Running club on cusp of regional meet

Many times, children who are interested in running or being part of a track team must wait until they are in at least junior high school to pursue that endeavor. Thanks to one former Daingerfield man, children have an opportunity to run beginning at the age of six.

Troy Lafayette, who now lives in Pittsburg, graduated from Daingerfield High School, where he was a member of the Tiger track team. Lafayette began the Pittsburg Elite Track summer track team. This track team gives children ages 6 to 18 a chance to run, hone their skills, and become athletes who star on the track teams in junior high and high schools.

Lafayette, who began the team three years ago, currently has 48 youngsters on the team. The children hail from Pittsburg, Daingerfield, Mount Pleasant, and as far away as Avinger, Longview, and Gilmer. Although the team is based in Pittsburg, the majority of the students came from Daingerfield, according to Lafayette.

The team is open to boys and girls, and they compete in their own age and gender divisions. Lafayette is sanctioned by the Texas Amateur Athletic Federation and the United States Association of Track and Field. The team competes in various track meets, both in Northeast Texas and the Dallas area, as well. The team will compete at Pine Tree in Longview on July 16 in the TAAF Regional Meet. Any child who finishes in the top three at that meet will qualify for the State meet, which will be held in McAllen on July 28 through 30.

Although this season is winding down, Lafayette is already on the lookout for potential members for next year. Anyone who has a child between the ages of 6 and 18 that might be interested is urged to contact Lafayette at 903-946-3515 or via email at troy.lafayette@ yahoo.com.