Junior Olympics, affectionately known as JOs, is the top youth track-and-field and cross-country program in the United States. It’s sponsored by USA Track & Field, the national track-and-field organization. Junior Olympics is open to boys and girls from ages 6 to 18, from beginners to advanced high-school level.
Asheville Lightning is one of the most respected and well-known Junior Olympics teams in the Southeast. More than 2,000 young athletes from Western North Carolina have been members of the team since it was first formed in 1991, and many of these members have been state, regional and national champions. The team has more than 20 volunteer coaches, a dedicated administrative staff, and is supported by many youth-oriented organizations.
Junior Olympics is an excellent opportunity for young people to develop in an event that they are currently competing in or to try something new. Susan Mooney, the mother of a 16-year-old athlete, shares, “The Asheville Lightning and its coaching staff have done more for my daughter than any other program she has ever been involved with. Over the years that she has been with the team, she has become a more positive, well-rounded person.”
The Asheville Lightning coaching staff is ready to help beginners get started. For more advanced high-school and middle-school athletes who may already be stars, Junior Olympics is a great opportunity to compete on a national level. Info: www.ashevillelightning.org.
