A group of determined third-, fourth-, and fifth-grade girls from Wilchester Elementary School competed in the Girls on the Run 5K race at Rice University at the end of their season. Girls on the Run is a non-profit that is focused on more than running – the girls meet in small teams and are trained by volunteers to build confidence and other skills through lessons and physical movement. They were up bright and early to run with their running buddies (many of whom were moms or dads) and they finished with smiles. The team was grateful for their coaches, Kelli Gault, Meredith Cramer, D’Lisia Bergeron, Summer Burke, and Emily Vanderbilt. Pictured are (front row, from left) Claire Taylor, Kinsley Pham, Claire Bui, Laine Higbie, Hadley Gault, Linden Vanderbilt, Olivia Fredstrom, Ainsley Vanderbilt, Katherine Urech, Lila McQueen, Ava Baker, Charlotte Cramer; (back row, from left) Cramer, Gault, Harper Adams, Charlotte Burke, Burke, and Vanderbilt.

Editor’s note: Send your best high-resolution photos and behind-the-scenes stories about young local athletes, in both team and individual sports, to SportzBuzz, Jr. at info@thebuzzmagazines.com. Include all contact info, names, ages, grades and schools. Featured athletes must live in Buzz-circulation neighborhoods. Items will be published on a space-available basis.