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Photos: Finishing race no obstacle for Southold students

Southold Elementary School fifth graders Ronald Gonzalez and Danielle Henry make the obstacle course look easy. (Credit: Carrie Miller)
Southold Elementary School fifth graders Ronald Gonzalez and Danielle Henry make the obstacle course look easy. (Credit: Carrie Miller)

Southold Elementary School students celebrated as they made their way across the finish line of a more than quarter-mile long obstacle course Monday during the school’s pilot run of the Just Finish Kids program.

The program, developed to promote physical activity and nutrition, was funded through the school’s Arts in Education Enrichment Program, challenging their endurance, balance and coordination.

It was created by Nikita Dorcinvil, owner of a race timing and scoring company Just Finish.

“I noticed that while the bulk of the crowd sticks around to see the the winners of a race — the people that are finishing last in a race, those are the real heroes,” said Mr. Dorcinvil, adding that those coming in last have often conquered more than just a race.

“Many have just completed chemo or some other types of medical treatment,” he said. “Their goal was to just finish.”

Gym teacher Pete Salerno helped Mr. Dorcinvil with the educational aspects of the program, which has now been backed by Nassau Suffolk BOCES, he said.

See more photos below:

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