Rockford F.I.R.E athletes prepare for the Junior Olympics in North Carolina

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO/WQRF) — Some local youngsters are gearing up for one very big track & field meet. 35 members of the Rockford F.I.R.E. AAU team. They’ll be participating in the AAU Junior Olympics later this week and next week in Greensboro, North Carolina.

They qualified at a regional qualifier last month at Northern Illinois University. Some of these athletes are as young as eight years old. Others are 18.

There is some serious speed on the boys’ side with Winnebago’s IHSA 1A state champion sprinter Supreme Muhammad and Guilford’s IHSA 3A state finalist sprinter Messiah Tilson. Tilson will compete in the 100 meter dash at the Junior Olympics. Muhammad will compete in the 200 meter.

“I’ve been working all summer just like I was during actual track season, so I feel like I’ve still got the same speed, if not more,” said Muhammad.

“It’s a big honor,” said Tilson of participating at the Junior Olympics. “It’s my first year running AAU track and just to go down there for any type of race is big on me. I just want to go out there and do good.”

At the regional qualifier last month at NIU, the Rockford F.I.R.E. was named the AAU Club of the Year for the Central District. The F.I.R.E. program is run by the Rockford Park District’s Youth Sports Programs.

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