Sports

Westward Bound

• The Albany track club "Ruff Ryders" heads to California to compete in the Junior Nationals.

Terry Clark
Staff Correspondent

ALBANY — At first glance, one might not think that the group of kids that make up the Albany-based Ruff Ryders track club are part of one of the most dominant junior track teams on the east coast. Their ages range from 8 all the way up to 18, and they're not only are very good at what they do, they also know it.

And for a team that — since being formed in 1997 by Albany's Paul Jones — already has won two Junior Olympic national championships and had several national runner-ups, success just seems to come natural these days.

Like two weeks ago, when the Ruff Ryders traveled to the Regional Junior Olympic Championships in Richmond, Va., where the team shined once again. In fact, their success has even earned the team a trip to the Junior Olympic National Championships, which begin today in Walnut, Calif., and lasts through Sunday.

Among others, making the trip will be the 4 x 100m sub-bantom relay team, which consists of Tralen Price,Yo'Era Jones, Jalah Butler, and Ton'Zhane Hall. At regionals, the foursome broke both state ( 1 minute, 2 seconds) and regional ( 1: 1.1) records.

In fact, said coach Jones "nobody came within 25 yards of them and they won the 4 x 400 by 75 yards.”

And although the Ruff Ryders have built a national reputation over the last decade, the speed and talent exhibited at this year's event made others take notice again.

“Coaches out of Virginia and Maryland called and asked us how do we train our little kids to be so strong and so fast, and I told them they do the same workouts as the older kids, it don't vary and it don't change,” Jones said. (Plus), the younger kids love to run.”

Others who stood out included, Sir'Paul Jones and Mimi Land, both of whom won the high jump in their respective divisions, while Kiante Childress and Diamond Jones both won the race-walk events. Latrisha Jackson won the heptathlon (which consists of the 200-meter race, shot put, long jump, javelin throw, 800m race, and 100m hurdles race) and Land came in second.

In all, the Ruff Ryders “won 5 of 16 events at the regional championship and had several 2nd and 3rd place finishes,” according to coach Jones.

The athlete with the most promise heading in the nationals for the Ruff Ryders, says Jones, might be Jackson, the recent Monroe High graduate whose accomplishments on the track have garnered her attention from several Division I colleges.

“Three colleges called yesterday (and wanted) to give her a full scholarship” Jones said.

Among Jackson's choices are Southern Mississippi, Alabama State, Albany State, Georgia State, and Delaware State.

And yes, she does have a favorite.

“Alabama State is definitely where I'm going,”  she said.

Jackson still could get even offers should she perform well at nationals this week. The Ruff Ryders left Saturday -— westward bound — excited and confident. 

“Are we expecting big things at nationals?” coach Jones jokingly asked Land last week during practice at Albany State.

Land just smiled, and replied: “You know it.'

Traditionally, many college coaches from around the country attend the event, as for one week's time the Junior Olympic nationals Championships becomes center stage for recruiters.

And while some of the Ruff Ryders are still too young to think that far ahead yet, there also is much at stake for them this week as well.

After nationals, the selection process begins for the world Junior Olympic team. Qualifying members will represent the United States and the Junior Olympic Internationals later this year.

IN OR OUT

Sir'Paul Jones injured his left ankle during regionals while running the 400m hurdles.

Jones hit his ankle on a hurdle, but coach Jones (Sir'Paul's father) insisted that his son would be ready for nationals.

On a sour note, Deziree Smith, who is one of the Ruff Ryders' best up-and-coming high jumpers, will not be competing in nationals after failing to qualify.

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