David and Andrew Take on the Junior Olympics

In early June 2019, Coach Treppa came across the USATF State of Michigan Track Meet in Ortonville, Michigan. Coach printed the forms off and handed them out to the whole Varsity track team, and a select few middle school runners. 
    In Ortonville we had five athletes competing. Four of the five athletes qualified to go down to Kentucky and run in the Regional Meet at University of Louisville. The ultimate goal of qualifying for the Junior Olympics held in Sacramento, California. 

TWO YOUNG MEN HAVE DONE JUST THAT!

Andrew Catenacci's road to Sacremento-
Andrew came out for track for the first time since middle school this year. He has fast in the 100m, and a member of the state qualifying 4x100m relay team. Andrew's goal was to run a solid 400m. After we did some time trials, he slowly was able to get where he wanted. Cat finished his season with a 51.66 time at a very tough Meet of Champions meet. After some persuasion Andrew agreed to come run in Ortonville, for the Michigan Qualifier. Andrew competed in the 100m and the 400m dashes at the Michigan qualifier.  Andrew qualified in the 100m dash for a trip down to to Kentucky. There was low numbers at the meet, and they combined two separate age groups together for his race. Andrew Finished 3rd overall, 2nd in his age group, an qualified for the regional at University of Louisville.  Seeded 5th in the 400m, with a time of 52.85 Andrew was given an outside lane. That didn't stop him from running his fastest 400m to date, and winning the regional. 
Cat will enter Nationals as the fastest runner in our five state region. 

David Clemons' road to Sacramento- 
   David had a great break out season this year for track. He started off thinking he was a sprinter, and running in some of the sprint relays and the open 100m dash.  Although he was successful in both, some of the coaches who knew him thought he was more cut out for the mile. Reluctant at first he gave it a shot. David ended up placing top three in the league with a mile time of 5:18. David was approached about running in the Junior Olympics right before wrestling camp. David agreed to it, but not what events. His coach entered him into the 1500m, the Javelin, and the Pentathlon (1500m, 100 Hurdle, Shot Put, Long Jump, and High Jump).  Up for the challenge we went to work to learn to throw the javelin, and get the basics of all the events in the pentathlon. His coach had purchased a cheap plastic practice javelin for him to use to see if he liked it. David Ran away from the competition in the 1500m in Ortonville. The Javelin was a little harder for him. Never really doing it before he was watching every other competitor throw to see how to do it. David ended up taking second place in Michigan and ended up qualifying for all three of his events.  While down in Kentucky, David ran into some stiff competition during the Pentathlon from other age groups. David ended up winning his age group. When the 1500m came up the next day, David was in for a race. He was challenged the first 700m, but after that none of the competitors could get close to him, and he ran away with a second championship.  Davids last event was javelin. Between the Michigan Meet and the Regional meet he had gotten a good competition javelin. David was seeded 6th in the Javelin, and not in medal position. That didn't stop him from still chasing the other  down. David ended up throwing a personal Best by over 25 feet at the regional meet. 

As you see this has not come easy for either athlete. This is a chance to see how they rank among the best in the country. I am trying to raise money for the two of them to go out to Sacramento and compete in the Junior Olympics. They have worked so hard, and continue to work out and run everyday to represent well. 
We would be leaving on July 24th, 2019 and coming back late July 28th, 2019. 
This is a business trip. We are going for them to run, and if there is time, enjoy the sights. 
Any help you are able to give would be appreciated. Both athletes are humbled but to help their families and for them to be able to afford this opportunity, I ask for donations in their names.