BELLAIRE • MEMORIAL • RIVER OAKS • TANGLEWOOD • WEST UNIVERSITY

On track at the Junior Olympics

By Rixford Brown, age 10 | December 27, 2023

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BEEN THERE, RUN THAT Yorkshire Academy fifth grader Rixford Brown recently competed at the Junior Olympics Track & Field Championships. Rix is a three-time All American, having placed in the top eight at the Junior Olympics three times before.

I have been running since I was three. I started running as a hobby, and now I run track and cross country. My favorite race is the 1500-meter run, because it is not too short and not too long. The 1500-meter run is three and three-quarter laps around the track.

This summer, I competed in the Junior Olympics, and it was an amazing experience. I worked hard to reach this level of competition after two qualifying rounds at district and regional level. The Junior Olympic Track & Field Championships were held in Eugene, Oregon at Hayward Field, the greatest track facility in the world. Running on the same track where the World Championships were held this year, and where the U.S Olympic trials are held, was an incredible honor.

My family and I flew to Oregon. The flight was four hours long. When I woke up on race day, I felt nervous, but reassured. I have run in Junior Olympics the past four years, and placed in the top eight at Junior Olympics three times before, resulting in being a three-time All American.

I arrived at Hayward Field and started warmups with my friends. Then we checked into the race. When we entered the stadium, my stomach did a flip. It was massive. The size of at least 50 houses. The race was broadcast domestically and internationally. On the starting line, a cameraman flashed a camera at each athlete as they were introduced. Some athletes struck a pose. I beamed a huge smile to show how happy I was to be there. We lined up on the starting line and the gun went off. As the race was going, I felt tired, but running feels really nice, the speed and the wind in your hair. I put all my thoughts into my legs.

At the end of the race, I felt exhausted and relieved that the race was finally over. I placed 18th. While my goal was to place in the top eight, the entire experience was awesome, and I hope to build on this for next season. Running is a big part of my life, and I encourage others to give it a try.

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