SPEEDING TOWARD DETROIT—Ponchatoula’s Dante Thomas, 9, shown here sprinting toward the finish line at the Governor’s Games meet held earlier this year at LSU, is one of about 20 members of the Southeast Louisiana Roadrunners qualified to compete in the AAU Junior Olympics which open Friday in Detroit. Thomas will compete in the 100 and 200-meter dashes as well as the long jump event. submitted photo

The Southeast Louisiana Roadrunners are making their way to the Motor City, looking to churn out individual titles during the 2008 AAU Junior Olympic Games.

A group of 20 athletes from the area will compete against other young athletes from around the country in Ypsilanti, Mich., at Eastern Michigan University's Olds-Marshall Track at Rynearson Stadium. Competition begins Saturday and runs through Aug. 2.

Roadrunners coach Miguel Becerra said officials are expecting nearly 9,600 athletes for the Junior Olympics, nearly four times as many athletes that competed in the AAU Club Championships in July in Orlando, Fla.

"Up there, it's not just going to be the East Coast and the South. You're going to have everybody there," Becerra said. "They're coming out of the woodwork for this one. The championships in Orlando, that's a club championship and it's team-scored. This is more of an individual meet."

Becerra said the Roadrunner contingent could be even larger, but the majority of his female competitors — including top female runner Malia Cali — are attending soccer camp this week. Of the remaining group, St. Thomas Aquinas' Trey DiCristina looks to have the best shot of either winning or having a top-three finish.

DiCristina ranks 15th among young men (ages 17-18) in the discus with a qualifying throw of 153-7 and 20th in the shot put (47-11.5). Anthony Thomas of Laurelton, N.Y., edged DiCristina in Orlando, and also comes into the Junior Olympics with the best qualifying throw.

"He's thrown 170-something, and the kid that beat him only beat by like a foot or two in that last national meet," Becerra said.

Albany High's Faylen Hano, one of three Albany athletes competing, ranks 17th among young women (17-18) javelin qualifiers (86-5). Becerra said Hano has thrown in the 100-foot range in regionals, which could thrust her into the top 10 in the Junior Olympics.

Another Albany High competitor, Derek Hampton, enters the intermediate boys (ages 14-15) competition fifth among qualifiers (154-1).

"Derek's thrown like 165 since qualifying and is probably capable of throwing better than that next week," Becerra said.

Becerra said the team really has not had to make many adjustments. The team kept up its training regimen, especially the distance runners. Holy Ghost's Tommy Brocato is ranked third in the midget (age 12) division qualifiers in the 3,000-meter run (10:22.78) and fourth in the 1,500-meter run (4:51.19).

"The top five (qualifiers) ran against each other in the Disney meet (in Orlando), which was pretty awesome," Becerra said.

Trafton's Eric Coston is ranked third among bantam (age 10) qualifiers in the 1,500 (5:13.34).

"If he (Coston) runs like he did at Disney, he'll be right in there for a medal," Becerra said.

Another competitor with local ties qualified for the Junior Olympics. Hammond High standout Abram Taylor, qualified for the young men's (17-18) 400-meter hurdles competing for a New Orleans-based team.