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BLAZE Celebrates 5th Year in 2016

This year marks the 5th year for the North DeKalb Blaze Track & Field Club, and it’s already shaping up to be an exciting one.  BLAZE has several returning athletes who have their sights set on both the USATF and AAU Junior Olympic Games; as well as some talented newcomers on track to join them.  For the first time, BLAZE is also competing in several Indoor Meets this year.  Coach Holmes has big plans for the Club, with snazzy custom-made uniforms and warm-ups being ordered for the year.  And we have some great new coaches joining the Blaze staff. 

We’ll be celebrating all year, so you don’t want to miss it!!  If you have any ideas for ways we can celebrate BLAZE's 5th year, let us hear from you.  Contact Coach Holmes with your suggestions for making 2016 a year to remember!

As we’re looking forward to great things in 2016, take a look back at some pictures of "Blaze Blast from the Past!"

 

Blaze Inaugural Team, 2012

 

Blaze Coaching Staff, 2012

2014 Outdoor Season

2012 Cross Country Season

2013 Cross Country Season

 

2012 Outdoor Season

  

 

2013 AAU National Club Championships, Orlando, FL

2012 Outdoor Season Banquet Award Winners

2012 AAU National Junior Olympics, Humble, TX

2013 Outdoor Season

2014 AAU National Club Championships, Orlando, FL

2014 AAU National Club Championships, Orlando, FL

2014 AAU National Junior Olympics, Ypsilanti, MI

2014 AAU National Club Championships, Orlando, FL

 

2013 Outdoor Season

2013 AAU National Club Championships, Orlando, FL

 

2013 AAU National Club Championships, Orlando, FL

2013 Outdoor Season

 

BLAZE Meet Results (2015 to Present)

Find full results for all meets in which BLAZE athletes have competed beginning with the 2015 Outdoor Season by clicking on the links below. Current results will be added as they become available.  This is a great way for BLAZE athletes to track their progress from year to year, and from meet to meet.  It's also useful in letting them see what performance marks they should be shooting for in their events by looking at results from previous years in their age division.

  2017 Outdoor Season Meet Results

1st Annual Dynamic Speed Elite Invitational - May 6, 2017
Jackrabbit-Sapphire Invitational - May 13, 2017
Boys & Girls Track Club Invitational - May 20-21, 2017
11th Annual Mark Trail Memorial Day Meet - May 27–28, 2017
4th Annual Star Track TC/Exchange Zone Athletics Relays - June 3, 2017
2017 USATF Georgia Junior Olympic Preliminaries, Area B - June 10, 2017 (TBD)
2017 AAU Georgia District Qualifier - June 15-18, 2017 (TBD)
2017 USATF Georgia Association Junior Olympic Outdoor Track & Field Championships  - June 22-25, 2017 (TBD)
2017 AAU Area 8 Regional Qualifier - June 29 - July 2 2017
2017 USATF Region 4 Junior Olympic Outdoor Track & Field Championships - July 6-9, 2017 (TBD)
SMART Pre National Turn Up, July 22, 2017
USATF National Junior Olympic Track & Field Championships, July 24-30, 2017
AAU Junior Olympic Games - July 29 - August 5, 2017
 
2015-2016 Indoor Season Meet Results
TFC-USA Indoor Championships – February 14, 2016
 
2015 Cross Country Season Meet Results
 
2015 Cross Country Season Meet Results

BLAZE 2016 Outdoor Season Photos

Another stellar BLAZE season is history.  But like many great moments in history, several scenes of the 2016 Outdoor season were immortalized on film.  So, before you bid a fond farewell (or say "Good-bye and good-riddance!") to 2016, take a walk down Memory Lane.  Enjoy looking back at 2016 with these slide shows.

Photos are courtesy of our Principal Photographer, Coach Holmes.  If you see any photos that you'd like to have, you can contact Coach Holmes to request a digital copy. Enjoy, and re-ignite the BLAZE!

 Jackrabbit-Sapphire Invitational - May 14, 2016

Boys & Girls Track Club Invitational - May 21, 2016

10th Annual Mark Trail Memorial Day Meet - May 28–29, 2016

3rd Annual Star Track TC/Exchange Zone Athletics Relays - June 4, 2016

2016 USATF Georgia Junior Olympic Preliminaries, Area B - June 11, 2016

2016 AAU Region 8 Qualifier - June 16-19, 2016

2016 Georgia Games Track & Field Championship - July 16–17, 2016

AAU Junior Olympic Games - July 30 - August 6, 2016

BLAZE was on FIRE in 2016!

BLAZE had a fantastic year!  Throughout the 2016 Outdoor Season, our athletes overcame challenges and exceeded expectations.  We had a good mix of rookie and veteran BLAZE athletes who worked hard to train, so that when it was time to compete, they were ready. From the early invitational meets, all the way through the local, state, and regional qualifying series leading up to the AAU and USATF Junior Olympics, BLAZE athletes stayed focused and determined.

2016 AAU Region 8 Medalists & National Junior Olympic Qualifiers:

We Ignited the Blaze in Savannah for AAU Regionals! It was an awesome meet!  In spite of the sweltering heat, oppressive humidity, and near-debilitating injuries, our athletes performed admirably!!!  PRs abounded and we had a lot of fun in the process!  19 BLAZE athletes qualified for the 2016 AAU National Junior Olympic Games, which were held at Humble High School in Humble, Texas, July 31th - August 6th.  They’re used to the HEAT in Texas, but they weren’t ready for the BLAZE!    

      

Congratulations to Blaze’s 2016 AAU Region 8 Medalists

and National Junior Olympic Qualifiers!
  1. Christopher Ford, Jr (M 9): 1500m race walk, Silver Medalist
  2. Brayden Lewis (M 9):  100m dash, 5th place; 200m dash, Silver Medalist; 400m dash, Gold Medalist
  3. Blake Williams (M 9):  200m dash, 4th place; 400m dash, Bronze Medalist
  4. Caleb Burns (M 12):  100m dash, 6th place; 200m dash, 4th place; 80m hurdles, Silver Medalist
  5. Liam Henderson (M 17-18): pole vault, 4th place; decathlon, Bronze Medalist
  6. Will West (M 17-18):  javelin throw, Gold Medalist; pole vault, Gold Medalist; decathlon, Silver Medalist
  7. Carrington Ford (F 8 & Under):  1500m run, 5th place
  8. Chloe Ford (F 8 & Under):  1500m run, 4th place
  9. Mavi Rice-Ellison (F 8 & Under):  800m run, 5th place; 1500m run, Silver Medalist
  10. Sydney Glee (F 9): 100m dash, 4th place; 200m dash, 4th place; 400m dash, Bronze Medalist; triathlon, Silver Medalist
  11. Mikkyah Blackston (F 10): 1500m run, 5th place
  12. Mia Muse (F 12):  1500m, 6th place; 3000m, 5th place
  13. Jharionne Anderson (F 15-16):  1500m run, Silver Medalist; 3000m run, Gold Medalist
  14. Dhylan Holmes (F 15-16):  javelin throw, 4th place
  15. Celia Soriano (F 15-16): 1500m run, 6th place; 3000m run, Silver Medalist; 3000m walk, 5th place
  16. Khadira Beech (F 17-18):  1500m run, 5th place; 2000m steeplechase, Bronze Medalist
  17. Sydney Holmes (F 17-18): 100m hurdles, 4th place
  18. Morgan Mihalis (F 17-18):  800m run, 4th place; 1500m run, Gold Medalist; 2000m steeplechase, Gold Medalist; 3000m run, Gold Medalist
  19. Janai Tucker (F 17-18): 2000m steeplechase, 6th place

                                                                                                   

2016 AAU National Junior Olympic Medalists:

It is incredibly hard to make it out of Georgia in AAU Track & Field.  We have one of the most competitive states in the country.  When you qualify for the Junior Olympics from Georgia, you've already gone up against the best young athletes in the country, and obviously bested most of them!  So, it is a great accomplishment for any athlete to qualify.  But BLAZE is proud to say that we didn't just have qualifiers, we had four medalists at the 2016 Junior Olympics!

  

  

  

  

  

 And not only did we have four medalists, we are proud to call a two-time National Champion our own, Morgan Mihalis. Morgan has OWNED the 2000m Steeplechase at the AAU Junior Olympics for the past two years, standing atop the medal stand in 1st place in 2015 and 2016.  And not just a one-trick athlete, Morgan also was a top finisher, both in 2015 and 2016, in the 1500m run and the 3000m run, and even qualified both years in the 800m run.

2016 USATF Georgia Association Medalists and Region 4 Qualifiers:

BLAZE didn't just do our thing for AAU.  Yes, it was a long, hot summer.  But BLAZE kept the sizzle going and didn't fizzle out.  Our young athletes showed up and showed out at USATF qualifying meets, as well.  Below are our Regional and National USATF qualifiers. 

Congratulations to Blaze’s 2016 USATF Georgia Association Medalists and Region 4 Qualifiers!
  1. Aaron Davis (7-8): 800 Meters, 10th place
  2. Christopher Ford, Jr. (9-10): 1500m Racewalk, Silver Medalist; Shot Put, 12th place 
  3. Caleb Burns (11-12):  80m Hurdles, Bronze Medalist
  4. Rasheed Cobb (17-18):  3000 Meters, Silver Medalist; 2k Steeplechase, 4th place
  5. Alex Ross (17-18): 2k Steeplechase, 6th place
  6. Chloe Ford (6U): 1500 Meters, 7th place    
  7. Carrington Ford (6U): 1500 Meters, 8th place; Javelin, 9th place.     
  8. Mavi-Iontatehare Rice-Ellison (7-8): 1500 Meters, 6th place; 800 Meters, 11th place  (competed at Regionals)    
  9. Sydney Glee (9-10):  400 Meters, 6th place; Triathlon, 8th place; High Jump, 4th place 
  10. Jharionne Anderson (15-16): 1500 Meters, 8th place; 3000 Meters, 4th place; 2k Steeplechase, Gold Medalist
  11. Celia Soriano (15-16):  3000 Meters, 6th place; 3000m Racewalk, Gold Medalist
  12. Khadira Beech (17-18): 1500 Meters, 5th place; 2k Steeplechase, 5th place; 800 Meters, 9th place
  13. Sydney Holmes (17-18):  100m Hurdles, Silver Medalist
  14. Morgan Mihalis (17-18): 1500 Meters, Gold Medalist; 3000 Meters, Gold Medalist; 2k Steeplechase, Gold Medalist; 800 Meters, Bronze Medalist (competed at Regionals)
  15. Janai Tucker (17-18):  2k Steeplechase, 7th place; 800 Meters, 11th place