Satellite High School hosts AAU Junior Olympics for track and field
SATELLITE BEACH, Fla. — The Space Coast had the privilege to host the AAU Junior Olympics for Track and Field August 5 – 8th. In a normal year, the 54th AAU Junior Olympic Games event that encompasses many sports would have been held on a college campus. However, due to COVID-19, none of the colleges across the U.S. were interested in hosting.
Rusty Buchanan, AAU Vice-President lives on the Space Coast and suggested AAU Junior Olympics come to the area. The requirement for Track and Field was there must be a school or facility with a rubber track and the ability to host the number of athletes that would be participating. The only school to have one completed was Satellite High School (SHS). Viera High was suggested as well, but unfortunately, their facility would not be completed in time for the events.
The board for AAU voted and SHS was approved to be the host. In addition to Track and Field held at the high school, other AAU sports such as beach volleyball, lacrosse, basketball, golf, and more were held throughout the county in late July and early August.
Coach Bailey, Head Cross Country and Track Coach at Holy Trinity says,
“In midst of what media and others were/are calling “pandemic,” an athletic organization was able to rescue the hopes of 3000 athletes and parents by staging the event(s) they love, track and field. It was a total success. Sure, there were logistical challenges, but those did not affect the product on the track and field. The Local Organizing Committee (LOC), which gave me the title of Director of Track and Field, and all involved, including Coach Butler (Head Cross Country and Track Coach at SHS) and all the volunteers are to be commended.”
There was a lot of excitement that week at the SHS track. “Some new national records were set, including the second fastest 200 of all time by a 16-year-old boy. The only time faster was from a guy named Usain Bolt” said Butler. One of Butler’s highlights was also seeing local kids compete and do well, including SHS senior Josh Stern who won the 3000 race.
Coach Butler and Coach Bailey worked cooperatively together, having known each other for many years and continue to be supportive of each other and their individual programs. Coach Butler’s knowledge, the two coaches working together with the LOC, and sharing the same views about caring about the athletes was important to make the event a success. “Parents and participants (everyone) thanked us for putting on the event – they know how much work went into the Games” said Bailey.
Hopefully this is not the end of national events making their way to the Space Coast, but just the beginning for future competitions in our area.
This is an unedited user writing submission. The views, information, or opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Best Version Media or its employees.
