Approximately 200 Baldwin Park Unified School District students joined the Girls on the Run 5K at Whittier Narrows on Saturday, Dec. 14. Third through eighth grade students from BPUSD elementary and middle schools ran alongside their families, teachers, and administrators, and other students from local schools showcasing months of training, personal growth, and team bonding.
The event unfolded under great race conditions, with crisp, cool weather and a lively atmosphere of community support. Students arrived in high spirits, ready to put their training to the test in the culmination of their Girls on the Run program. BPUSD represented half of the event’s participants with 12 schools of 24.
Highlights from the day included the Alcaraz family, who ran and finished the race together for a unique family experience. Nicole and Salvador Alcaraz joined their daughters, Arielle from Geddes Elementary and Arianna from Sierra Vista Middle School, as they crossed the finish line together.
Students from Tracy Elementary brought extra cheer to the course, sporting colorful tutus to match the festive mood, while BP STEM Academy Principal Stephen Compton joined his students in the run, offering encouragement along the way.
Geddes Elementary Principal Wendy Enriquez also participated, running alongside her students and her daughter, who attends Olive Middle School. Teachers John Bustamante and Jenny Torres showed their support by attending the race and cheering on participants.
The Girls on the Run program is designed to empower young girls through fitness, personal development, and team building. For Baldwin Park Unified students, it was more than a race – it was a celebration of their growth and resilience.
Exciting developments are already in the works for the spring Girls on the Run program, which promises to bring even more students and families together for another memorable season. Girls on the Run is an afterschool program funded through BPUSD’s Expanded Learning Opportunities Program (ELO-P).
PHOTOS
2024 GOTR: Tracy Elementary students take a group picture at the Fall 2024 Girls on the Run 5k.
2024 GOTR 2: The Alcarez Family poses for a group after achieving the Fall 2024 Girls on the Run 5k.
2024 GOTR 3: Geddes Elementary School Principal Wendy Enriquez poses for a photo with students at the Fall 2024 Girls on the Run 5k.
2024 GOTR 4: Students and staff pose for a group picture at the Fall 2024 Girls on the Run 5k.