Students and staff competed in the 17th annual A.D. Rundle Olympics March 7. Every year the middle school breaks into four themed teams (this year's theme was super heroes) that compete in relays, races and other contests.
Photograph by: Cornelia Naylor , TIMES
It was close, but in the end Captain America prevailed over Iron Man in a cleaning contest at the Landing Sports Centre March 7.
No, the super heroes weren't on hand personally, but they were well represented by a crowd of screaming teachers and middle-schoolers competing in the A.D. Rundle Olympics.
It's an annual competition with a storied 17-year history that sees four themed teams compete for pride, prestige and the coveted team gold (a.k.a. a box of donuts).
This year's theme was super heroes, but in the past teams have also been organized around the names of countries, houses at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and characters from the movie Toy Story.
"We've run the whole gamut," said AD Rundle teacher Sean Lightle, a veteran of all 17 Olympics so far.
Over the years the event has grown into a school tradition, he said.
"It's a fun day and it feeds itself," he said. "Some of our Grade 7s aren't really sure about it at the beginning of the year, but the Grade 8s and 9s teach them what it's all about."
The annual day of relays, races and contests starts every year with teams meeting at the school's flagpole and walking-for points-to the Landing Sports Centre.
"That's the first event and it just goes crazy from there," Lightle said.
This year's Olympics saw teams Captain America and Iron Man locked in a tense 28002800 tie for first place going into the final contest.
But in the end, it was all Captain America, edging out their Iron Man rivals by 200 points in the clean-up challenge.
