Freshman Landon Donnelly set a new Liberty record in the boys’ Pacer portion of Physical Education Department’s State Fitness test and Red T-Shirt Competition in December.
Landon completed 97 pacers in the LHS gym. The Pacer test is a 20-meter test that gets progressively more difficult as it continues, testing a person’s speed and agility and ability to change direction quickly in what’s basically a “shuttle test.” According to physical education teacher Yvette Renz, “The students are trying to run as long as possible, while keeping a specified pace.”
All PE students are required to run and pass fitness tests by the end of the school year. However, the Red T-Shirt Competition is optional, and any PE student may choose to participate. Red T-shirts with the words “Liberty Patriots” were given to the top 25 girls and top 25 boys in the competition.
Landon Donnelly broke now-senior Brad Bennett’s record 2022 score of 95 Pacers, which Jesus Perez tied in 2023. Brad Bennett has committed to play soccer for Stanford University, an NCAA Division 1 school.
In addition to the Pacer, the running portion of the fitness test involves running the mile, 800 meters, and 200 meters.
Beating previous fitness test scores is extremely difficult, Mrs. Renz said. Her department has lists of the 25 top record holders going back to 2011. Landon Donnelly was the only student in December who broke another student’s record.
Additionally, in the Red T-Shirt Competition for girls, Ellie Horrisberger placed first overall in all four categories among girls competing this past December, running a 6:02.8 mile; the 800-meter in 2:42.3; the 200-meter in :29.8 and running 81 Pacers.