Local Track Club Gives Rise to Stars
The South Jersey Rising Stars Track Club is a
local club supporting and training young athletes. The president of
the club is Benny Lyles, a former well known track coach in this area.
This is a spring/summer track club. The season
length depends on how long the kids make it in the events. They
normally practice at Penns Grove High School, sometimes at Kingsway.
The team is looking for other area high schools to practice at as
well.
The team draws kids from Salem, Carneys Point,
Woolwich, Swedesboro, Logan and West Deptford. The ages range from 5
to 17. Many kids also join the track club as soon as school is out.
 This
season there was a total of approximately 40 kids in the club. They
start the season with about 50 kids and some drop out after they
realize it is hard work and determination that makes a winner.
The head coach of the South Jersey Rising Stars
is Ed Johns. The assistant coaches are Stephanie Marshall, Alan Moore,
Demetrest Brittingham and Lamar Bagwell.
There are two athletes from this club who went
beyond the regional level. The first is Raymond Lawry, who is 10 years
old and lives in Logan Township. Raymond made it to the AAU Junior
Olympics for the 100 MM and 200 MM.
The second is Malcom Brown. Malcom is made the
AAU Junior Olympics for the shot put and Javelin. Malcom is 10th in
the nation for his age group in the Javelin.
Just to get to the Junior Olympics you have to go
through the district and regional championships. In order to move on
past those levels, you have to place in the top four athletes.
Although Malcom and Raymond did not receive a
medal at the AAU Junior Olympics, just going on is a huge honor.
Malcom and Raymond could not have attended the AAU Junior Olympics
without the support of the Sprint Store, the Mayor Logan – Frank
Minor, Florz Inc. and Becker and Duffield Law Offices.
Other local stars on the track team include the
following:
Rakwan Adams, Dione Alston, Dionetai Alston,
Cesar Alvira, Azure Brittingham, Jakaun Brown, Malcolm Brown, Nicholas
Costello, Ja Saan Cunningham, Sa Quaa Cunningham, Jaymes Dennison,
Julian Dorset, Faleesha Dowe, Dowe Tajmiere, Odjegba Emore, Robert
Farmer, Alex Fischer, Taj Frazier, Jarica Frazier, Rakeem Jacksom,
Caprice James, Jason James, Anyae Johns, Dimir Johns, Riley Jones, Ja
Ajha Jordan, Christina Kapustiak, Deja Lawry, Raymond Lawry, Jordan
Lowe, Montrea Marshall, Austin Moore, Shelby Mott, Quelory Mott,
Aalyssa Moyer, Tavonja Patterson, Kianje Pollard, Jaye Pollord,
Aaliyah Rhym, Ivana Ridgeway, Fritz Ridgeway, Dominque Rousseau,
Victoria Russell, Tequandra Seda, Janiya Simon, Ariana Slaughter,
Quamere Smith, Taylor Smith, Cameron Young and Kaylin Young.
The club’s mission is to support the overall
development of the participants by developing physical and athletic
skills while instilling character, sportsmanship and academic
achievement throughout life. As demonstrated by the impressive list
above and the fine character of those I have interacted with from the
club, I think they have exceeded their mission in more ways than one.
I’m looking forward to watching these “rising
stars” as they go through middle school, high school and college
athletics.
For more information on the South Jersey Rising
Stars Track Club go to
www.sjrisingstars.net .
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