Photos by Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com – Action from last week’s season-opening fifth to eighth grade meet at McKinleyville.

The local fifth to eighth grade track and field season got under way last week, with the first meet of the spring held at McKinleyville High School on Thursday.

Close to 500 local kids are expected to compete this spring, with a large crowd of competitors and fans on hand for the first meet.

The season is organized by the Six Rivers Running Club and Humboldt Redwoods Running Association for Youth (HRRAY), in conjunction with College of the Redwoods head coach Reed Elmore.

Additional meets for the fifth through eighth graders will be held at Fortuna this Thursday and at CR on May 6, with the county championships scheduled to take place at Fortuna on May 13.

Last week also saw the conclusion of the kindergarten through fourth grade season, with the second of two spring meets held at Arcata High’s James Washington Track.

It was the first-ever meet at the new facility, which was completed a year ago and named after the legendary Tigers cross country and track and field coach.