Winning the race

Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon officials present the “Fittest School Challenge” award to John Sevier Elementary School in Maryville on May 17. John Sevier Elementary School was one of three schools named a 2010 “Fittest School” after having one of the highest percentages of student participation in the 2010 Covenant Kids Run in March. The “Fittest Schools” each received a plaque and a $250 gift card sponsored by Volunteer State Health Plan to use toward the purchase of school athletic equipment.

Three East Tennessee elementary schools have earned recognition as “Fittest School,” officials of the Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon recently announced.

The Fittest School Challenge is held in conjunction with the Covenant Kids Run. It is a friendly competition between East Tennessee elementary schools to encourage participation in the marathon event and to promote healthy physical activities among area youth.

The Fittest School Challenge was expanded this year to include elementary schools in Loudon, Anderson, Sevier, Roane and Blount counties in addition to Knox County.

A record number of 930 children participated in the Covenant Kids Run on March 27.

Children age 12 and younger may participate in the Covenant Kids Run and the Fittest School Challenge. Schools register for the Fittest School Challenge competition and provide a total student body count. The top three schools with the highest percentage of student participation at the Covenant Kids Run win the title of “Fittest School.”

The 2010 “Fittest Schools” include East Knox County Elementary School, John Sevier Elementary in Blount County and Kingston Elementary in Roane County.

In addition to a plaque, each winning school received a $250 gift certificate to use toward the purchase of school athletic equipment. The prizes are sponsored by Volunteer State Health Plan.

For more information about the Covenant Kids Run and the Fittest School Challenge, visit www.knoxvillemarathon.com.