We took four of our older kids – all college students! – down to San Diego for the “Tri-Palooza” Endurance Sports Awards on February 21, hosted by our old friend Bob Babbitt. Isi Ibarra, Miguel Ibarra, Jesus Soto and Josh Rodriguez-Irons got up close and personal with some of their sports heroes:

Isi with Olympic silver medalist and Boston & New York Marathon 
winner Meb Keflezighi

Miguel, Isi, Jesus and Josh with two-time 
Ironman World Champion Tim DeBoom

Miguel and Isi with 5K U.S. record-holder Molly Huddle

The gang with Rudy Garcia-Tolson and some of his CAF buddies

Academic Awards

- Tammy & Joseph Patterson both won academic awards from their school district.

- Glenn Bell won his local GATE (gifted student program) competition and is moving on to the State level.

- Ian English received this award (below) from the President’s Educational Award Program honoring Outstanding Academic Excellence, for his 3.87 GPA. It’s signed by President Obama:

Races

- Desert Triathlons: Two days of racing in La Quinta, California. Saturday’s Sprint and Duathlon were major tests for the kids, with fierce winds kicking up some serious sand storms. On Sunday temperatures plummeted and a whipping rain lashed at the International distance racers, including Josh and EE’s new board member, Elizabeth Cholawsky. Unfortunately, we don’t have pictures from Sunday: The conditions were as bad for photography as they were for racing. But Josh Rodriguez-Irons took these on Saturday:  

Orion putting on his game face while getting some encouragement from Trailer Craig

When the winds blew the buoys off the course, the lifeguards on surfboards 
tried to keep swimmers to the original track

Natalie, determined as ever

Jamajae hot-footing it out of transition

Joseph burning it into the finish

Saul and Alex: Fierce friends...fierce competitors

Meli's face says it all

- Palm Springs Half Marathon & 5K: 

Always so great when parents get involved,
and now they're even challenging the kids!

Gabby, showing some of the best running form I’ve ever seen

Glenn, Ahris and Arian: Perennial winners

And –fasten your seat belts – who’s that guy at the finish line?
The kids loved racing with Lee.

- Loma Linda 5K

Jose, Phillip, Gilbert, Laquel and Laquan ready to race

Job well done! (And you can really taste those medals.)

 That's Cypress Elementary principal Mr. Rubio on the right

Splendid times were had by all!