Remember when you were a little kid playing tug-of-war, running in relays and throwing water balloons?
With VCU’s Second Spring Challenge arriving Saturday, April 23, at Cary Street Field on the Monroe Park Campus, you can let that inner child come out to play and maybe win a prize or two.
“Field day is back – taking people back to when they were in elementary or middle school,” said Constantine Alexakos, the program’s coordinator. “We have changed the events around for college students.”
Students, faculty and staff playing in 12- to 15- member teams pay a $20 entry fee for the entire competition. In addition, Alexakos said, each team must have five female members.
“I am trying to keep the competition in coed form, but an all-girls team is acceptable,” Alexakos said. “Not to say that males are dominating, but I am just trying to keep the competition well-rounded.”
Sandra Milositz, a freshman recreation-management major, said she and her Alpha Gamma Delta sorority sisters plan to participate in the challenge.
“I think it will be a great opportunity for students to get together and hopefully have fun,” Milositz said. “Hopefully, everyone will not be so competitive but enjoy the day.”
The 12 challenges include football and soccer accuracy, tug-of-war, miniature golf, Frisbee disc frenzy, a three-legged race, an obstacle course, a 400-meter relay, a basketball shootout, a wacky relay, a mental challenge and a water-balloon toss.
“This competition should bring the inner child out of the students,” Kyron Copeland, assistant coordinator, said.
Last year’s challenge had 17 teams, said Alexakos, who expects about the same number or more teams to participate this year.
Alexakos, the program’s coordinator the past two years, said the mental challenge event involves a crossword puzzle contest that consists of words relating to VCU as well as people, places and things.
A point-value system will be used for the competition, Alexakos said. The teams’ points will be totaled to determine the winners, who will receive a trophy and a T-shirt. All participants will receive team T-shirts.
In case it rains April 23, Alexakos said, the spring challenge will be Sunday, May 1.