The track team at M.S. 216 in Fresh Meadows got to show off the track students helped design to Mets players Fernando Martinez and Josh Thole during their recent school visit.
The visit was part of “School is Amazing,” a program created by the Mets in 2006 that is sponsored by EmblemHealth. The goal of the program is to promote academics, athletics, the arts, friendship, intellectual and social development and the link between academic accomplishment and leading a healthy lifestyle.
“EmblemHealth not only likes to give back to the community but also we believe that academic achievements go hand in hand with fitness and nutrition,” said Denise Shearer, EmblemHealth Special Events Manager.
Shearer added that the Mets players can be good role models for the children and that they get to the children early on in hopes of having a positive impact on their lifestyles.
Once Martinez and Thole arrived, they went out to see the playground that, about five years ago, the students helped design and plan after the school received a grant from Trust for Public Land. It wasn’t until after getting the new track, which was completed a few years ago, that the school was able to have a track team.
After seeing the track, Thole said he thought it was “outstanding.” Shearer said that it was “absolutely amazing” that students had been part of the design.
After spending some time on the track and even running a lap with the 26 students, from sixth, seventh and eighth grade, the players then watched the students do drills in their gym. They also showed the students some of their own drills.
“This is fantastic,” said Principal Reginald Landeau. “It just goes to show that when you have a great school and you have great kids great things can happen. The idea of having professional athletes come in and do some drills with my track team is phenomenal.”
This was the first time that Martinez, an outfielder, participated in a school event. He said it was great to get to do something with the children, and that he was very excited to be there and set an example for the students.
“I’m happy to be here,” Martinez said, noting that his favorite part was “everything.”
Thole said that going out into the community puts what the players do in perspective and helps keep the kids excited for the baseball season. For Thole, the best part of the event was doing drills with the students.
“That was neat and I think the exciting part is when you can interact with them and let them feel like they’re [included],” he said.
Landeau said that it was a great thing for the school to be able to partner with the Mets, particularly since many of his students root for them. There is also an important lesson he hopes the students take away from the visit.
“One of the things the Mets said was ‘don’t forget about your education,’ so that’s a big deal that even sports stars are saying that it’s important for them to get a quality education,” he said.
