What began as a small after-school program at Gretna Elementary has grown into a district-wide tradition that continues to inspire hundreds of students each year.
he event now known as the Guardian Run traces its roots back to when current superintendent Travis Lightle served as principal at Gretna Elementary. At the time, the school participated in Girls on the Run, a national program focused on fitness, confidence, and healthy lifestyles for young girls. While successful, the program also came with a participation fee, leading school staff to explore a more affordable local option.
That effort began in 2009 when teacher Lindsey Voegele approached Lightle about starting Girls on the Run at Gretna Elementary. Voegele, Jill Johnson, Jaime Pilant, and other staff members helped launch the program locally, eventually creating Gretna’s own version called Girls on the Go. Over time, the program expanded from Gretna Elementary and evolved into the Dragon Run, bringing together students from elementary schools across the district.
Jill Johnson, who has helped lead the event for more than a decade, remembers the early races at Peterson Park when only 30 to 40 students participated. As the district grew, so did the event. Today, more than 500 students take part each year, preparing through school-based running clubs such as Sole Sisters and Men on the Move.
Samantha Kolm said the program has always been about more than running.
“I feel the running clubs and the Guardian Run is a wonderful community bonding event that teaches students to push themselves mentally and physically,” she said. “It is a chance for students to shine bright as leaders outside of a regular school setting to cheer their fellow classmates on.”
As Gretna Public Schools expanded and elementary schools unified under the Guardian mascot identity, the event was renamed the Guardian Run. Organizers considered splitting the race between the district’s two high schools, but quickly decided to maintain its “One District” focus.
“Some of you will become Dragons, some of you will become Griffins, but today you are ALL GUARDIANS!” co-director Jeff Spilinek tells runners each year before the race begins.
Spilinek has helped coordinate the event since 2015 and now works alongside Johnson and co-director Michelle Gunn to organize race logistics, volunteers, and race-day operations.
Nearly 100 people help support the event each year, including coaches, district staff, parents, student groups, and community volunteers.
For Gunn, one of the best parts of the event is the energy at the starting line. “Seeing almost 500 students gathered in the parking lot of the high school… they are so hyped up,” she said.
But for many organizers, the most memorable moment comes at the finish.
“The absolute best part is seeing the kids finish in the stadium,” Spilinek said. “The stands are full, the music is pumping, the mascots are clowning around, and the principals are greeting the kids at the finish line with medals.”
Today, the Guardian Run is more than just a race. It is a celebration of student fitness, teamwork, perseverance, and school community that continues to bring students across Gretna Public Schools together each spring under a shared tradition: “One District. One Run.”
View Guardian Run Photos and Videos
Special thanks to Chanel Kinzel of Gretna High School Gretna Media for providing photos of the Guardian Run.