Local track club builds character within students

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Every Tuesday, as part of our Greater Memphis on a Mission series, we highlight organizations making Memphis better. This week, we caught up with a group that believes in mind over results.

Veronica Barial is the Head Coach of Revelation Track Club, an AAU program where the kids call her Coach V. Medaling in your event is a bonus, but the real beauty in being a part of her club is all about building up our youth.

“We need to make sure we always have a positive mindset from the time we set our toe on the track or practice field to the finish line,” said Barial. “Being of good character is what you’re doing when I’m not looking, when your parent is not looking, and when you’re peer is not looking.”

Plus, she believes in team spirit and always having good sportsmanship.

“Whether you win, lose, or draw, I want to see a handshake, a hand dap. Something to another team member to say ‘Good job.’ Just to make sure we’re showing good sportsmanship at the end of the day,” said Barial.

Chloe Woods, 13, runs the 100, 200, and 400-meter dash. “I knew that I had always been fast so when I was in sixth grade, I eventually tried out for track and I made the team.”

That was two years ago. Chole is a rising 8th grader now and has been collecting medals along the way. “I’ve learned a lot from Coach V. She is not just a coach to me. She is like another mother to me.”

Nine-year-old Loyal Cager joined Revelation Track Club last year. “My events are the 100 long jump and javelin.” He likes long jump because “you get to jump in sand.”

It’s the little things that make track practice fun, but most importantly, “Whether it’s track and field, basketball, golf– it doesn’t matter. Any sport that a kid can participate in is every second they are there, they’re not somewhere else where they’re not supposed to be,” said Barial.

That is why Brown Missionary Baptist Church and the MidSouth Genesis CDC donated $1,000 to Revelation Track Club because being part of a sports team, even if it’s an individual event or a relay, builds character and opportunities.

For more information about the club, click here.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.