The 2007 USA Track and Field (USATF) State Championship will be held Saturday and Sunday at the high school.
By: Audrey Levine
Runners from all over New Jersey are preparing for the sound of the starter gun when Hillsborough High School hosts the 2007 USA Track and Field (USATF) State Championship on Saturday and Sunday.
This marks the competition’s first year in Hillsborough.
"We were selected by the USATF committee to host the games," said Elaina Adams, coordinator and coach for the Hillsborough Jr. Raider youth track and field club, which will be participating in the competition. "We hope that this is an annual event at Hillsborough High School."
According to Ms. Adams, the championship will welcome over 1,000 athletes over the two-day period, in addition to about 1,500 observers. It will feature different track and field events for children age 7 to 18.
In addition to attending to cheer on the participants, members of the community are encouraged to sponsor a particular event during the weekend’s championships. The money will benefit the players who will travel to different competitions, including the Eastern Regional Championship for those who win this weekend, and the Junior Olympics in California in July.
Ms. Adams said she and her husband, Don, competed in track events when they were young, and then introduced their three sons to the sport, before beginning a Jr. Raider youth track and field club in Hillsborough and Montgomery to raise interest in the activity.
She said they were encouraged by the Hillsborough Jr. Raiders, the independent recreational youth organization for the township, to go ahead with the project.
"We encourage track and field athletes from the surrounding area to join us," she said. "We have athletes from as far as Bernardsville, Flemington and Whitehouse Station."
Mr. Adams said he was inspired to create the club by the success of his children in track. He said they began as football running backs and he encouraged them to begin running track to improve their skills.
"My plan was to get them the best training for that position, and there is nothing better than a good track program to develop running technique, sprint power and supreme conditioning for a football running back," he said. "Not only did they get faster, but they turned out to be very talented and all three are nationally ranked now."
After introducing their own children to track and field, Mr. Adams said it was time for him and his wife to get more people into the sport.
"We decided to expose the Hillsborough community to the excitement of track and field as well as to develop the talent that’s right here in our own town," Mr. Adams said.
Dory Mineo, 13, is one such participant who said she is very excited to be part of the team. She said she joined the Jr. Raiders this year because several of her friends were members.
"It’s fun and a good way to stay in shape," she said.
Despite joining only this year, Dory said she is proud of what she has accomplished, as she placed first in New Jersey for the 800 m. run, thereby qualifying her to participate in the championship.
"I didn’t think I would get this far," she said. "I had to beat a certain time to qualify and I’m proud of myself."
According to Dory, participating in the championship will be good experience for her.
"It is good for confidence and determination," she said. "I will try to get my personal record, maybe two minutes and 50 seconds or lower."
Mr. Adams said he is hoping that hosting the event in Hillsborough will bring other athletes out to the town once they see the quality represented among the participants.
"This type of event usually brings out record efforts so I expect to see a lot of personal best performances from our team, which is really what this is all about," Mr. Adams said. "Hosting an event like this in Hillsborough lets all of the other areas of New Jersey know that we have athletes that can compete at this level."
To sponsor an event, contact Elaina Adams at [email protected].

