AAU Track & Field to Collaborate with Justin Gatlin
03/09/2022
“Protect The Crown” docuseries will spotlight AAU athletes competing against Jamaica’s elite runners
March 9, 2022 -- The Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) and 2004 Olympic 100m sprint champion Justin Gatlin are working together on a new docuseries this spring and summer highlighting the spirited rivalry between track and field’s dominant two countries – the United States and Jamaica.
The "Protect The Crown" docuseries covers U.S. Olympic Gold Medalist, Justin Gatlin, and his elite youth track team competing against the best-of-the-best in Jamaica. The team will travel to Jamaica in May, compete in a newly added Canada Track Invitational in the summer, culminating with the the AAU Junior Olympic Games, August 1-8, 2022 in Greensboro, North Carolina.
"Working on this project with the AAU represents the love for track and field but also sports,” said Justin Gatlin, Olympic Gold Medalist. “It's cultivating young athletes to be the best representative of their sports and generation."
This project will be historic as this will be the first youth U.S. track team to take their talents internationally for purposes of sending a positive message of friendly competition to the next generation of elite youth track runners of the top two countries – the United states and Jamaica -- in the track world.
“We’re are very excited to support AAU alum Justin Gatlin, his team and the Protect The Crown docuseries,” said Charles “Coach O” Oliver, AAU Track and Field National Chair. “Encouraging track and field athletes as they strive to reach their highest potential – on and off the track -- is what AAU track and field is all about. We are proud to play a part in the making of this series and in doing so welcome the opportunity to continue to raise AAU’s profile in the track and field world.”
The track community in Jamaica is eagerly anticipating Justin's big arrival and looking forward to watching the long-standing competition rivalry between the United States and Jamaica's top track athletes, this time at the youth level.
"To me this project represents generational passion and love for track and field." said Dashaun Morris, Creator of series project and Head Organizer/Assistance Coach of Pressure Track Club.
The overall mission is to establish a strong bond between the US youth and the Jamaican youth, providing them with a rewarding experience of sportsmanship and mentorship for life. Throughout the docuseries, the story will take a deep dive into each athlete's personal lives including day-to-day experiences such as training, competition and family dynamics.
"Working with AAU on this project is a perfect matrimony that is grounded in mentorship and positive reinforcement for young athletes to excel not only in sports but in life." Said Nina Harrison, Showrunner/Producer of the series project.
The "Protect The Crown" docuseries covers U.S. Olympic Gold Medalist, Justin Gatlin, and his elite youth track team competing against the best-of-the-best in Jamaica. The team will travel to Jamaica in May, compete in a newly added Canada Track Invitational in the summer, culminating with the the AAU Junior Olympic Games, August 1-8, 2022 in Greensboro, North Carolina.
"Working on this project with the AAU represents the love for track and field but also sports,” said Justin Gatlin, Olympic Gold Medalist. “It's cultivating young athletes to be the best representative of their sports and generation."
This project will be historic as this will be the first youth U.S. track team to take their talents internationally for purposes of sending a positive message of friendly competition to the next generation of elite youth track runners of the top two countries – the United states and Jamaica -- in the track world.
“We’re are very excited to support AAU alum Justin Gatlin, his team and the Protect The Crown docuseries,” said Charles “Coach O” Oliver, AAU Track and Field National Chair. “Encouraging track and field athletes as they strive to reach their highest potential – on and off the track -- is what AAU track and field is all about. We are proud to play a part in the making of this series and in doing so welcome the opportunity to continue to raise AAU’s profile in the track and field world.”
The track community in Jamaica is eagerly anticipating Justin's big arrival and looking forward to watching the long-standing competition rivalry between the United States and Jamaica's top track athletes, this time at the youth level.
"To me this project represents generational passion and love for track and field." said Dashaun Morris, Creator of series project and Head Organizer/Assistance Coach of Pressure Track Club.
The overall mission is to establish a strong bond between the US youth and the Jamaican youth, providing them with a rewarding experience of sportsmanship and mentorship for life. Throughout the docuseries, the story will take a deep dive into each athlete's personal lives including day-to-day experiences such as training, competition and family dynamics.
"Working with AAU on this project is a perfect matrimony that is grounded in mentorship and positive reinforcement for young athletes to excel not only in sports but in life." Said Nina Harrison, Showrunner/Producer of the series project.
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About Team Pressure:
Meet the first USA Youth 4x1 Relay Team coached by a 5-time Olympic gold medalist Justin Gatlin. In Track & Field, relays are run in teams of four, with each member running an equal leg. Unlike all other open events, the success of a relay is largely contingent upon the equal success of each relay leg. Team “Pressure” is simply untouchable in this event due to the incredible explosive speed of the individual team members: Dashaun “Honeybadger” Morris II (Grayson, GA), Rudolph “Blaze” Ingram (Tampa, FL), Kareen “2K” Knox II (Las Vegas, NV), Rudyard (RJ) “Jizzle” West Jr. (West Monroe, LA), and Kaden “Big O” Coleman-Bennett (Washington, DC).
About AAU Track & Field:
The Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) is one of the largest non-profit volunteer sports event organizations in the country. As a multi-sport organization, the AAU is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports programs. Founded in 1888, the AAU philosophy of “Sports For All, Forever” is now shared by approximately 700,000 members and 150,000 volunteers across 45 sports programs and 55 U.S. districts. AAU Track and Field alumni include Olympic legends such as Jackie Joyner-Kersee and Carl Lewis to more recent runners like Sydney McLaughlin (2020 Olympic Gold medalist in 400m hurdles), Athing Mu (2020 Olympic Gold medalist in 800m hurdles) and Grant Holloway (Olympian, world record holder in 60m hurdles). More than fifty (50) AAU Track and Field alumni participated in the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. Visit aautrackandfield.org for more information.
Meet the first USA Youth 4x1 Relay Team coached by a 5-time Olympic gold medalist Justin Gatlin. In Track & Field, relays are run in teams of four, with each member running an equal leg. Unlike all other open events, the success of a relay is largely contingent upon the equal success of each relay leg. Team “Pressure” is simply untouchable in this event due to the incredible explosive speed of the individual team members: Dashaun “Honeybadger” Morris II (Grayson, GA), Rudolph “Blaze” Ingram (Tampa, FL), Kareen “2K” Knox II (Las Vegas, NV), Rudyard (RJ) “Jizzle” West Jr. (West Monroe, LA), and Kaden “Big O” Coleman-Bennett (Washington, DC).
About AAU Track & Field:
The Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) is one of the largest non-profit volunteer sports event organizations in the country. As a multi-sport organization, the AAU is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports programs. Founded in 1888, the AAU philosophy of “Sports For All, Forever” is now shared by approximately 700,000 members and 150,000 volunteers across 45 sports programs and 55 U.S. districts. AAU Track and Field alumni include Olympic legends such as Jackie Joyner-Kersee and Carl Lewis to more recent runners like Sydney McLaughlin (2020 Olympic Gold medalist in 400m hurdles), Athing Mu (2020 Olympic Gold medalist in 800m hurdles) and Grant Holloway (Olympian, world record holder in 60m hurdles). More than fifty (50) AAU Track and Field alumni participated in the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. Visit aautrackandfield.org for more information.
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