G-Town Striders track club qualifies 6 to national meet

CONVERSE — The G-Town Striders, an AAU track and field team based out of Gonzales, will be sending six athletes from around the area to the National Junior Olympic Games that will be held in Detroit, Mich. after competing in the Region 19 South Texas AAU qualifier in Converse at the D. W. Rutledge Stadium. Top six athletes advance from the qualifiers to the national meet.

Representing the Striders at the national meet will be Tianna Smith of Gonzales, 11 years old. Smith will take on the 800-meter and 1500-meter runs. She placed fifth in the 800-meter with a time of 2:50.19. Converse’s Jazmyn Singh took first at 2:29.68. Smith then took third in the 1500-meter with her time of 5:55.55 behind San Antonio’s Julia Spencer at 5:32.55 and San Antonio’s Serenity Menchaca at 5:33.51.

Ashlynn Casarez of La Vernia will be advancing to the national meet with her silver medal finish in the girls’ javelin throw turbo event (11 years old). She finished with a toss of 45 feet, 2 inches. Casarez was bested by Addison Diaz who took first with a toss of 47-1.

Treyton James of Gonzales picked up two medals during the meet, taking second in the boys’ shot put (14 years old) with a toss of 33-2 ½ and third in discus throw of 89-8.

Scotty Upshaw of Gonzales (13 years old) will be advancing to nationals with his fourth-place finish in the shot put. He had a toss of 29-2 ¾.

Kea’Anna White of Gonzales (eight-and-under division) was busy as she came home with two gold medals, one in the shot put with a toss of 16-7 ½ and another in javelin throw turbo with a toss of 31-10.

Caleb McDonald of Nixon (eight-and-under division) took on the javelin throw, placing second with a toss of 39-10. He was bested by Austin’s Jaren Fabian who finished with a throw of 44-4.

Other Striders competing in the event were Nathanael Hastings and Lil’Nika James.

“Both had strong shows but came up just short of qualifying,” Coach Quincy Johnson said of their performances.

The AAU Junior Olympic Games will take place at Eastern Michigan University from July 28 – Aug. 5.