Jr. Raiders Track Club members ready to run
By:Audrey Levine
Carl Lewis, Randy Barnes, Allen Johnson all achieved glory by winning gold medals in various Olympic track and field events.
Now members of the Jr. Raiders Track Club of Hillsborough will go for their own glory when they compete in the Amateur Athletes Union (AAU) Junior Olympics in Nashville, Tenn.
The team will send six athletes to the games, after they became state champions at the 2007 AAU Regional Track & Field Eastern Regional Championship at New Brunswick High School in June.
"We are very proud," said Don Adams, coordinator and coach for the team with his wife, Elaina. "We had six kids who rose to the occasion with career-best performances."
Mr. Adams said a total of 11 kids participated in the championships.
"Our entire team of athletes has made tremendous progress with speed, conditioning and general well-being," he said. "In the end, that’s the most important thing, that an individual improves himself and achieves personal bests."
The June championships, according to Mr. Adams, featured more than 900 athletes from the upper eastern region of the United States, including Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey and New York.
"All of our athletes performed at a high level, competing against the best from all over the Eastern Seaboard," he said.
Qualifying from the Jr. Raiders team were Cameron Adams, 9, who placed third in the shot put; Zachary Williams, 9, who placed second in the long jump; Julian Adams, 13, who placed second in the long jump; Kelsey Viera, 8, who placed third in the long jump; Steve Kaplan, 15, who placed second in the 110-meter hurdles; and Shayne Jones, 13, who placed third in the 200-meter race and second in the 400-meter race.
"Before running, I was really nervous, but then I relaxed as the race started," said Steve, who joined the Jr. Raiders this year and has been running track for three years. "Running track is relaxing and it’s good exercise."
Kelsey said this was her first year on the team and her first year running track, and she is very proud of what she has accomplished.
"I felt excited and happy for myself (when I won)," she said. "Now I’m excited to show people what I can do."
According to the Junior Olympics Web site, the games were first held on Aug. 21, 1967, in Washington, D.C. Since then, the Olympics have been held in 19 states and 29 cities around the United States.
"The natural progression of the meets have been a narrowing of athletes," Mr. Adams said. "Hundreds and thousands (of athletes) across America have been knocked out of play and the best in the country will stand up for their states and compete."
Steve said he enjoys participating in these kinds of competitions because he is able to meet so many different people, while having new experiences.
"I enjoy meeting new people and getting medals," he said of his appreciation for the competition. "And it’s exciting to see each person advance to Tennessee."
Mr. Adams said that this has been a very successful season for the Jr. Raiders and he is looking forward to beginning again next year, as is Kelsey, who said she is looking forward to competing next year.
"This competition was one of our goals all year, however, we had no idea we would be so successful because the competition is so good in the regional meet," Mr. Adams said. "It was one of the most exciting sports experiences for Elaina and I, and all the parents, to see our kids competing and performing at such a high level."
The Junior Olympics will be held from July 27 through Aug. 4.