A Kingsbridge school is making strides thanks to a New York Road Runners program and a school-wide push to teach children about physical and mental health.

The track program at P.S. 7 encourages students to get healthy with running.

"When I was like in kindergarten, I was like ‘oh gosh, I wish I was like a runner when I grow up,’" says Paco Jiminez.

Jiminez is in fifth grade now, and he's already a runner. He has been part of the track program since last year, meeting twice a week after school.

Anthony Hilliard, the physical education teacher at the school and head of the team, told Paco he should join the program.

Hilliard says at their own pace, each student is learning a lot through the program.

“I learned to persevere because I used to give up really easily, but I learned that keeping practicing and not giving up I will get to the point I want to get to," says Anyela Sanchez, a fifth-grader.

From warm-ups to cool-downs, Hilliard creates an encouraging atmosphere, preparing them for track meets come springtime.

“We run it like a track team. We help each other out when they're down. We go through the lows and highs, and it's nice, they're a big family,” says Hilliard.