Monessen School District ‘Kids of Steel’ take part in Pittsburgh marathon races

The students participated in the 5K Race and Kids Marathon.

By the MVI

The Monessen School District was well represented at Saturday’s Dick’s Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon.

Monessen Elementary Kids of Steel participants with their race medals. Submitted

Monessen School District students participated in the 5K race and the Kids Marathon as part of the annual Pittsburgh marathon.

Monessen Middle School teacher Stephanie Guglielmi started a Kids of Steel team in 2018 as a way to share her love for running with her students and the school community.

This year, her group of middle and high school students had 44 participants in the 5K event, comprised of 26 students, 11 parents, five teachers and two community members.

Monessen Elementary students took part in the Kids Marathon.

Monessen Elementary Center school counselor Ashley Mancini and gym teacher Andrew Lynd started the MEC Kids of Steel program for kids in third through fifth grade last year. They had 12 kids interested in the program.

This year it grew so much they had a waiting list (35 at practice, 10 on a waiting list). Their students learned how to train appropriately for the marathon as Lynd taught skills of dynamic and static stretching along with running fundamentals. Mancini’s focus was to incorporate strategies of mental health awareness, friendship and healthy coping skills associated with healthy living while working the program.

They took 29 students to the Kids Marathon.

Due to the success of the program, they applied for a grant and were awarded $500 from Kids of Steel for transportation. They were also awarded an additional $750 grant from Kids of Steel for a family engagement night.

They plan to host a Color Run for families on May 28 to promote healthy living and community for the school.