JACKSONVILLE — Members of the Cunningham Racing Track Club in Jacksonville have jumped over every hurdle to make it to Detroit for the Amateur Athletic Union Junior Olympics.
The team will be in Detroit to compete from July 30 to Aug. 5.
Coach Larry Cunningham of Jacksonville, who owns the club, said he started it in 2010 and usually has 50 members each year.
“We go to the Junior Olympics every year and typically have anywhere from 10 to 15 kids who qualify,” he said.
Cunningham said a district meet allows kids to qualify and run in a regional meet, then attend the national AAU Junior Olympics.
The group is a close-knit team, and participants range in age from 4 to 18, he said.
“We try to build a family atmosphere for everyone. I know that people typically see track as an individual sport,” he said, “but I try not to allow them to individualize themselves.”
Cunningham said his hope for the kids is to have them compete as hard as they can and get the best results possible.
“If they give me everything they have and get last place, I don’t care,” he said. “I just want them to have fun and experience something other than just football and basketball.”
Cunningham said track is underrepresented in the South, often overshadowed by other sports.
It’s important to give kids an option to participate in sports like track rather than allowing them to be forgotten, he said.
“That’s my No. 1 goal — to give them the opportunity. Academics will always be there, but if something should happen, I want them to also have the option to get a scholarship outside of academics,” he said. “I just want the kids to have the opportunity to do something else with their lives.”
Cunningham said participants in this year’s Junior Olympics include Kobe Cunningham, Taevion Cunningham, Lundyn Land, Mason Ball, Marion Ball, Cameron Mitchell, Taylor Barton, Jayden Cole, Steve Gilbert Jr., Thomas Jefferson, Isaiah Morris, Jaci Rainey, Josiah Rainey, Ricky Reed, Robert Whitfield and Kaia Wilhite.
Participants will compete in a variety of activities, including hurdles, relays and long jump.
One participant, Isaiah Morris, 10, of Jacksonville, will compete for the first time this year.
Isaiah’s mother, Astra Ready, said qualifying for the Junior Olympics is a huge accomplishment.
“I am excited that he has the opportunity to travel to Detroit with his team and represent the state of Arkansas,” Ready said. “It’s truly an honor, and I’m grateful he’s able to do all of this at only 10 years old, meaning there’s so much more from him to come.”
Ready said Isaiah will compete in the 100- and 200-meter runs, and he’s also a part of the relay team.
Isaiah volunteers with his parents in community-service projects, such as feeding the homeless in North Little Rock and passing out backpacks and school supplies at the annual picnic his father helps host, she said.
Isaiah also plays football and played at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium in the Battle of the Border game in Texas, where his age group won their game, she said.
Ready said Isaiah is excited and nervous because he’s not sure what to expect, but he’s happy to go out of state and travel with his team.
“He’s definitely looking forward to it,” she said.
Ready said the team did really well in the regular racing season as well.
“As a mom and his No. 1 fan, I’m super proud and excited for him,” she said. “The coaches, as well as Isaiah and his team, have worked really hard, so it’s a well-deserved honor for all of them.”
Staff writer Kayla Baugh can be reached at (501) 244-4307 or kbaugh@arkansasonline.com.