Kids get their kicks at Junior Olympics Skills Competition

The children of Maricopa got a chance to show off their athletic prowess on Saturday with the city’s first Junior Olympics Skills Competition at Pacana Park.

The event, part of a program by the U.S. Olympic Committee to encourage youth participation in sports, included challenges in four sports – basketball, track and field, tennis and soccer.

“Through the program, we’re given the opportunity to give residents who have an interest to come out and try track and field and some of the other sports,” said Maria Billingsley, recreation coordinator with Maricopa’s Community Services Department.

The challenges featured individual tests, such as seeing how many points children could score in basketball from designated marks on the court and the free-throw line in 45 seconds. The kid with the top score in each age group (8-9, 10-11 and 12-13) and gender will advance to a regional competition with a chance to compete in the national finals in July.

It was the first time the city has held the skills competition, and though only about 25 children participated in the event, Billingsley said she thinks the program has the potential to grow.

“We want to do this annually, absolutely,” she said.

The following children will go on to regional competition:

John Norsworthy (age 8-9, track and field, basketball, tennis)
Stacey Boyd II (age 10-11, track and field)
Desiree Rodriguez (age 8-9, track and field, basketball)
Esperanza Miranda (age 10-11, track and field, basketball, soccer)
Kyejah Fisher (age 12-13, track and field, basketball, tennis, soccer)
Keegan McGrath (age 10-11, basketball)
Kevin Coutre (age 10-11, tennis, soccer)
Jessica Hilsman (age 8-9, tennis)
Sylviajohna Norsworthy (age 10-11, tennis)
Damon Hamlett (age 8-9, soccer)
Kamryn Fisher (age 8-9, soccer)

Photo by David Argabright