PHOENIX — A Tempe club track and field team, Tha Truth Track Tribe, is headed to Texas to participate in the National Junior Olympics next week.
The team includes 28 children and teens, and 26 of these kids qualified for the national tournament.
“It's a pretty big deal,” said coach Joronda Montaño. “You had to qualify top five in the region in order to make it. So that's after qualifying top four in the state of Arizona. So it's a pretty big deal.”
The annual tournament, organized by USA Track and Field will begin July 22 at Texas A&M University. Tha Truth Track Tribe runners have qualified for a range of events.
“Compete, go for the podium, get a medal, make my family proud,” said Kendrick Edney, who qualified in the 4x100 meter relay race and shot put. Adding, he draws inspiration from the eight-time Olympic champion to get up to speed.
“I really liked it when I saw Usain Bolt run the 100 and he broke the world record,” Edney said “That's what really got me into track.”
Teammate Turner Reynolds hopes to qualify for the All-American team by finishing in the top eight of his event. He said being part of the team is about more than the competition.
“It gives me an opportunity to lead. It gives me an opportunity to follow. It provides many opportunities, and I'm thankful for this,” Reynolds said.
For coach Montaño, these junior Olympians have already made her proud.
“We really are about just the individual coming into the sport, learning to love the sport and then just flourishing and blossoming into whatever it is they want to be, whether that be as the student in the classroom or the athlete on the track,” Montaño said.
Up to Speed
Catch up on the latest news and stories on the 12News YouTube channel. Subscribe today.