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As an accomplished runner, Tyson Gay has become accustomed to delighting audiences in less than 10 seconds.
The 30-year-old speedster opted for an hour of offering amazement Tuesday at Abigail Vare School, 1621 E. Moyamensing Ave., discussing healthy lifestyles and the perils of underage drinking. His appearance came as a reward for the Pennsport school’s spring victory in the “Ask, Listen, Learn: Kids and Alcohol Don’t Mix” program and endowed youngsters with enough ambition to follow in his blazing footsteps courtesy of his presenting them with a $1,000 check that will go toward purchasing physical education tools.
Vare’s sixth through eighth grades flocked to the gymnasium to interact with Gay, who is finishing his first year as an ambassador for Ask, Listen, Learn, a nine-year-old initiative through which Arlington, Va.’s The Century Council and the National Association for Sport and Physical Education call on athletes as “Superstars” who advocate for youths to resist alcohol. Their partnership tabbed Gay to visit Vare a month after he helped the United States to score the 4×100 meter relay silver medal at the Games of the XXX Olympiad in London.
“I congratulate you on winning,” the Kentucky native, whose 9.69-second 100-meter effort in a 2009 Shanghai race set an American record and gave him the second fastest time ever, said to the children. “You have begun to understand just how many temptations are out there and how beating them can give you so much pride.”
To merit his presence, the learners devoted two weeks in April to mastering Ask, Listen, Learn’s five interactive running competitions. They battled 29 other sites to amass paces and correct answers to inquiries on alcohol’s effects. The-then fifth graders captured one of the three $1,000 grand prizes, with the-then sixth- and seventh-grade classes’ second- and third-place finishes swelling the total to $1,750.
“They wanted so much to win and have a chance to meet a notable figure,” physical education instructor Melissa Ficklin, who learned of the challenge through the School District of Philadelphia, said.
With the funds, the educator will look to buy traditional well-being helpers and more television monitors for the game, which she hopes will continue to dissuade any desires to imbibe before they reach age 21.
“Do you know how much underage drinking you should do?” Gay, who mentioned his daughter Trinity, 11, as someone who also could one day find herself faced with peer pressure to drink, asked. “Zero, zip, zilch, that’s how much.”
The Florida resident, who also claimed the 100-, 200- and 4×100 meter relay golds at the ’07 International Association of Athletics Federations’ World Championships in Osaka, Japan, revealed his childhood bore his passion, as he took up running at the onset of adolescence, though he had to deal with the plight of friends who could not wait to consume libations.
“Underage drinking won’t help you with anything except for learning how to misuse your potential,” he said. “Academics are huge and if you ever find yourself forgetting what you should be doing, talk with someone. I want all of you to be successful in whatever you do. It’s time to start working seriously on whatever goals you have, and alcohol won’t help you in the long run.”
Following his remarks, which included mention of obtaining sufficient sleep and making sound nutritional selections, Gay and seven students faced off using the Ask, Listen, Learn foot race to much applause. A council study has found that 33 percent of teenagers have tried alcohol by the time they reach the eighth grade and that five percent of 12- to 14-year-olds have admitted to trying alcohol within the last month, so the game allowed the pupils to see the detrimental aspects of consumption by posing questions on topics such as impaired judgment, alcohol’s role in a healthy lifestyle and peer pressure.
“I really feel the pressure is what tempts kids the most,” Gay said. “Even if they haven’t faced it yet, they will soon.”
The sprinter helped the children to establish a sizable step count before enlisting himself as a cheerleader, with much kudos going to sixth-grader Alan Chaing.
“I love running,” the 12-year-old resident of Fifth and Mountain streets said of his three-year hobby. “Last school year, I really focused on getting us points for the competition. I’m really happy we won and could meet Tyson. He’s an Olympic champion after all.”
Gay proudly displayed his silver medal and passed it around to give all an indication of what allegiance to great health could yield. He answered numerous questions, including ones on his preparation and his likelihood of toppling Jamaican rival Usain Bolt’s record of 9.58 seconds in the 100 meters.
“I definitely want to be the best,” he said. “You could be the same in whatever field.”
Following the check acceptance, Gay posed for photos and pondered his participation’s purpose.
“Presentations like this are the most rewarding part,” he said of his ambassador role. “Kids always have to know what’s ahead.”
November training awaits Gay, whose indoor season will begin in February. Alan will certainly be cheering for him.
“We were excited in May to hear we’d won,” he said. “This is a great way to celebrate.”
Visit asklistenlearn.com.
Contact Staff Writer Joseph Myers at jmyers@southphillyreview.com or ext. 124.
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