A Second Chance for Hawthorn's Girls on the Run Participants

A group of fourth- and fifth-grade girls from Hawthorn Elementary School North have spent weeks working up their stamina to participate in the Girls on the Run event.  

Their plans detoured, though, when the bus carrying them to the June 1 event in Toyota Park got stuck in traffic, as did a car from Aspen Elementary School. By the time they arrived, the 5K race was over.  

“On the way back, all you saw was little sad puppy faces since they weren’t able to run,” said Evette Ulloa, who was on the bus with her fifth-grade daughter, Natalya.  

But the girls still wanted to run. During the ride back to Vernon Hills, they planned their own event, which was held Monday afternoon near the school.  

The girls were let out of class early, and they were greeted by a cheering committee of classmates and parents. In all, 23 girls set off from the path at Peterson Park and made their way around Big Bear Lake.  

First to cross the finish line was Iviiy Salazar, who declared the Hawthorn’s version of the run “awesome.”  

“It was upsetting” not to be able to run at the main event, she said, “but at least we got to do this, so it made me happy.”  

Right behind her was fifth-grader Lisette Salgado, who summed up the run in one word. “Tired,” she said.  

“And hot,” she added.  

The girls celebrated each other’s finishes with high-fives and cheers. Each participant received an official medal from the Girls on the Run event.  

This was the first year that Hawthorn Elementary School North participated in Girls on the Run, a nonprofit that provides lessons about health and confidence. The participants meet twice a week for group runs.

“It’s really to promote positive girl interactions as opposed to some of the drama girls sometimes get into. It’s been great,” Katie Waggoner, Hawthorn Elementary School North principal, said.