Local tracksters compete in Jr. Olympics

The Gulf Coast Hurricane Track Club does more than teach young athletes how to run faster and jump higher and farther.

It builds character. It instills confidence. It teaches respect for the sport.

Carlton Austin has been coaching the Gulf Coast Hurricanes for the past five years.

“It’s long, tedious. It can be frustrating, exciting. It’s all that in one package,” he said of the coaching experience. 

This year, Austin took five athletes from the club to the 2014 USATF Junior Olympic Track and Field Championships in Houston. Four of the five are from Crowley.

Nilah Sibley, 9; Jordan Matthews, 12; Zur’Najah Poullard, 13, and Jaleya Wilson, 14, competed in the July 21-27 events.

“Overall, we didn’t do as well as we had hoped,” Austin said; “but our objective right now with the club is to get the athletes to know what track and field is all about — to get a perspective.

“Once you get to the national level like this, it’s a lot more competitive — a lot bigger stage. Being from a small town like this, our athletes get a little overwhelmed when they see these teams from New York and California and such.”

Teams from across the country compete in the Junior Olympics.

“There are 18 regions in the country. Louisiana’s in Region 6 with Mississippi, Tennessee and Alabama,” Austin explained. “Athletes have to place in the top five in their region to qualify for the Junior Olympics.”

At the Junior Olympic Games:

• Sibley, a student at North Crowley Elementary School, competed in the 400-meter dash, the 200-meter dash, the 4 x 400 relay and the 4 x 100 relay.

• Matthews, who attends Crowley Middle School, competed in the 400-meter dash.

• Poullard, another Crowley Middle student, participate in the triple jump.

• Wilson, also a Crowley Middle School student, competed in the 200- and 400-meter dashes and the 4 x 100 and 4 x 400 relays.

Originally from Crowley, Austin has been coaching track for about 30 years.

“I moved from here to Los Angeles when I was 13 and immediately got involved in track,” he said. “I was a high school and college athlete and made it to the 1976 Olympic Trials in the 200-meter dash.

“When I got too old for competition, I got involved in coaching.”

Austin has coached three Olympians and 29 national champions, three of which are current national record-holders.

“I’ve always dreamed of coming home and doing this for the kids here,” he said. “There aren’t that many track clubs in this area that prepare students for the sport.”

And, since there aren’t “that many” clubs, Austin said it’s really not very difficult to qualify for the Junior Olympics.

“The difficult part is to compete at that level once you get there,” he said.

Although most of his team this year was from Crowley, Austin said he would like to see more kids from this area participating in the club training program.

“I think we have better talent here in Crowley than in Jennings or Welsh,” he said, pointing to the fact that four of the five he brought to Houston this year are from Crowley. The other athlete — the only male from the team to qualify — is from Welsh.

“There’s a lot of work leading up to the games. We train year-round,” he said.

Children age 7 and older are eligible to participate in the Gulf Coast Club and Austin said, and anyone interested is urged to contact him as soon as possible at (337) 616-8965 or by email at trakman@bellsouth.net.

Also, anyone wishing to help sponsor the club is encouraged to contact Austin.