Five Hills Track headed to Junior Olympics
Posted On: Saturday, Jul. 25 2009 06:17 AM
As the 2008-2009 school year was ending, the Five Hills Track and Field Club was cranking up the intensity of its workouts while competing in Central Texas cities like Round Rock, Austin, Giddings, Taylor, and Killeen. While most 6- to 18-year- olds were sleeping in on Saturday mornings, the Jackrabbits were traveling the Texas highways as early as 4 o'clock in the morning in caravans with up to 40 vehicles, ready to engage in fierce completion.
Now the Jackrabbits are headed to the biggest meet of the all: national Junior Olympics meet in Des Moines, Iowa.
After six preparation track meets and a Giddings qualifier; the Jackrabbits journeyed down to Round Rock on July 16 to take on their rivals from Dallas, San Antonio, Austin and Central Texas.
The Jackrabbits wasted no time striking gold as longtime thrower Chamaya Turner, 14, and starting high school this fall, sent the discus soaring a whopping 133 feet, 7½ inches.
Jaleea Bonnell, 13, quickly followed with a gold in the long jump with a leap of 14 feet, 2 inches.
Shortly afterward, Anayah Copeland, 7, competing in the Primary Division Girls (ages 6-8) punched her ticket onto the national stage with a fourth-place finish in the 800- meter run with a time of 3 minutes, 15 seconds.
Immediately after that race, Xavier Yon, 7, in the Primary Boys Division joined Anayah with his qualification to Des Moines. He ran 3:07 in his 800 race against bigger competition for fourth place.
TaShawnie Morales, 10, joined in the 800 fun by placing fourth in a hard-fought race to the end with a time of 3:04.
The qualifications then shifted to the field events, where the Jackrabbits soared. Leading the way was Jaylen Waters, 12. He captured his chunk of gold in the long jump with a leap of 16 feet, 11½ inches.
All-around athlete Tshoni Sanders, 10, threw the 6-pound shot put 20 feet, 7 inches in the air. Her sterling performance earned her a silver medal.
The Jackrabbits even had a brother-sister combo get in on the jumping fun. Ashley Duncan, 11, and Aswan Duncan, 13, both punched their national stage ticket in the long jump. They even shared the same place, finishing third. Ashley soared 13-4, and Aswan leaped 14-10.
John Horton, 16, overcoming tightness in his back, flew 19-7½ for a fourth-place finish.
Rashaun Henry, whose mother just came back from Iraq, gave her something to do while on leave from the Army, a trip to Iowa. Young Henry struck early in completion with a 14-10 jump for fourth place.
On the first day of competition, the Jack Rabbits had 11 athletes qualify for the AAU Junior Olympics. The second day continued to show ase great performances in the field events and semifinal races for the big Saturday finale. And the Jack Rabbits didn't disappoint.
Turner tossed the shot put a mind-boggling 47 feet to start the day off with a gold.
John Horton chiseled out gold in the Intermediate Boys triple jump with a leap of 43-5.
Jaleea Bonnell continued to have a great track qualifier by adding to her medal count. She bagged silver in the triple jump with an effort of 29-2 and quickly refocused, because of two finals awaiting her in the hurdles.
Ian Donovan Johnson, 17, grabbed his first of three medals in the triple jump, where he went 42-4 for fourth place.
The team's lone Intermediate Boys division thrower, Nieto Hill, 16) was nervous, yet determined, and tossed the 12-pound shot a personal-best 48-6½ to earn a silver.
"I know he is going to get 50 feet in the Junior Olympics," assistant throwing coach Brandi Weaver said. "He's determined and we shall work hard and smart."
On the final day, the Jackrabbits had their work cut out for them. They had 19 finals to contest and earned 15 additional Junior Olympics berths.
LeKesha Jelks, 15, started off Saturday's pressure cooker with a third-place finish in the 400 with a time of 58.16. This was a significant achievement in her first year in the Intermediate Girls (age 15-16) division. But she wasn't finished. The 100 and 200 were lurking.
In the 100 Jelks gave a valiant effort, placing fifth, one spot out of medal and qualifying contention. After progressive stretching, icing and water replenishment; Jelks charged non-stop to the finish in the 200 in 25.84. She was fourth in the photo-finish.
The 100 was suspenseful and entertaining for Marchella Knox, 8, who had a target on her back all of last season. This season was no difference. Going into the finals with the faster qualifying time doesn't take any pressure off or make it easier. But when the gun sounded, Knox sped to a gold in 16.01 seconds.
Immediately after the 100 finals, Knox was hustled over to the long jump and qualified fourth with a jump of 10-10.
Young Knox was not the only family member putting their name out there on the national level. Menesha Knox, 9, of the Sub Bantam Girls division placed second in the 100 in a quick 14.89 seconds. She was also fourth in the long jump at 10-11½.
Jaylen Waters, 12, out to avenge his disappointment in the 100 finals, added to his long jump gold with a strong third-place finish in the 200 in a 26.56 seconds.
As onlookers heard the gun sound to start the 200 Midget Boys finals, it seemed as though only Waters heard the gun.
He came out with a blistering curve sprint and said, "I had to slow down, because my feet got hot and was burning."
He managed to not slow down too much to gain a berth to the Junior Olympics.
The Jackrabbits are known for their prep hurdlers, like former stars Johnathan Woods, Donald Buckram, Alphonso Powell and Robert Griffin III, so this new crop of hurdlers shows the program is still attracting and developing talent.
Ian Donovan Johnson of the Young Men's division (age 17-18) started the fireworks off by placing third in the 110 hurdles in 15.08 seconds. He came back with gold in the 400 hurdles in 57.06.
The 400 hurdles were exciting, but the 200 hurdles seemed to make the crowd go wild. Though Jaleea Bonnell, 13, was the first racer in the 200, Jackrabbits boy Aswan Duncan gave the crowd a thrill. He started off hesitant and, actually, slow, but once on the straight he used his 400 speed to fly past three hurdlers for second place and thunderous applause. His time was 30.28.
Brandon Smith came into his own at the right time, taking silver in the 200 hurdles in 28.29. Smith and two other hurdlers went over the fourth hurdle neck-and-neck, but Smith's better technique helped him finish as the runner-up.
Jaleea Bonnell participated in four events and came away with four medals.
On the final day of Junior Olympics qualifying, she achieved silver medals in the 100 hurdles (19.15 seconds) and a nail-bitter in the 200 hurdles (32.70).
Sub Midget girl Sugar Hill, 11, closed out the hurdles qualification in the 80 hurdles. She was fourth (17.37) in her first year of hurdling.
Jaysian Tyson, 10, in the Bantam Boys division was the Jackrabbits' final qualifier in the long jump. He soared to second place at 13-2.
"Jaysian came to jump," jumping coach Bonita Wright said. "He hit his marks and was excited with every jump."
The Five Hills athletes are busy maintaining their form in preparation for their trip on July 30.
Anyone interested in sponsoring an athlete making a donationcan call Five Hills Chief Finance Officer Alicia Hightower at (254) 702-1513 or Head Coach Robert Griffin at (254) 291-1757.
The Five Hills Track and Field Club is hosting its annual awards banquet on Saturday at 5 p.m. at S.C. Lee Junior High's Hanke Stadium.