Hundreds of VBCPS students and staff members are signed up to compete in races associated with J&A Racing’s annual Shamrock Marathon weekend March 18-20 at the oceanfront.

One teacher, King’s Grant Elementary School physical education teacher Chris Porter, has been selected for the Elite for a Day program and will race against American and international elite athletes in the TowneBank Shamrock 8K Saturday, March 19.

According to J&A Racing, Porter is given a head start based on his predicted finish time and past performances. If he is the first participant to cross the finish line he wins $1,000. All other runners begin the race at its regularly-scheduled time and if a competitor passes Porter and finishes first that athlete will win the $1,000 prize and the 8K champion’s purse.

Porter has participated in the Shamrock Marathon weekend since 2007 and leads King’s Grant’s efforts for the Operation Smile Shamrock Final Mile program.

Good luck to Porter and all VBCPS students and staff participating in next weekend’s races!