I guess my memory is not as good as I thought it was, because I forgot the one event that made 1983 an incredible year...AAU/USA Junior Olympics!
At the end of my sophmore track season after doing very well during the season, my coaches told me that I should try to compete in the Summer Junior Olympics. The really great thing about it was the fact that our stadium at the high school was going to be the location of two track meets for the Jr Olympics. The first was to be a city meet, and the second was for the county.
I figured since I was already in the best shape I have every been, this would be a great thing to particpate in during the summer. I had to ensure that I stayed in shape during the down time between the end of track season and when the first qualifier meet was to be held. That was easy to do because during the summers, I loved to ride my bike all over the city. I would get up early in the mornings, right when the fresh "Tulare Dairy" air was at its lowest point of stinkiness. Once the sun was too much to deal with, I would head back home and stretch my legs and do some indoor exercises to work on my thighs, calves and arms. You would be amazed how much those three body parts play in performing the Triple Jump successfully.
Just before the end of the school year, one of the coaches told me about the Summer Junior Olympics and he thought I should try to compete during the summer. I had such a great season of track and field, I figured it would give me something to do for a few weeks. Being young and having so much energy at the time, I really wanted to do something that I enjoyed and it would get me out of the house often. I couldn't really depend on my friends from school to fill up my summer, so I went for it. I found out who I had to get in contact with and filled out the paperwork to participate.
After school was over, I waited for the first track meet and it was coming very quickly. I only had 3 weeks to prepare for the first city meet. Before I knew it, the meet was here and I thought for sure that I would see several people from my high school team, but there was only about 10 of us that decided to participate. Even my cross town rival Alfred Jackson participated, which made my heart drop because I knew he would be serious competition for me. I figured that if I was the only person from the city, I would have no problem winning and making it to the next level. At the time, I was considered the top Triple Jumper in the county and in the valley. But Alfred was right there on my heels with some very impressive jumps of his own.
Both Alfred and I took first and second place at the city meet which automatically qualified us for the valley meet that was held at Tulare Union as well. So that was just like having home field advantage when jumpers from all over the valley would make the journey to my "house".
The valley meet was another great success, and we qualified for the State meet to determine who would represent California and the National meet. Now at the time, I did not know where the National meet was to be held. We were informed at the State meet that who ever was the top 3 would be invited to South Bend, Indiana. The National meet was to take place on the historic Norte Dame University campus. But wait a minute, how in the world could 10 small town kids get enough money to make it to South Bend!!! We did a lot of things around the city to raise the funds and took donations as well.
Before we knew it, we raised the amount of money that we needed and we rented a motorhome and all piled into it with the three adult coaches that would drive us cross country. That was one incredible journey for me that summer. We drove day and night for 4 days to get there on time, and stopped in various locations. We got a special treat and stop in St Louis, MO and went to Busche Stadium. After a brief stop there, we finished the journey to South Bend and pull up to Norte Dame University. I was immediately star struck by the size and historic importance of that campus.
As we all registered for the meet, we found out that there was so many people from California that we were assigned to the largest dorm on campus which was a high rise dorm. Needless to say, the next 4 days there California showed everyone how to party!
At the meet itself, Alfred and I was working hard to bring the gold and silver back to California. On my second to last jump, I felt something go wrong with my right knee and I had to scratch from the event. The jumps that I had already made was good enough to make it so that I placed 5th overall at the National meet. When I think back, that was actually an incredible accomplishment for me at the time. I know that does not mean I was ranked in the Nation, but for the moment and in the Jr Olympics for 1983, I was the 5th best which was amazing for me!
I got my picture taken and it was published in the Tulare newspaper, Alfred placed 2nd and was in the newspaper as well. Two small town boys did well on the National stage. The link below will show the official record of the 1983 Jr Olympics. I did a search just to see if there was anything online about the meet and sure enough, there is still an official record! Made me smile from ear to ear to see that my name is still shown somewhere for the greatest accomplishment that I completed during my teen years.
It is always amazing what you can remember about fun times from your childhood when you become an adult. This was a wild journey and I treasure the days that we were all crammed into that little motorhome. Especially since I was able to sleep right next to Dina Lopez...I HAD A MAJOR CRUSH ON HER!!!! But that is another story...
AAU/USA
