Seven athletes from Kinston Spirits earned All-American honors
The Kinston Track Club, known as the Kinston Spirits, recently competed in the AAU Indoor Track and Field National Championships in Virginia Beach, Virginia, on March 4th and 5th. The young competitors from the Kinston club ranged in age from seven to sixteen years old.
To be named as All-American runners, athletes must finish in the top eight in their event. Several of the Kinston Spirits earned this prestigious title:
J’Khari Simmons: All-American in the 60m, 200m, and 400m
Exzavion Croom: All-American in the 60m and 200m
William Wilder III: All-American in the 3000m
Braylon Graham: All-American in the 60m and 4x200m
Damoni Lee: All-American in the 4x200m
Elijah Sparks: All-American in the 4x200m
Kendarius Whitfield: All-American in the 4x200m
The Kinston Spirits faced tough competition, with over 120 athletes in most categories, but they still managed to finish at least in the top eight in their events. As Coach Chappriel Pitt said, "These athletes went up against the best athletes in the country. We are building a program that attracts kids from all over eastern North Carolina and is built on hard work and results. I'm proud of all the kids, but these guys stood out all weekend at the AAU Nationals in Virginia Beach."
It's a fantastic achievement for the Kinston Spirits, and stay tuned to catch the success they achieve during the outdoor season. If any runners are interested in competing with the track club, please contact coach Chappriel Pitt at 252-939-0263.
