Two Elizabeth High School athletes were given the chance of a
lifetime after their hard work on the track paid off.
Juniors Kelsi Chuven and Emily Bennett will be competing in the
2010 summer International Sports Specialists Inc.’s Down Under
International Games in Australia in June. The girls were chosen
because of their performance in track and field throughout their
high school careers.
Both Chuven and Bennett cannot believe they were chosen, but are
excited to not only travel to Australia but to have the opportunity
to go on the trip together. The girls are best friends and are
members of a couple of the same relay teams for their Cardinal
track and field team.
“The trip is going to be amazing and I’m so excited,” Bennett
said. “It will be so much fun to be able to do something I am very
good at too.”
The trip consists of seven days in Gold Coast Australia
practicing and competing in meets, followed by three days in
Hawaii.
“When we are in Hawaii we get to just have fun,” Chuven said.
“It’s kind of like a short vacation.”
Bennet will be competing in the open 100-yard race and Chuven
will be competing in the open 200-yard race at the invitational.
Both girls are hoping to find two other female athletes to make up
a relay team.
As they prepare for their long trip to another continent, the
girls are also preparing for their 2010 track and field season.
Last season the both girls set personal best records and qualified
for the state competition. This year Chuven and Bennett are working
to improve their times on the track and place at least fourth or
fifth at state in their relays.
For both athletes, running is a big part of their lives. They
hope to continue their passion in college. But overall, its about
the adrenalin rush.
“I really just like the adrenalin rush I get when I hear the go
off at the start of a race. That is my favorite part about track,”
Bennett said. “It’s so much fun working hard and having it all pay
off.”
“Every time I run in a race it feels like I have never run that
fast in my life,” Chuven said. “I get faster every time I
race.”
Both girls are working to earn more than $5,000 each for their
trip to Australia. They are selling raffle tickets for $2 for the
trip to Australia and are asking the community for their support.
Anyone interested in donating money for their trip can send checks
made out to International Sports Specialists, Inc (ISSI) to P.O.
Box 145, Elizabeth, COLO 80107 or contact Marci Burgess at
303-396-3833 for more details.
