It was one month ago when a large pack of track and field athletes from the H-Town Rollerz qualified for the AAU Junior Olympic Games, which are set to begin next weekend at Drake University in Iowa.
How have the Hagerstown-based Rollerz been training for the national meet? By staying active in competition.
The Rollerz were active in two July meets, taking on the Falls Road Flyers Summer Track Meet at Maryvale Preparatory School and the Bullseye/Yep Summer Series Meet at Howard Community College. H-Town was also scheduled to compete in a mid-July meet, but it was canceled due to poor air quality from the Canadian wildfires.
With Kai Jackson leading the way, the Rollerz did their best work at the Falls Road meet. There, Jackson won the 9-10 200 in 31.99, while also taking second in the 400 (1:14.77) and fourth in the 100 (16.58). Another 9-10 competitor, Javion Simms, conquered the 400 in 1:08.17. Dru Kennedy recorded wins in the 7-8 100 (14.72) and 400 (1:08.38).
Jurnee Simms, taking on the 11-12 age division, highlighted H-Town’s girls with a win in the 400 (1:03.52) and a runner-up finish in the 100 (13.92). Mahaylee Smith took second in the 11-12 javelin with a 32-7, while Saharah Hassane recorded three podium finishes at 15-18 with a second-place finish in the long jump (12-11) and third-place finishes in the shot put (29-0) and discus (77-11).
Smith was the Rollerz’ top performer at the Bullseye meet. She took 13th in the 11-12 400 with a time of 1:11.98.
H-Town will now shift its focus to the national meet, which will run from Aug. 1-8. The Rollerz will be represented by 13 athletes: Khloe Melton, Jurnee Simms, Cate Hensley, Anna Ramanan, Hassane, Smith, Jaxon Baugher, Kennedy, Kareem Walton, Javion Simms, Chase Blackwell, Ashton Ruble, and Delontay Lloyd Smith Jr.
Below is a meet-by-meet look at how club athletes from the Rollerz have performed in recent weeks:
Falls Road Flyers Summer Track Meet No. 2
Saturday, July 11, at Maryvale Preparatory School, Maryland
Boys team scores (7-8, 7 teams): 1. Randallstown Track 53, 4. H-Town Rollerz 20
Boys team scores (9-10, 6 teams): 1. Falls Road Flyers 113, 2. H-Town Rollerz 33
Girls team scores (11-12, 5 teams): 1. Falls Road Flyers 103, 3. H-Town Rollerz 34
Girls team scores (13-14, 6 teams): 1. Falls Road Flyers 152, 6. H-Town Rollerz 9
Girls team scores (15-18, 7 teams): 1. Falls Road Flyers 86, 5. H-Town Rollerz 20
LocalNews1.org Finishers
Boys
7-8
100: 1. Dru Kennedy (H-Town) 14.72
400: 1. Dru Kennedy (H-Town) 1:08.38
9-10
100: 4. Kai Jackson (H-Town) 16.58
200: 1. Kai Jackson (H-Town) 31.99
400: 1. Javion Simms (H-Town) 1:08.17, 2. Kai Jackson (H-Town) 1:14.77
Girls
11-12
100: 2. Jurnee Simms (H-Town) 13.92, 5. Mahaylee Smith (H-Town) 15.58
200: 5. Mahaylee Smith (H-Town) 31.85
400: 1. Jurnee Simms (H-Town) 1:03.52
Javelin: 2. Mahaylee Smith (H-Town) 32-7
13-14
200: 5. Nana Afia Ampong Osei Bonsu (H-Town) 28.66
400: 4. Nana Afia Ampong Osei Bonsu (H-Town) 1:09.04
15-18
Long jump: 2. Saharah Hassane (H-Town) 12-11
Shot put: 3. Saharah Hassane (H-Town) 29-0
Discus: 3. Saharah Hassane (H-Town) 77-11
Bullseye/Yep Track & Field Summer Series No. 4
Saturday, July 25, at Howard Community College
LocalNews1.org Finishers
Girls
11-12
100: 21. Mahaylee Smith (H-Town) 15.78
400: 13. Mahaylee Smith (H-Town) 1:11.98
