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July 28 - Aug. 3, 2016 • Page 20A
Chamblee seventh grader to compete in
National
Junior Olympics
by Carla Parker
carla@dekalbchamp.com
A few years ago, Dylan Griggs wanted
to play youth football.
However, he wanted to improve on one
specific skills to become a good linebacker.
“I really didn’t have the speed needed
to play the position I wanted to play at the
time, which was linebacker,” Griggs said.
“So, my dad introduced me to track.”
Not only did track help Griggs become
a faster football player, it has led him
to be one of the fastest sprinters in
his age group. A rising seventh grader
at Chamblee Middle School, Griggs
competed for a gold medal at the 2016
National Junior Olympics in Sacramento,
Calif., July 25-31.
“I am very excited,” Griggs said before
the track meet.
Griggs competed in the USATF
Region 4 Junior Olympic Track and Field
Championships in Spartanburg, S.C., on
July 7-10 and won the 200-meter dash
in the boys’ 11-12 division, and finished
second in the 400 meter.
His time of 25.09 seconds in the 200
meter is his personal record.
Griggs has high expectations going
into the National Junior Olympics.
“I’m going for gold in the 400 and 200,”
he said. “And also try to set the world
record for the 11-12 age group in the 200
meter, which is 24.34.”
Griggs is still playing football, but his
focus is on track now. While he has been
training for the Junior Olympics, he was
also paying attention to participants in
the U.S. Olympic track and field trials,
specifically Justin Gatlin, one of the
world’s top sprinters.
“I have been focused on Justin Gatlin’s
form and his technique, trying to imitate
him into my own style for the next few
track meets,” Griggs said.
Griggs has been running track for three
years and currently runs for New Horizon
Track Club. He said it took hard work and
training to get him to this point in his young
track career.
“It was very hard, very difficult,” he
said. “[My parents and I] were getting up
every morning doing this one workout tape
called “Insanity.” It’s about 35 minutes long
and we would do it every morning, do it
until I couldn’t do it anymore.”
Griggs’ mother, Dorothy, said she is
happy that her son stayed with track even
after the rigorous training.
“I’m really excited for him because he
says he loves track and he doesn’t say
that about a lot of things,” she said. “For
him to just really love something and enjoy
it...I’m really excited for him.”
Dylan Griggs will compete for a gold medal at the 2016 National
Junior Olympics in Sacramento, Calif., July 25-31.
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