Rockford Fire at AAU Qualifier 2009

PHOTO BY: K Swan

AREA ATHLETES QUALIFY FOR JR OLYMPICS – Fifteen area youth athletes from Rockford's FIRE Track & Field program participated in the AAU Region 10 National Qualifier Track and Field Event last week in Hammond, Indiana, and nine of those athletes (ages 6 to 16) will be going on to compete in the Junior Olympic Games at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, July 27-August 8. The Qualifier results for FIRE athletes were as follows: Girls 100-Meter Dash Bantam—3, Adejah Charles age, 14.95; Boys 100 Youth—4, Jetavieljet Miller, 12.23; Boys 200 Sub-Midget—4, Duwayne Jones, 28.92; Boys 200 Youth—3, Jetavieljet Miller; 24.76; Boys 800 Intermediate—3, Zachary Dougherty, 2:08.22; Girls 400 Sub-Youth—1, Patrice Jones, 1:01.55; 4, Claire Mesa, 1:03.79; Girls Long Jump Primary—2, Phairra Jones, 2.59m; Girls Sub-Youth—3, Patrice Jones, 4.57m; Girls High Jump Sub-Midget—2, Kaylee Swan, .96m; Girls Sub-Youth—4, Bella Swan, 1.17m.; Girls Triple Jump Sub-Youth—1, Bella Swan, 8.26m

The FIRE program is administered by the Rockford Park District in partnership with the City of Rockford, YMCA, and Rockford Public Schools; the program's purpose is to engage young people in a positive experience and use track and field to promote recreation, education, leadership, community service, and self-esteem. The program consists of entry level athletes, and a second level for intermediate to advanced athletes. For more information about the FIRE track and field program, visit www.rockfordparkdistrict.org/fire, or call 815-987-8800.