WS Chronicle

In above photo: (L-R) Aniya Edwards, Brandon Whitfield, Isaac Sutton and Jaden Lockhart of the Winston-Salem Roadrunners. (submitted photo)

By Melissia Sutton

Special to The Chronicle

There were more than just fireworks flying on the Fourth of July weekend in Charlotte.

The Winston- Salem Roadrunners were shooting off sparks of their own at the North Carolina AAU Area 25 Regional Qualifier at Olympic High School.

This meet would determine what athletes would be able to attend the AAU Junior Olympic Nationals in Norfolk, Virginia, Aug. 1-8.

The Roadrunners placed fifth out of 38 teams and qualified 33 out of 37 athletes to attend Nationals.

The first gold medal came from Jahnaul Ritizie-Pouncey in the 9-year-old boys’ triathlon. Next was Jaden Lockhart in the 12-year-old pentathlon and the sparks were flying the rest of the weekend.

Some of the other champions were Aniya Edwards in the 9-year-old long jump, Uyi Igbinigie in 11-year-old high jump, Jahvaree Ritzie-Pouncey in the 12-year-old discus, shot put, and tied with Jaden Lockhart in the high jump.

Jaden Lockhart also won the 800m.

Isaac Sutton was champion in the 100, 200, and 4×100 with Brandon Johnson, Jamison Warren and Tremaine Pate.

Isaac also received the Regional Meet MVP for the 12-year-old boys’ age group.

Brandon Whitfield was champion in the 13-year-old high jump and 1500m.

Other Roadrunners that performed well and qualified for the Nationals are: Alia Bowles, Jericho Edwards, Jaden Glenn and Saxen Fair for the 8 and under age group; Brandon Sutton and for the 9-year-old group; Sterling Fair, Jon Gullette II, Justin Powell, Chaney Fitzgerald and Joshua Scales for the 11-year-old group; Javon Siddle, Asia Phillips, Stephanie Sutton, Celeste Neal and Gahques Ligons for the 12-year-old group; Cameron Attucks, Amar Aikens, Jadyn Thompson, Darius Williams and Kalani Gillion for the 13-year-old group; Gjerria Ligons for the 14-year-old group; Brycen Charles for the 15- to 16-year-old group and Jordan Johnson for the 17- to 18 -year-old group.

Other great performers were Jordyn Robinson, David Neal, Don Robinson III, and Jaden Sutton.

The Roadrunners were founded in 1971 by Virgil Simpson and re-established in 2012 by some of Coach Simpson’s former athletes – Marcus Sutton, Harvey Sutton and Linell Johnson – along with their wives Deborah Sutton, Melissia Sutton and Lynette Johnson; with close friends Jerome and Sodonnie Warren, who share the same passion for track, the Roadrunners once again became a first-class organization.

The organization serves boys and girls ages 6-18 in Winston Salem and the surrounding areas.

The Roadrunner Track Club exists to promote healthy living through exercise and proper nutrition, to cultivate a competitive spirit through track and field, and to encourage education and higher learning in order to build the youth of today into leaders of tomorrow.

Their website is at www.wsroadrunners.com.