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LAPLACE — The St. John Legends Track Club is nationals-bound after celebrating a great weekend of competition at the Region 11 Qualifiers at Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond.

Thirty-three young athletes qualified for the 2022 AAU Junior Olympics, which will be held July 30 through August 6 at Aggie Stadium on the North Carolina A&T campus. Athletes ages 7 to 18 compete in various categories.

During the Region 11 Qualifiers, two of the St. John Legends Track Club’s youngest athletes shined in the “8 and under” division.

Madison Cola finished second and set personal records in the 100 meter and 200 meter dash, finishing with times of 15.76 and 33.30.

Also competing in the “8 and under” category was Aubree Lockett. She was named runner-up in the 400m dash with a time of 1:24.17.

“Their talents were and will be on display on the national scene,” said St. John Legends Track Club head coach Mark Creecy.

According to Creecy, another highlight of the meet was watching older athletes Grace Trepagnier and Diamond Shorty pick up scholarship offers.

Shorty set a personal record of 2:33.19 in the 800 meter dash during the Region 11 Qualifiers. Meanwhile, Trepagnier set personal records in the discus with a distance of 91’ 2.5 and in the javelin with a distance of 85’ 10.75.

“All in all, it was a great weekend for the St. John Legends,” Creecy said.

Those who would like to contribute to the cost of sending the St. John Legends to nationals can direct donations to $markcreecyjr on CashApp.