SCHOOLS

East Meadow, Salisbury run with the Rams

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Hundreds of sneaker-wearing community members gathered at W.T. Clarke High School in Salisbury on Saturday, ready to run with East Meadow School District students and their neighbors for a cause.

Run with the Rams, an event that celebrates fitness and camaraderie, was held for the eighth time this weekend. Once again, scores of local students, teachers, parents and more participated in both a 5K and a 1-mile fun run geared towards children.

Clarke High School Athletic Director Josh Friedman and the middle school’s athletic director, Janine Heilbronn, co-founded Run with the Rams. Friedman said they wanted to bring an event to the community several years ago that would promote physical wellness. Run with the Rams was designed to do just that, in addition to serving as a fundraiser for Clarke’s athletics program and a local family that has fallen upon difficult times, according to Friedman.

“We felt the run encapsulated everything we wanted to get across,” he previously told the Herald. “We can raise money … and bring health and fitness to the community.”

About 500 runners and walkers took part the first year, Friedman noted — and the field has remained about that size ever since. The courses for both races were routed through streets like Stewart Avenue and Old Country Road before terminating at Clarke so participants could take in the beauty of their own neighborhood, he added.

A collective community spirit was in full force, as residents of all ages donned Clarke school colors on race day. Many Clarke student groups participated in both races, and youngsters from East Meadow’s five elementary schools also joined in the festivities.

After the run, awards were given to the top student and faculty finishers in the races. A 16-year-old Clarke student, Sam Mosavanpour, won the 5K. For the second consecutive year, Kate Su was the first female to finish the race.