WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS (WVDN) – The 13th annual Tooth Fairy 200-meter foot race was held in conjunction with the Halloween carnival, drug awareness and Fire Safety Month at White Sulphur Springs Elementary school on Oct. 31.
One hundred and seventy-three runners in grades K-2 ran a 200-meter course around the playground, racing against the clock for sprinter’s glory.
Categories for racers were by grade level with the fastest boys and girls being crowned Tooth Fairy Grand Champions.
“This was an idea that was cooked up 13 years ago to get the younger students involved with fitness, hygiene and to tie their own shoes,” said physical education teacher Tracy Asbury.
It worked too, as several kids learned to tie shoes during the week.
“That’s a lot less bending over for faculty and parents; less tripping too”, Asbury.
A long trail of runners has shown up to compete on the cross country and track teams at Eastern Greenbrier Middle School and Greenbrier East High School over the years. Several runners have gone on to compete at the collegiate level as well.
“Of course, this makes ‘ole coach’ pretty proud” stated Asbury. “It’s also nice to see the students learn how to train and compete in sports and recreation too.”
This year’s titles were won by second graders Braxton Honaker, winning for the third time in three tries, to take the Boys Grand Champion with a lap of 32.70 seconds.
Second grade girl Athena Marshall recorded a lap of 35.14 seconds to win the Girl’s Grand Champion trophy.
Grand champions were awarded a special certificate and some gifts, while grade level champions received prizes and recognition at a school assembly.
“With good running times being turned in each year, either the course is shrinking, or my students are getting faster,” said Asbury. “There were no new records set this year, but there were probably more teeth missing than in years past.
“The thing about this race is that we will have new qualifiers all of the time”, he said. “The Tooth Fairy is the busiest dude I know of, even busier than Santa and the Easter Bunny. There isn’t a recession with the Tooth Fairy.”
Winning the race has become quite the prestigious award for k-2 students, adding to the saying, “The will to win must be accompanied by the will to prepare”.
“All of the excitement and anticipation for the race encourages the younger students to work harder in P.E. class,” said Asbury.
White Sulphur Springs Elementary would like to dedicate this year’s Tooth Fairy 200 contest to Ronald Edward Asbury, a wonderful father and youth sports coach that guided many youths down the right path of life, instilling a passion for sports and personal discipline, coaching for 57 years and parenting for 63 years.
Winners of the 2022 WSSES Tooth Fairy 200
“Missing teeth and tying shoes”
Grand champions:
Boy: Braxton Honaker, second grade, 32.70 seconds.
Girl: Athena Marshall, second grade, 35.14 seconds.
Kindergarten champions:
Boy: A-Damion Thompson, 43.06 seconds.
Girl: Paisley Masters, 43.60 seconds.
First grade champions:
Boy: Ryker Hill, 36.16 seconds.
Girl: Joella Craft, 38.02 seconds.
Second grade champions:
Boy: Mason Flavin, 33.88 seconds.
Girl: Kadence Sharp, 37.80 seconds.
A total of 173 students qualified and participated in the Tooth Fairy 200.
