Spreading the spirit Weehawken Junior Olympics bring medals, smiles to many youngsters
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So when she was told that she was Weehawken's version of the famed swimmer who collected a record seven gold medals at the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, Corredor just shrugged her shoulders, not knowing it was a compliment.
However, after last weekend's Weehawken Junior Olympics, Corredor earned the right to become the golden girl of the township because she had as many gold medals draped around her neck as Spitz did almost 30 years ago.
Corredor, a sixth grader at Roosevelt School, stole the show at the second annual Junior Olympics, sponsored by Weehawken Recreation with full cooperation and assistance from the Board of Education. She collected seven gold medals and added a silver medal to her shiny collection of hardware.
Corredor was the winner of the two-day event that was held for 120 selected students from first through sixth grades at Webster and Roosevelt grade schools.
"When I realized that I had seven gold medals, I was really surprised," said Corredor, who is so athletic that she plays football in the boys' Weehawken Recreation football league. "I didn't think I'd win so many medals, maybe a bronze or perhaps a silver. Most of the time, I thought I really messed up. But I guess it was pretty impressive to win seven events."
Corredor won the gold medal among sixth grade girls in the shot put, discus, javelin, long jump, hurdles, 800 meter run, and obstacle course. She earned a silver medal in the high jump.
Corredor was not the only multiple medal winner at the Junior Olympics. Victoria Heaney collected five gold medals in her classification (fourth grade girls) and also earned another bronze medal.
"I didn't think I was going to get any medals at all," said Heaney, who was the most successful athlete in the event other than Corredor. "I didn't think I was good at anything. But winning five? Wow. My parents and family were really excited for me. It was a lot of fun."
Recreation and schools
The Junior Olympics were held as a cooperative effort between the township's recreation and the school system. The students were taught about the events during their regular physical education classes and the best students were selected to participate in the two-day competition.
Certificates of participation were given to the students, and medals were presented to the first three finishers in each event.
"We put the Junior Olympics into our winter program last year, and it was a big success," said Weehawken Recreation Director Chuck Barone. "We had a big turnout last year, so we expected the same this year."
Barone said the event was put together to give the students a taste of the real thing. They were paraded into the respective gyms for an opening ceremony, much like the more famous Olympians had in Salt Lake City last month. The students then read the Olympic pledge while one carried a symbolic torch.
There even was a three-tiered medal platform made for the students to stand on when receiving their medals. "We tried to make it like the Olympics as much as possible," said Barone.
Barone said that about 12 parents and recreation personnel volunteered their time to serve as officials and timekeepers, as did the two physical education teachers from the respective schools, namely Jose Perez of Roosevelt School and Mike Finizio of Webster School.
"It goes over really well," Barone said. "The kids have a lot of fun and the parents love it. It's just a great event for the kids."
Weehawken Mayor Richard Turner was on hand to present many of the medals.
"It's one of the most enjoyable events that we run," Turner said. "The kids are enthused, the parents are behind them. Everyone has a great time. It's a good follow up to the Olympics that just happened and allows all of us to enjoy the Olympic spirit."
The kids had a blast. Roosevelt School sixth grader Anthony Cintron was embroiled in a personal battle with his two friends, Angel Hernandez and Jack Montanile, over who would win the most medals. Cintron collected four gold medals in the 800 meters, the hurdles, the discus, and the shot put.
"I had a lot of fun beating Angel in the races," Cintron said. "He's my good friend and I always like to beat him. Maybe this will get me interested in running track in high school. I never did anything like this before."
Hernandez won a total of five medals, including three gold medals in the long jump, high jump, and obstacle course. Montanile won a total of seven medals, but didn't earn a gold medal.
Giovanni Guerrini also cleaned up, collecting three gold and three bronze medals in his fourth grade boys' division.
But the biggest winner was Corredor.
"I never knew I was this good in anything," Corredor said. "No one else did either. My mother was so proud of me. I've been getting a lot of attention because of this."
However, it's not known whether she will appear on the covers of Time, Life, Newsweek, and Sports Illustrated, the way Spitz did in 1972. Corredor will have to settle for the cover of the Weehawken Reporter.
"That's fine with me," she laughed. "I'm really surprised by it all."
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