“It’s good for the community,” said Springfield Mayor Warren Copeland at the AAU national qualifier kickoff event at the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, March 18.
The event is expected to bring more than 1,200 athletes to Springfield, which qualifies the top four finishers in each event to the AAU Junior Olympic Games at Norfolk State in Norfolk, Va., July 31 through Aug. 7.
DeCarlo Blackwell, the chairman of Ohio AAU Track and Field, said the event came to Springfield because smaller communities rally around big events. “I believe the community will get excited about this,” Blackwell said.
Copeland said the event will also help boost the local economy, bringing in hundreds of thousands of dollars to the area.
They’re also looking for help. The event will need about 70 volunteers to help run the meet. They’ll also be looking for sponsorships with incentives from local businesses, as well as booths to help promote health and fitness.
The Springfield Track Club played a big part in the qualifier coming to the area.
“We want to grow our club,” said coach Tony Moss. “The more we get these kids involved, the less they’ll get into trouble.”
They’re still looking for new members. For more information on Springfield Track Club and the national qualifier, contact Andrea King at (937) 926-0997 or Moss at (937) 450-3674.
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