Zionna (“ZiZi”) Loftin has been a busy fifth grader this month.
Before enduring mandatory New Jersey Ask testing, the Roosevelt Elementary School honors student, who is a starting first baseman for Capital One’s Recreational Little Girls’ League Softball team, competed in Leonia’s U.S. Gym’s All-Around Gymnastic Exhibition “GYMFEST.”
Advanced gymnasts exhibit skills on the balance beam, trampoline, floor (as in tumbling) vault and uneven parallel bars. Then Zi Zi spent soaked in some sunshine at the Weehawken Waterfront Complex where the township held its version of the Junior Olympics. This exciting track and field competition allows elementary school-aged athletes to exude sportsmanship, get exercise while having fun, mingle with their buddies, eat free finger foods and win gold, silver and bronze medals in a variety of events.
Weehawken Township holds this sporting spectacular each year before Memorial Day, usually in May. Preliminary competitions are held in each student physical education class. Accomplished athletes who accrue the most points out of the students in their respective grades enjoy the chance to stand on the three-tiered pedestal of honor with Mayor Richard Turner.
The all-day event was held on Saturday May 17 at the Waterfront Complex and it was attended by hundreds of people enthralled by the prospect of watching their children compete against their peers.
Zionna Loftin competed in five events and won five medals: four gold (100 meter dash, shot put, high jump, javelin) and one silver (in long jump).
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