On Monday, more than 400 student-athletes from Roosevelt, Montecito Union, Adams, Cleveland, Washington, Harding, Monroe, Franklin, McKinley, and Cold Spring School gathered at Westmont College for the 13th Annual All Santa Barbara and Montecito Schools Track and Field Meet.
Students in grades four through six competed in 11 events, from the high jump to the 800-meter run. Medals were awarded to the top three finishers in each event. Peabody Charter School earned the title of overall meet champion, followed by Washington School and Monroe School.
Full Team Scores
- Peabody — 162 points
- Washington — 76 points
- Monroe — 66 points
- Roosevelt — 65 points
- Montecito Union — 64 points
- Cold Spring — 60 points
- Harding — 28 points
- McKinley — 23 points
- Cleveland — 8 points
- Franklin — 8 points
This annual tradition is coordinated by Dr. Amy Alzina, superintendent of Cold Spring School District, in partnership with Russell Smelley, Westmont College head track and field and cross country coach, along with Westmont assistant coaches Lindsey Connolly and Derek Masterson. Together, Alzina and Smelley have helped bring this event to life for the past 13 years, creating a meaningful opportunity for elementary students across Santa Barbara and Montecito to experience the joy of track and field on a college campus.
The School Spirit Award was presented to Blake Gernand, PE teacher at Harding Elementary School, in recognition of his outstanding leadership, servant heart, and lasting impact on students. Gernand, who is retiring this year, has been a respected educator in Santa Barbara for decades. Alzina first worked with him nearly 20 years ago when she was principal at Adams Elementary School and Gernand was a fifth-grade teacher. He later transitioned to Harding Elementary as a PE teacher, where his students have continued to grow, improve and thrive under his leadership.
“It was such a joy and honor to recognize Blake Gernand and the Harding Elementary School students with this year’s School Spirit Award,” Alzina said. “Blake has one of the biggest servant hearts of any educator I know. His students continue to rise under his leadership, and recognizing him as he prepares for retirement was incredibly special.”
Alzina sees the event as a powerful way to introduce young students to what college can look and feel like.
“One of the most meaningful parts of this event is watching students from every demographic and every socioeconomic background come together under what Coach Smelley and I believe is the world’s greatest sport, track and field,” said Alzina. “Students are giving their best effort, cheering each other on, encouraging one another, and experiencing the joy of being part of something bigger than themselves. For many of our students, this may be one of their first experiences on a college campus, and that matters.”
Alzina shared that one parent stopped her during the meet to ask where the Westmont College bookstore was located so she could buy her son a Westmont shirt.
“That moment made my heart so happy,” Alzina said. “That is exactly why this event matters. It gives students and families a glimpse of college life and helps them see themselves in that environment.”
Following the meet, students were invited to enjoy lunch in the Westmont College Dining Commons, affectionately known by Westmont students and alumni as the “DC.” The opportunity to eat on campus and experience a piece of college life has become one of the highlights of the day for students.
The event would not have been possible without the tremendous support of the Cold Spring School community. Cold Spring parent volunteers helped ensure the meet ran smoothly for all participating schools, supporting not only Cold Spring students but hundreds of children from across Santa Barbara and Montecito.
Alzina also extended a special thank you to Cold Spring Chief Business Officer Maureen Fitzgerald, who worked quickly behind the scenes to tally results throughout the day. Her efforts helped ensure students could receive medals for first, second and third place immediately following their events and allowed the final team scores to be calculated efficiently.
“This meet is truly a community effort,” said Alzina. “I am deeply grateful to Coach Russell Smelley, Lindsey Connolly, Derek Masterson, Westmont College, the Westmont Dining Commons, our incredible Cold Spring parent volunteers, Maureen Fitzgerald, and every PE teacher and school that helped make this day possible. The smiles, the medals, the teamwork, and the college-campus experience made it another unforgettable year.”