CONGRATULATIONS! 4 West Seattle Road Runners to compete in Junior Olympics on Saturday

Saturday will be a huge day for those four young West Seattleites! The photo and report are from Eric Linxweiler:

West Seattle has a new running program for youth started this past fall. After running cross country with Seattle Parks and Rec for the past few years, we decided this year to make a USA Track and Field youth club called West Seattle Road Runners. We started training in August, and in September moved to Lincoln Park for our 2-day-a-week running sessions. The kids ran over every square inch of that park!

This year, especially, all of the regional running teams are amazed at how fast we’ve grown, how our team supports each other, and yes – how fast our kids are (especially our 7&8 year old girls, who placed second in the Pacific Northwest).

All told, we’ve grown from 12 runners in 2014 to 48 this year, ranging in age from 5 to 14. It’s been fantastic to see them all grow and develop, all with the support of a vibrant West Seattle running community (including West Seattle Runner).

Through the season we had many teams qualify for Junior Olympic races and qualified a handful for Nationals. In the picture (above), we have Cailin Ross, Macy Powell, and Lincoln Sitzmann (front) and William Frederick (back). They will be representing West Seattle at the USATF Junior Olympics (Saturday) in Tallahassee, Florida.

Coaches were Brandee Paisano, James Powell, Ashlee Lymann, Derek Bair, and myself.

Eric (who reminds us he had local runners at the Junior Olympics in 2015, too) promises to let us know how it goes!

10 Replies to "CONGRATULATIONS! 4 West Seattle Road Runners to compete in Junior Olympics on Saturday"

  • AlkiMom December 9, 2017 (9:20 am)

    Can you post contact info or other info on how to join? My daughter was peeking over my shoulder and saw this and was super excited to join. Thanks.  And BEST OF LUCK to you all!!!

  • Athena December 9, 2017 (9:26 am)

    That’s my boy! These kiddos did an amazing job. Most ran their personal best, all ran amazing races.. I highly recommend this team. We have the best coaches ever, the kiddos are amazing, parents are awesome. It is really a family sport, I love running at practice with the children in Lincoln Park. If you have a child that needs to be active, but doesn’t care for soccer, or other sports. This team sport is perfect. Our little ones cheer for those runners out front and they cheer for the runners that are in the back. Our goals for the children are to run their best. Thank you so much to Coaches Eric, James, & Brandee and the assistant coaches and parents that spent countless hours volunteering. Cross Country is the best sport out there :)

    • James Powell December 9, 2017 (6:40 pm)

      “that’s my boy!”….. That was my mom’s catch phrase she used to tell when I raced.

  • Cindy December 9, 2017 (9:30 am)

    Congratulations kids! I’d love to get information on how kids can join the WS Road Runners club.

  • Admiral Mom December 9, 2017 (9:43 am)

    I’d love to hear more info on this club. I searched far and wide over the summer and couldn’t find anything for a 6 year old girl who loves to go for 5 mile runs!!! Thanks!!!

  • Athena December 9, 2017 (1:36 pm)

    We don’t have a website yet, but a secret Facebook group so we can share photos and keep info private. We will have a few free weeks of practice in the summer….. Also, not as fun as cross country, but track through the community centers starts in April.

  • AH Mom December 9, 2017 (6:11 pm)

    This is SOOOOOOO awesome!!!  All the best in Florida from an Arbor Heights mom who has been running with family for more than 50 years,  truly!  I will keep an eye out for the website and opportunities to support these speedy kids!

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