Swimmers Strut in Symonds School Turkey Trot

From Stuart Kaufman, Sports Information:

All-New England and All-Little East athletes in the pool, Keene State swimmers showed they can also strut pretty well on land when they participated in the Symonds School 14th Annual Turkey Trot on Tuesday afternoon.

For the past six weeks, Owl swimmers have been getting Symonds School third-through-fifth graders ready for the event as part of the school’s Healthy Bodies, Healthy Hearts program, which includes a variety of physical activities and games. The Turkey Trot has evolved over the years. Initially an exercise that encouraged students to be healthy and active, it has grown into a community event that includes donations for the Community Kitchen and raffle prizes for the participants. More than 500 people, including students, teachers, staff, family, and friends ran, jogged, and walked around the Symonds School path on Tuesday.

Pam Lawton, a physical education teacher at the school and a recent KSC grad says the connection between the Owl swimmers and the young students is one of the key elements of the program. “The students form a special bond with the Keene State athletes,” said Lawton. “They look forward to them coming every day and really make a strong connection.”