Megan Navarro
KYLE — In its second season, the Kyle Youth Track and Field Club is sending some of its athletes to the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Junior Olympics.
The club started two years ago as a branch off the already-established Kyle Youth Football Association, also known as the Kyle Invaders, that focuses on providing an affordable sports program for the youth in the community, which is a continuation of the values that were set by founder Nolan Speir.
The program offers both tackle and flag football, along with cheerleading, but now, under the direction of Oscar Silguero, the Kyle Youth Track and Field Club was also created to “get kids active, give them opportunities to learn about track and field and give them opportunities to be able to compete in the sport,” he said.
Competitions look a little different than those of traditional programs in school districts. The club — which is currently made up of 40 kids ages six to 18 years — competes under AAU-licensed events, such as the district and regional meets, hosted by other track clubs in surrounding areas, including Austin, San Marcos and Seguin.
The largest event, however, is the AAU Junior Olympics that will take place July 29-Aug. 8 in Des Moines, Iowa. Four athletes from the Kyle Youth Track and Field Club will be competing in the 4x100-meter relay and, while another will compete in the 80-meter hurdle, after earning their seats in the top 16 at regionals.
This marks the second season of the club being in operation, but the first season of it qualifying for the Junior Olympics and for some of the kids, it’s their first year running track and field, Silguero said.
“Of those five kids, four of them, it's their first year running track and field, as well as being their first year with our club, so it's a big deal for them to come in first year, learn the sport, condition for it and make it all the way to the Junior Olympics, as young as they are, which they are 11 and 12 years of age,” he explained.
Team member Hunter Lewison shared that he joined the club last year, where he was one spot from qualifying for the national meet. Through his determination and hard work, he will be competing in the hurdles event at the Junior Olympics this year.
“I thought [hurdles] would be something new to do and I thought it would be fun to do,” Hunter said.
Brothers Alpha Lyra-Carr and Omega Lyra-Carr are in their first season with the Kyle Youth Track and Field Club, as well, and they will be competing on the relay team in the Junior Olympics.
“I felt excited and grateful that we get to run in the Junior Olympics this year,” Omega said.
They knew they wanted to join the club, so that they could “run together,” the two said, adding that they enjoy being able to conquer their goals as a team.
Josh Duron, who is also on the relay team, joined the track and field club this year in a pursuit to condition and prepare for his football season. According to him, what he loves most about being on the team is making friends and being a good sport to everyone.
Through prayer and practice, he said, Duron was able to help his relay team qualify for the next level.
“It feels really good. It was really surprising because my whole relay team was just football players,” Duron said. “They are dedicated to conditioning, so it feels really good to be able to go to the Junior Olympics.”
The coach expressed how proud he is of the team’s accomplishments this year: “To have that kind of achievement as young as they are, I would just tell them how proud I am of them. Seeing their growth and their improvement all season long is just encouraging for me as the director of the club and I hope that their opportunity now will encourage other kids to take a step in the track and field world and try to go for the same thing.”
Following the Junior Olympics, the club will enter into its off season to prepare the athletes — who all stated they will be returning — for the next outdoor season, which is held early March through July.
