The SouthSide Pioneers are headed to the AAU 40th annual Junior Olympic Games Track and Field Championships to be held July 28- Aug. 5 at Norfolk State University.

This past weekend at the 2006 AAU Region 3-B Championships at Savannah State University, Joshua Ferrell became the Sub-Youth Boys Region 3-B Champion in the Pentathlon and in the Javelin Throw (23.11m). He took second place in the Triple Jump (9.07m), and in the High Jump (4’8”). Ferrell is a rising 8th grader at Pathway Christian School.

Joy Ferrell became the Intermediate Girls Region 3-B Champion in the Triple Jump (10.16m )and in the Javelin Throw. She took second place in the Heptathlon (3500+ points). Ferrell is a rising senior at Westminster High School who was recently accepted to Auburn University.

The Bantam Boys 4x100M Relay (Khari Lain, Kobie Lain, Jamal Lain, and Jovonte Lain) took fourth place with a 1:04. Kobie Lain also took third place in the Sub-Bantam Boys 800M with a 2:44. Kobie Lain has benefitted tremendously from the coaching of former Landmark Christian star athlete, Will Bonn. Bonn (Georgia Tech), along with former Starr’s Mill HS star hurdler, Matt Harlfinger (West Carolina University), are volunteer coaches for the Pioneers.

The Lains, Katrina victims, found the Pioneers earlier this spring, stating, “We have a lot of trophies to get back that we lost in the hurricane!”

The Lains will attend Burch Elementary School in the fall.

The Intermediate Boys 4x400M Relay (Theo Echols, Jonathan Ross, Thomas Frierson, and Terrell Tripp) took fourth place with a 3:46. Frierson (Whitewater) replaced David Mathis (Sandy Creek High School) as an alternate early this season when Mathis pulled a hamstring at the USATF Area Association meet on June 3. Tripp (Starr’s Mill) replaced Rhyan Atrice (Sandy Creek ) this past weekend who sustained a hamstring injury at the USATF Association Championship on June 19 where Atrice took fifth place in the 400M(49.96) to advance to the USATF Region 3 meet to be held at Mill Creek HS July 7-9. Mathis and Atrice are now scheduled to run with Echols (Starr’s Mill) and Ross (Sandy Creek) in the 2006 AAU National Championship 4x400M Relay on Saturday, Aug. 5 at 2 p.m. at Norfolk State University.

In other track and field competition this past weekend, Kendra Newsome (rising freshman at Sandy Creek) was the Youth Girls Discus Throw Champion at the fifth Annual Ernest Dixon Invitational Meet held at the QuickSilver Track Facility in Southwest ATL. Newsome was the Fayette County Middle School Champion out of Flat Rock Middle School. Brendan Fludd (Sandy Creek ) took 3rd place in the Young Men’s Long Jump with a 5.96m while Michael DeHaven (Sandy Creek) took second place in the Young Men’s 400M with a 49.96.

The SouthSide Pioneers Track & Field Club will continue its season as follows:

• Youth Athletic Nationals Championship: North Carolina A&T University, Greensboro, NC June 27-July 2. DeHaven will compete in the Young Men’s 400M.

• 2006 USATF Region 3 Championship: Mill Creek HS, Hoschton, GA (Gwinnett County) July 6-9. This meet’s results will determine team’s participation at the 2006 USATF National Junior Olympics Championships to be held July 25 - 30 at Morgan State University in Baltimore, MD.

Graylin Ward (Northgate) will compete in the Youth Boys High Jump. Ward has competed in the high jump at the USATF Junior Olympic National Championships over the last two years. Joshua Ferrell (Youth Boys) and Joy Ferrell (Intermediate Girls) will compete in the Multi-Events, Javelin Throw, and Long Jump. The Intermediate Boys 4x100M Relay Team composed of Theo Echols, Jonathan Ross, Thomas Frierson, and Rhyan Atrice will compete as well while Atrice and DeHaven will compete in the 400M. Fludd will compete in the Young Men’s Long Jump while Elliott Dixon (Sandy Creek) who will compete in the Young Men’s High Jump. Kendra Newsome who will compete in the Youth Girls Discus Throw.

• 2006 Georgia Games: Marietta HS, Marietta, GA July 14-15

• The SouthSide Pioneers Track & Field Team will also compete at the 2nd Annual AAAG Sportsfestival Track and Field Meet to be held at the QuickSilver Track Facility in SW ATL on July 22-23

• 2006 AAU 40th Junior Olympic Games Championship: Norfolk State University, Norfolk, VA July 28-August 5

To make a donation to support the team’s participation at the 2006 AAU 40th Annual Junior Olympic Games National Championships in Norfolk, VA please contact Coach Mathis at sspioneers@netzero.com or at 770-716-2100.

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