Athletics meets community outreach in volunteer opportunity

By Rick Caragher, cross country coach

“Beep, beep, beep…” went the alarm clock.

The Poly student-athlete turned off the alarm, dragged herself from bed to get ready for school, and then suddenly realized, “It's Sunday ... there is no school today. Oh, I need to get to the Pasadena half-marathon!"

About 20 Poly cross country runners woke up very early last Sunday morning to volunteer to serve at aid stations for the Pasadena Half Marathon. The group, consisting of Upper Schoolers, met at 6:45 a.m. and headed up three refreshment aid stations in the JPL-Hahamonga-Devil’s Gate triangle until 11 a.m. 

Poly’s Community Outreach coordinator, Renée Larios, challenged the fall sports teams to find a way to participate in giving back by serving the community. The cross country team, after mulling over several great options, wanted to do something in our immediate area. The senior leaders, Shaya Naimi and Martha Gluck, researched this specific project, inspired the team to “pitch in,” created encouraging posters for the runners, and organized the members into an army of enthusiastic servers.

Based on the comments from the Poly student-athletes and the race directors, Sunday’s full morning of service may be the start of a new tradition.