This May, students at Shaler Area Elementary School participated in the 25th-annual Titan Decathlon Championship. The event was begun by Mr. Waronsky in 2000 to provide an opportunity for students to demonstrate their athletic skills.
At the beginning of the school year, all 4–6th grade students complete 5 running (mile, 800m, 100 yard dash, 50 yard dash, shuttle run); 3 throwing (softball throw, discus, shot put), and 2 jumping (standing broad jump, running long jump) events as part of their Physical Education classes. Students are scored based on times and distances and the top 10 boys and girls in each grade earns a chance to take part in the championship event.
This year, two fifth-grade boys made Titan history in this year’s competition. Brenden Liptak broke the mile record (5:54). JP Ryan broke the 800m record (2:43) and he tied for the standing broad jump record (7’3″). JP Ryan previously broke the 50-yard dash record earlier this year (6.41). The oldest record still standing is from 2003, from Jessica Peluso in the standing broad jump.
Stacy Adams, Physical Education Teacher, shares, “Student-athletes demonstrated impressive dedication across ten challenging events, pushing themselves to the limit and encouraging each other throughout the day. The school and community united to support their achievements and we’re so proud to be a part of celebrating what the students were able to accomplish.”
