Hillsborough County Public Schools Takes Steps Towards Promoting Health and Fitness

The third annual Race for Education brought together over 1,000 community members from all corners of Hillsborough County in Tampa on April 6. Co-hosted by Hillsborough County Public Schools (HCPS) and Hillsborough Education Foundation (HEF), the event featured 5K and 1-mile races that started in front of Blake High School and took participants over the Hillsborough River.

The race proceeds are used by HEF to fund initiatives aimed at improving the mental and physical wellness of students in the district. School board member Lynn Gray and Superintendent Van Ayres, who were part of the Hillsborough Healthy Schools Committee that initiated the district’s health focus in 2016, both participated in this year’s race and placed in their age groups.

Gray, who started the Race for Education three years ago, emphasized the importance of promoting movement and joy among children and staff. Ayres expressed his pride in seeing the race grow to over a thousand athletes and highlighted the support shown by schools and families for the runners.

Tristan Cravello, a teacher at Tinker K-8 School at MacDill Air Force Base, emerged as the overall winner of the 5K with a time of 16:52, while Holly Bly, a former teacher in the county, clinched the overall female title with a time of 21:15. Cravello, who also won the race in 2023, emphasized the importance of teachers participating in such events to promote well-being.

The race also featured performances by various school groups, including Blake High School, Plant High School Drumline, and Coleman Middle School Jazz Band. For more information about Hillsborough County’s Race for Education, visit the Hillsborough Education Foundation website.