Sam Vermette, Nick Bush, Nathan Gorman, Ryan Flury, Tim Walter