They came, they ran, they swam – and raised more than $3,000 toward Lawrence Township’s annual Fourth of July fireworks show.
More than 100 children, ages 6 to 16, turned out on Labor Day for the annual “Red, White and Bang” children’s triathlon. It is the signature fundraising event for the fireworks show.
“It was hot and humid, but there was a good turnout (for the children’s triathlon). It’s a good way to end the summer,” Nancy Bergen, the township superintendent of recreation, said on Sept. 5.
The children were divided into age groups, 6-9, 10-12 and 13-16, and competed in the triathlon, which is a scaled down version of an adult triathlon.
Children in the youngest group swam 50 meters in the Lawrenceville Swimming Association pool on Craven Lane, while the older children swam 100 or 200 meters.
The 6- to 9-year-olds ran three-quarters of a mile and the older children ran 1.5 miles around the Lawrenceville Elementary School. All of the children rode their bicycles for 2 miles in Village Park.
The top three finishers in the 6-9 age group completed the triathlon in less than 20 minutes. Felipe Samuel completed it in 17:55 and second-place finisher Thomas Okupski did it in 19:02. In third place, Izzy Meth finished it in 19:33.
In the 10-16 age group, the winner was Alexander Knab in 22:43, followed by James McDonald in 22:45 and third-place finisher Russell Knab in 22:57.
“The determination of the children is amazing,” Bergen said, adding that it could be seen on their faces.
The sportsmanship also was amazing to watch, she said. When a child came around the corner, spectators – family members and friends – would clap and cheer on the walker or runner. Children who had completed the triathlon ran alongside those who were finishing up.
“It’s a nice community event,” Bergen said.
Although the 2019 fireworks show is still many months away, the fundraising effort began nearly as soon as the last fireworks shell exploded this year. The goal is to raise money for next year’s show at Rider University.
Lawrence Township paid for the fireworks show for many years, but budget issues in 2010 forced the cancellation of the show, much to the disappointment of the spectators who filled the lawn to watch it.
That’s when two Lawrence residents, Dana Meth and Harper Collins, suggested the children’s triathlon to then-Superintendent of Recreation Steven Groeger. The first “Red, White and Bang” triathlon was held on Labor Day 2010.
Meth and Collins said at the time that their children had participated in similar events in other communities. The two women were active runners and also belonged to the Lawrenceville Swimming Association.