FORT RILEY, Kan. -- Legaicy Landers kept her eyes forward as she sprinted through the finish line of the 200-meter dash as the "Big Red One" Youth Track Meet and Peter Rabbit Fun Run June 10. Upon completing the race, she placed her hands on her knees, trying to catch her breath.
Landers is the daughter of Staff Sgt. Jad Landers, 1st Combined Arms Battalion, 63rd Armored Regiment, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, and was one of more than 40 children who participated in the event, which was hosted by staff of the Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation.
Her mom, Sherita, brought Legaicy and her sister, Cambrea, to the event.
"I usually participate in the runs (DFMWR) does," she said. "I've done a few color runs. I saw this one and I could bring them. I told them there was ice cream and they said they wanted to come too."
Sherita said her favorite part of this run was being able to see her children have a good time while also compete in the 100-meter dash, 200-meter dash and 400-meter dash. She was unsure if they would finish the 2-mile fun run, but much to her surprise, it was accomplished.
"It's fun competition for them," she said. "I think it went great. I was kind of nervous especially with (Cambrea). She's a sore loser and very competitive. Even though she didn't win, she still did great and I feel like the atmosphere was great."
Ashanti Ellis-Corbin, facility director of Robinson Fitness Center and event coordinator, said the event is part of the new monthly runs DFMWR is trying to plan. Despite the youth track meet being rained out in April as part of the Month of the Military Child celebrations, this month they re-angled the event to celebrate the 1st Infantry Division's 100th anniversary, which was celebrated June 8.
"We wanted to have something where the kids could do something different," she said.
"They may not always want to run 2 miles but they may want to sprint 100 meters or something else."
Staff Sgt. Zachary Rees, 299th Brigade Support Bn., 2nd ABCT, 1st Inf. Div., brought his son, Tristan, out to compete in the race. Tristan placed first in the 100-meter, 200-meter and 400-meter dashes.
"He's doing really good, way better than we thought was going to happen," Zachary said. "He likes to sit at home and play video games, and I would rather him be outside and getting interaction with other kids as well."
Sherita said the events staff of DFMWR hosts are all about families having fun.
"I think MWR always does good events," she said. "I've been stationed in Germany and then Fort Stewart, Georgia, and I didn't realize what the MWR did until I got here. They plan so many events and do so much stuff. Fort Riley's MWR is really what showed me what MWR is supposed to be like."
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