On May 23, excitement filled the air at Lincoln Elementary as the school community gathered for one of its most beloved traditions – the 43rd Annual Lincoln 500 Race. This much-anticipated event, organized once again by the dedicated Lincoln Dad’s Group under the leadership of Danny Brown, brought together students, families and staff for a day of high-energy fun and spirited competition.

The Lincoln 500 features six student teams with first through third graders racing on Big Wheel bikes while fourth through sixth graders serve as pit crew members and team cheerleaders. Each team is also supported by two Lincoln dads who help ensure smooth transitions and keep the race running safely and efficiently. 

In the weeks leading up to race day, members of the Dads Club worked tirelessly during lunch recesses, coaching and preparing the student racers for their big moment on the blacktop.

The race format is simple but thrilling: each rider completes two laps before tagging in the next team member with the first team to finish 12 laps taking home the win. The entire school – including teachers, classmates and proud parents – lined the blacktop to cheer on the racers, creating an electric atmosphere of school spirit and community pride.

This year, it was the Green Team that first zoomed across the finish line, earning a well-deserved victory!

Green Team members were:

Racers: Liam Meriwether, Ben Ward, Julian Jelinek, Cara Cuasay and Leo Takhmazyan

• Pit Crew: Gabriel Marroquin and Tessa Kjelstrom
• Coaches: Hayward Kjelstrom and Chris DeLorimier
  

  

As is tradition, officers from the Glendale Police Dept. made a special appearance at the end of the race to issue playful “speeding tickets” to the triumphant team, much to the delight of the cheering crowd.

Submitted by Nicolas JAMES