Northern Virginia Brother and Sister Duo Make Their Mark at the 2022 AAU Junior Olympic Games
08/15/2022
Brother-sister duo Michael James Jr. and Silease James take home multiple medals in throwing events at the 2022 AAU Junior Olympic Games.
GREENSBORO, N.C. -- Michael James, Jr., age 12, and Silease James, age 10, with the Dale City Lightning Track Club of Northern Virginia, competed and succeeded in not one, but multiple throwing events at the 2022 AAU Junior Olympic Games (July 31-August 6, 2022) in Greensboro, North Carolina.
Michael began competing in field events when he was 6 years old, and Silease began when she was 8 years old. They are 17 months apart and determined to both achieve greatness in field throwing events which seldom gets the love it deserves.
It has been a long road to the AAU Junior Olympic Games and some days they even had two practices a day. The hard work that began during the indoor season, which resulted in gold medals for both in shot put at the 2022 AAU Indoor National Championship (Virginia Beach, Virginia), continued into the summer. Both Michael and Silease were pleased to be able to qualify for the AAU Junior Olympics and to see the results of their perseverance.
On July 31 – August 6, in Greensboro, at Truist Stadium of North Carolina A&T University, Michael and Silease made history by becoming the first kids in their family to achieve multiple All-American statuses within the same year. In 2021, Michael was able to garner fifth place in shot put for the 11-year-old boys category, but walked away empty handed from turbo javelin and discus. In the years prior to 2021, he had never made the podium at the AAU Junior Olympic Games. This year, he took his events in the 12U category by storm. In turbo javelin, Michael threw 111 feet, 9 inches and was awarded eighth place. In shot put, Michael came in second place with a throw of 46 feet, 4 inches. In discus, Michael threw 125 feet, 1 inch and achieved first place.
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Silease was also determined this year to do better than last year, where in Houston for the 2021 AAU Junior Olympics, she had to walk away empty handed from both shot put and turbo javelin. Silease qualified for shot put, turbo javelin, and discus this year. Turbo javelin did not produce the outcome she wanted, but Silease was able to become a 2x All-American in her other two events by achieving second place in both shot put (33 feet, 8.5 inches) and discus (80 feet, ¾ inches).
Both Michael and Silease prepared for this moment and are grateful they were able to achieve All-American status in multiple events. The growth from one year to the next was something that even some coaches from other track clubs noticed. To go from not making it to the podium, to making it 1x or 2x or even 3x, was outstanding and an experience that they will remember for years to come. They credit their success to God and to their dad (Coach Mike, a throws coach with the Dale City Lightning Track Club). Michael and Silease are hoping to change people’s minds about how they see throwing events by working hard, staying humble, and making their mark in the field.
Keep watching world – this brother-sister duo is determined to keep going higher.
Congratulations Michael and Silease on a job well done!
Michael began competing in field events when he was 6 years old, and Silease began when she was 8 years old. They are 17 months apart and determined to both achieve greatness in field throwing events which seldom gets the love it deserves.
It has been a long road to the AAU Junior Olympic Games and some days they even had two practices a day. The hard work that began during the indoor season, which resulted in gold medals for both in shot put at the 2022 AAU Indoor National Championship (Virginia Beach, Virginia), continued into the summer. Both Michael and Silease were pleased to be able to qualify for the AAU Junior Olympics and to see the results of their perseverance.
On July 31 – August 6, in Greensboro, at Truist Stadium of North Carolina A&T University, Michael and Silease made history by becoming the first kids in their family to achieve multiple All-American statuses within the same year. In 2021, Michael was able to garner fifth place in shot put for the 11-year-old boys category, but walked away empty handed from turbo javelin and discus. In the years prior to 2021, he had never made the podium at the AAU Junior Olympic Games. This year, he took his events in the 12U category by storm. In turbo javelin, Michael threw 111 feet, 9 inches and was awarded eighth place. In shot put, Michael came in second place with a throw of 46 feet, 4 inches. In discus, Michael threw 125 feet, 1 inch and achieved first place.
Silease was also determined this year to do better than last year, where in Houston for the 2021 AAU Junior Olympics, she had to walk away empty handed from both shot put and turbo javelin. Silease qualified for shot put, turbo javelin, and discus this year. Turbo javelin did not produce the outcome she wanted, but Silease was able to become a 2x All-American in her other two events by achieving second place in both shot put (33 feet, 8.5 inches) and discus (80 feet, ¾ inches).
Both Michael and Silease prepared for this moment and are grateful they were able to achieve All-American status in multiple events. The growth from one year to the next was something that even some coaches from other track clubs noticed. To go from not making it to the podium, to making it 1x or 2x or even 3x, was outstanding and an experience that they will remember for years to come. They credit their success to God and to their dad (Coach Mike, a throws coach with the Dale City Lightning Track Club). Michael and Silease are hoping to change people’s minds about how they see throwing events by working hard, staying humble, and making their mark in the field.
Keep watching world – this brother-sister duo is determined to keep going higher.
Congratulations Michael and Silease on a job well done!
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