Track and Field: Laid back and lethal
Less intense Owings Mills boasts 24 AAU Junior Olympic qualifiers
By Tom Worgo
tworgo@patuxent.com
Posted 7/24/09
Owings Mills Track coach Vince Rollo can’t complain about a lack of participants in a program that boasts 100 athletes, ranging in age from 6 to 14.
In fact, the numbers have never been better for a club team that started in 2002.
“I turn people away,” Rollo said. “We are getting more and more kids that are still doing it. Its a good sign the sport is still growing in Maryland.”
Rollo said his practice schedule helps attract kids. It’s more laid back approach than other area track clubs.
“I make it a little more fun for the kids,” Rollo said. “Some of the other programs in the area are small, but they are a little more intense.”
Even if he is less demanding, Rollo is getting results. Owings Mills will be taking its largest group (24) of participants for the National AAU Junior Olympics in Des Moines, Iowa, Aug. 1-8.
Team members qualified for the event after posting top finishes in the AAU National Qualifier at Catoctin High in early July.
“It’s a big change from years past,” Rollo said. “I think the most I have in the past was eight kids.”
Now, Rollo has lofty expectations for his group at nationals.
Jenae Dorsey, 9, and Amanda Murphy,11, are among Owings Mills' most accomplished competitors. The both participated in AAU Nationals in Detroit last year.
Dorsey will run in the 100 and 200 meters and shoot for top honors in the high jump and triathlon.
“She is ranked second (nationally) in the high jump,” Rollo said. “She has been at the nationals in the past for sprints. She just started high jump this year.”
Murphy holds national rankings in the discus (third) and shot put (fourth).
“She is a very good thrower for an 11-year-old,” Rollo said. “I don’t think she has lost to anyone all year.”
Evens Cross (14, high jump, triple jump, 400 relay) and brothers Lee (10, shot put) and Josh Duthu (8-and-under, shot put) are other threats to do well.
Justin Waters (8-and-under, long jump), Brenden Ballard (8, long jump), Keante Lewis (8, 800), Shawan Lewis (8, shot put), Sydney Gilbert (8, 400, 200 long jump), KJ Lewis (9, high jump, triathlon), Tyler Badie (9, 400, 200, 100), Cameron Hinton (high jump, 200, 400), Kyle Warner (11, 1500, long jump, 800) and Nala Gilbert (11, high jump), Darin Perry (13, 800, 400), Tony Marseille (13, 800), Rodney Seller (13, discus), Victoria Anucha (13, long jump), Allen Brown (14, discus), Nicholas Lewis (14, high jump), Evens Cross (14, high jump, long jump, triple jump) and Micha Brown-Lewis (discus, shot put, javelin) also hope to make their presence felt in Iowa.
A pair of relay teams will also make the trip, including 400 quartets in the both the 8-and-under (Waters, Ballard, Delonte Berry, Aaron Wilkins) and 13-14 brackets (Perry, Marseille, Brown, Evens Cross).
In fact, the numbers have never been better for a club team that started in 2002.
“I turn people away,” Rollo said. “We are getting more and more kids that are still doing it. Its a good sign the sport is still growing in Maryland.”
Rollo said his practice schedule helps attract kids. It’s more laid back approach than other area track clubs.
“I make it a little more fun for the kids,” Rollo said. “Some of the other programs in the area are small, but they are a little more intense.”
Even if he is less demanding, Rollo is getting results. Owings Mills will be taking its largest group (24) of participants for the National AAU Junior Olympics in Des Moines, Iowa, Aug. 1-8.
Team members qualified for the event after posting top finishes in the AAU National Qualifier at Catoctin High in early July.
“It’s a big change from years past,” Rollo said. “I think the most I have in the past was eight kids.”
Now, Rollo has lofty expectations for his group at nationals.
Jenae Dorsey, 9, and Amanda Murphy,11, are among Owings Mills' most accomplished competitors. The both participated in AAU Nationals in Detroit last year.
Dorsey will run in the 100 and 200 meters and shoot for top honors in the high jump and triathlon.
“She is ranked second (nationally) in the high jump,” Rollo said. “She has been at the nationals in the past for sprints. She just started high jump this year.”
Murphy holds national rankings in the discus (third) and shot put (fourth).
“She is a very good thrower for an 11-year-old,” Rollo said. “I don’t think she has lost to anyone all year.”
Evens Cross (14, high jump, triple jump, 400 relay) and brothers Lee (10, shot put) and Josh Duthu (8-and-under, shot put) are other threats to do well.
Justin Waters (8-and-under, long jump), Brenden Ballard (8, long jump), Keante Lewis (8, 800), Shawan Lewis (8, shot put), Sydney Gilbert (8, 400, 200 long jump), KJ Lewis (9, high jump, triathlon), Tyler Badie (9, 400, 200, 100), Cameron Hinton (high jump, 200, 400), Kyle Warner (11, 1500, long jump, 800) and Nala Gilbert (11, high jump), Darin Perry (13, 800, 400), Tony Marseille (13, 800), Rodney Seller (13, discus), Victoria Anucha (13, long jump), Allen Brown (14, discus), Nicholas Lewis (14, high jump), Evens Cross (14, high jump, long jump, triple jump) and Micha Brown-Lewis (discus, shot put, javelin) also hope to make their presence felt in Iowa.
A pair of relay teams will also make the trip, including 400 quartets in the both the 8-and-under (Waters, Ballard, Delonte Berry, Aaron Wilkins) and 13-14 brackets (Perry, Marseille, Brown, Evens Cross).
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