A Buford fifth-grader, N. Xavier Harrison II, has already accomplished more in his 10 years than many have in their lives. He is set to compete in the AAU Junior Olympics Aug. 1-8, in Houston, Texas, for track and field.
Xavier will compete in the turbo javelin, 100-meter dash and 200-meter dash at the Junior Olympics, all three of which are his primary events, according to his father Nicholas Harrison. Xavier has been competing in track and field since he was 6 years old when his parents noticed he had an unusual knack for running. After noticing his skills, they enrolled him in the Jackrabbit Track and Running Club in Suwanee. Xavier also trains with Vex Sports under coach Andre Hall-Al Ghani who also works with Jackrabbit.
Even at 10 years old, Xavier is an old pro at competing. Through his involvement with Jackrabbit, he competes in the spring in Track Lab Development meets throughout the metropolitan Atlanta area.
During the spring season, Xavier set a record for the 9 and 10-year-old turbo javelin throw and set multiple records as a member of a 4×100 relay team.
“This year is his second time qualifying for Junior Olympics,” Xavier’s father said.
It is a long road for an athlete to make it to the Junior Olympics. Track season begins in late January to early February and extends into August. Xavier had to compete at the district/state levels, where he had to be in the top 16 to advance to regionals. At regionals, which are in Georgia and South Carolina, he had to place in the top six to advance to the Junior Olympics.
To stay healthy and not burn out before the Junior Olympics arrive, Xavier had to learn about proper nutrition, muscle recovery and goal setting. His father said their faith, along with working hard and trusting the process, is what has made Xavier so successful at such a young age.
Xavier is excited about heading to the Junior Olympics and representing the community that he has been a part of since 2014 after his mom Mikeshia and his father Nicholas moved the family to Gwinnett County from Augusta.
“It feels amazing. I like the fact that I’ve been here before,” Xavier said of the Junior Olympics. “It’s good that I’ve already been because now I know the detail and work ethic to be in the Junior Olympics. One thing that I am not going to be used to is the Texas heat!”
Xavier has attended Buford City Schools since kindergarten and is entering the fifth grade at Buford Senior Academy. He will continue his studies in the gifted program for math and science and, new this year, he will serve on the student leadership committee for BSA.
For more information about the AAU Junior Olympics, visit www.aaujrogames.org.
Featured photo above: Xavier Harrison blazes down the track at a recent track meet. Photo by Willington
