 Members of the Southside Pioneers celebrate their performance at the National AAU Track and Field Championship. Picture are By Joyce K. Bolds
Special to Fayette Newspapers
The Southside Pioneer Track Club burst onto the scene at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex not knowing that they would end up being number one in the Young Men’s 4X100 Relay with a winning time of 41.10.
In addition to winning the relay race, these outstanding young men walked away with All-American status in the 2012 National AAU Track and Field Championship. The young men traveled to Orlando, Florida anticipating returning to Fayetteville as winners. They never believed that they would return number one and cause the sportscasters, competing athletes, and crowds to wonder, “Where is Fayetteville, Georgia?”
In addition to exceeding their expectations, DeVon Lewis, a senior at Sandy Creek High School, finished first in the Young Men’s 100m with a winning time of 10.81. Alex Phillips, a 2012 graduate of Fayette County High School, competed in the same race and finished third with a time of 10.90. The young men were not through or satisfied with just those results. They went on to compete in the Young Men’s 200 meters and Lewis finished second overall with a time of 21.67 while Phillips finished third with a time of 21.75. The third member of the relay team, Solomon Bolds, a senior at Sandy Creek High School, competed in the Young Men’s 400m Hurdles and finished with a time of 55.44 while rounding out his competition with the Open 400 meters. The final member of the Relay Team, Alphonso Alexander, a senior at Fayette County High School, competed in the 100m and 200m to solidify his talent as a true competitor.
The Southside Pioneer Track Club's Coach David Petty said, “These young men work hard and have really solidified their technique as runners. They listen well, practice hard and know how to excel on the track.”
The young men are now preparing to travel to Houston, Texas for the 2012 AAU National Jr. Olympics which will be held from July 25th to August 4th. They consider themselves “Athlete Ambassadors” for Fayette County. Let’s show our support for these future Olympians and provide them with financial assistance. If you wish to contribute to their success, please contact the Southside Pioneer Track Club Coach David Petty at 678-481-8883. he organization has a 501C tax status. For these young men their ultimate goal is to compete in the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. |
