AUBURNDALE, Fla. — Athletes across the Tampa Bay area are gearing up for the National Junior Olympic Games.
This year, the event will be held in Houston, Texas, but one Polk County team is in need of some help in getting there.
Twelve-year-old Shamyra Ellison joined Polk County Pressure Track and Field in 2022. Since then, she’s been invited to compete in the National Junior Olympic Games three times.
But this year, she’ll be joined by 14 of her teammates — the largest group ever to come out of the nonprofit.
“It really shows how dedicated we are to making it,” Ellison said.
To prepare for nationals, Ellison and her teammates practice several days a week. While they push through the heat, their coaches are working to make sure every child gets to go.
Pressure Track and Field started in 2019 to provide students in predominantly Black neighborhoods with new opportunities and positive ways to stay active.
Head coach David Hicks says each year, the nonprofit strives to cover the cost for athletes to compete in the Junior Olympics, taking the financial burden off parents.
“Some of these parents have three, four kids on the track team. So just imagine trying to get two tickets,” he said. “Hopefully with doing this, this segment here, fundraising, we’re able to get these 15 kids to nationals.”
Coach Hicks says the goal is to raise $3,500 by next week to help pay for transportation, food and lodging.
As for Ellison, she says she wouldn’t have made it this far without her coaches’ determination.
“I don’t know what I would do without my coaches,” she said. “Without them, I don’t think I’d be where I am now. They’ve really helped me through this.”
And with a little help from the community, she says they’ll be able to get her across the finish line.
Pressure Track and Field will host its final fundraiser Saturday, July 19 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. outside the Walmart on U.S. 92 in Auburndale.
Alexis Jones
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