Eight members of the Junction City area club Track and Field are competing on the highest stage in summer track and field over the next two weeks.
Forika and Fawn McDougald, who have trained youth in the area for more than 10 years, founded the team and serve as coaches for the athletes who have qualified for either USATF Junior Olympic Nationals in North Carolina this week, or for AAU Nationals next week in Iowa. They include Madison Smith, Chapman High School, 800 meters and 1500 meters, Keiana Newman, Junction City High School, 100 meter hurdles and 400 meter hurdles, Aaron Modrow, Chapman High School, 4 – 800 relay, 3000 meters and 1500 meters, Jaden Dawson, Bennington, 4 x 800 meter relay, Christian Radabaugh, Abilene, 4 x 800 meter relay, Juan Tovar, Junction City High School, 4 x 800 meter relay, 800 meter run, Clyde King Jr. Manhattan, 200 meters and 400 meters, and Dain Yale Jr., Junction City High School in the 3000 meters.
Several of the athletes are expected to have a good shot at becoming All-Americans, which means placing in the top eight of their event. Forika McDougald said this is all about a cap to their season for the athletes, and ending it on a good note. “Right now the 4 x 800 is looking pretty good and Keiana Newman is just outside the top eight. Madison is ninth right now going into the USATF meet.”
Keiana competes in the hurdles at the high school level, but the 400 is a longer distance than she has run in the past. “It’s more of a mind set kind of thing. You just have to prepare yourself for it and train for that extra 100 meters.” She will run in the AAU Nationals the week of July 30 through August 4. In the summer the competition is different from high school. “You’re running against people from different states and across the nation. It definitely pushes you and makes you become better, and really go out and put in some work. ” She enjoys being a member of Track and Field United. “The team that I am a part of, we’re like a family. We have each other’s backs, we cheer each other on and push each other and motivate each other to work harder.”
Juan Tovar said the 4 x 800 relay may be unknown but they’re putting out some fast times. “I’m pretty confident that we’ll be All American in both USATF and AAU Nationals.” Tovar also competes in the 800 and 1500 meter events. One goal for Tovar is to be on the podium in at least four events at the AAU Nationals.
Aaron Modrow has a strategy he utilizes. “I try not to go out and over-exert myself the first three or four laps, and then I take my surge in the middle. That usually puts me back in the mix for the race, and then that last thousand or so is just all mental, and all about the heart.” Modrow credits having a group of guys who care about the sport in the summer helps him a lot. “Because we hold each other accountable. We have a lot of fun doing it because everyone out here is goal oriented and we’re all here for a purpose.” Modrow also credited the challenging training regimen as a factor in helping them succeed.
The team has a GoFundMe site to help raise funds to offset the costs of their trips. https://www.gofundme.com/send-tampf-united-to-jo-nationals?member=426828