Five members of Hinesville’s Southeast Elite Rockets track and field club qualified for the 2011 AAU Junior Olympics that will take place from July 30-Aug. 6 in New Orleans.
The Rockets performed well at the AAU regional district qualification meet June 23-26 in Augusta. That meet helped advance the team to the ESPN Rise Games on July 11-17 at Walt Disney World in Orlando.
Five Rockets qualified for the Junior Olympics.
Sterling Burns, 15, earned a gold medal in the shot put with a throw of 38 feet, 7 1/2 inches and gold in the discus throw with a distance of 124-6.
Keandrea Ladson, 16, earned gold in the high jump by clearing 5-2, gold in the long jump with a leap of 15-7 inches, gold in the 100-meter dash with a time of 12.84 seconds and gold in the 200 with a time of 26.53.
Nicole Jones, 16, finished 19th in the long jump, leaping 13-6. Jones completed the 100 in 13.59 and the 200 in 28.13.
Shilo Davis, 16, finished 16th in the long jump, leaping 14-3. She finished the 100 in 14.34 seconds and the 200 in 29.72.
Quianika Hatchell, 18, finished 12th in the triple jump, leaping 33-10 1/4  and clocked in at 2:44 in the 800.
 The Rockets also said farewell and good luck to Quintunya Chapman, who will be attending the University of Georgia on a track and field scholarship.