Running for Christ TC sends 20

LISA COFFEY RUNNING FOR CHRIST TRACK AND FIELD CLUB COACH AARON WILSON hands an AAU state meet medal to Jhamir Scott, 8, recently while coaches Ledarius Haggins and Joyce Simms look on. The club had 20 kids qualify for the AAU Nationals.

WINTER HAVEN | One father turned his hope for his children into a successful track program with 30 members and 20 Amateur Athletic Union national qualifiers.

The Running for Christ track and field club, with runners from all over Polk County and some from Orlando and Plant City, is blossoming under coaches Aaron Wilson, Ledarius Haggins and Joyce Simms.

Wilson, a State Farm agent, former Lake Region High School football player and track and field athlete, had been researching and talking to track coaches for the past few years to better train his son Alex, now age 10.

Wilson got to know a few other fathers at meets. Soon they were gathering up local runners to train and travel to meets together. They started running relays, going all the way to the 2008 AAU nationals with a 10-and-under 4x100 meter relay team.

Other parents started to seek out the club.

"We didn't expect all these kids," Wilson said. "I really wanted to keep this small. But helping kids is what I want to do."

Soon, the Running For Christ club was formed.

"That's who's first in my life," Wilson said.

The club's runners want to be first, and they feel like they are under Wilson, Haggins and Simms.

Dawn Segura brings her 12-year-old son, Nicolas, to practices and meets.

"I think Aaron is great with the kids," she said. "He has their best interests at heart. He's tough. He keeps the kids in line, but he tries to make the club like a family atmosphere."

Shakira Scott brings two of her children to run.

"I like this," she said. "It's organized. Coach Aaron is a neat freak. That's good for my son (Jhamir). I use this as motivation for school. One day, he came out and wanted to play and talk. Aaron told him this was serious. He understands there's a time and place. Now he's focused."

Scott's daughter, Shawnquila, 17, is hurt and can't train.

"Aaron stays on her even though she's not out," Scott said.

The club's runners train with Wilson at Winter Haven High School, and with Simms and Haggins at Rochelle School of Arts in Lakeland.

Running is free, but runners pay for AAU membership and entry fees, largely through fundraisers.

Only 10 of the club's 20 qualifiers can afford to attend AAU nationals in Iowa. But the team has raised money through car washes and benefit nights at local restaurants, as well as visiting businesses for donations.

They've run in about 10 meets since February with improvements in times and attitude.

"My thing is to bring the kids together and teach them about Christ and sportsmanship," Wilson said. "I teach them how to have fun without boasting or bragging. We try to get more parent involvement. If they see what their child can accomplish, they will spend more time with their kids. That's what the kids need."

Wilson hopes they can branch out all over the county.

"I think we will have a better community," he said.

More than anything, he wants them to have hope.

"I think I've opened their eyes to their potential," he said. "I ask them what their goals are. Some are to reach a certain time or to go to nationals or to run in the Olympics. I tell them I'm going to dedicate 100 percent to them, but I expect 110 percent."

The runners appreciate his efforts.

"They keep it real with us," said Richena Louis, 18.

"It hurts, but yes, it pays off," said Wendy Deshommes, 18.

Wilson points to a few such as Louis, Sammy Jackson and his daughter Amber who have excelled.

Louis ran at Winter Haven High School, but has turned it on this summer, setting a personal best in the 100 at 12.14 and in the 200 at 25.2.

Jackson, 12, from Lakeland, has run 12.66 in the 100 and has helped the Midget boys' 4x100 and 4x400 meter relays earn top 30 national rankings.

Amber Wilson, 9, was only going to run half the season, but she improved so much she's qualified for the 800 meter run and the 1,500 meter race walk.

"They want it for us," said Shalaneya Bryant, 17. "They motivate us."