Four local athletes earned All-American recognition during the USATF Youth Outdoor National Championships July 28-29.

The USATF Junior Olympics was held at the Rock Chalk Park Stadium in Lawrence, Kansas.

District 9 Track Club’s athletes who received All-American recognition comprised a 4x800m relay team; Cameron Taylor, Nolan Dickens, Isaac Coleman and Trayvon Harris. They finished fifth overall.

Taylor also finished fourth overall in the 3,000 meter and fourth overall in the 1,500m.

To qualify for this meet, athletes had to compete at a regional meet and finish top 5 of their age category. The national meet brought together top competitors from around the U.S. in two-year age groups (8u, 9-10, 11-12, 13-14, 15-16, 17-18). This year, the meet had more than 3,000 entries with athletes.

Six local athletes qualified from the Region 4 Meet, which was in Jacksonville. The athletes who qualified were Taylor (1,500m, 3,000m, 4x800), Taty’ana Anderson (100m, long jump), Khyla Dennis (triple jump), and Coleman, Dickens and Trayvon Harris (all 4x800).

The District 9 Track Club is in its second year and is coached by Bradwell Institute alumni Jamorris Hill, assisted by Angel Sutphin.

The program is one of the most visible youth athletic development programs in the world. Many of today’s Olympic stars began their track and field careers competing in the USATF’s Junior Olympic meets.