Fourth-grader Jamir Brown takes fifth at AAU Cross-Country National Championships in Alabama

IRVINGTON – On Saturday, Dec. 5, Florence Avenue School fourth-grader Jamir Brown of the Irvington-based Jersey Heat Track Club finished fifth in the nation in the 9-year-old boys division at the 2015 AAU Cross-Country National Championships contested in Danville (Decatur area), Ala. Jamir ran a personal-best 11:34.88 in the 3K (1.86 mile) race.

This was only his second competition of the entire 2015 cross-country season as he spent the bulk of the beginning of the season as the quarterback for the Pop Warner Irvington Golden Knights Mighty Mites division.

After the awards ceremony in his first ever cross-country national appearance, Jamir made it clear that he will be going after first-place honors in next year’s national meet.

Also appearing in their first-ever cross-country national competition was Irvington High School 10th-grader Terrell Williams and IHS ninth-grader Sebastin Val.

Despite the quick trip to and from Alabama, all three of the young men enjoyed the experience.  Since the team did not have enough funds to also participate in the USATF cross-country series, they will not be attending the National competition being contested in Albuquerque, N.M. on Dec. 12.  Instead, the team now looks forward to starting the 2015-2016 indoor competition season.

Anyone needing more information about the Jersey Heat Track Club program can contact Coach Michele Jones-Loring at 973-757-2537 or visit its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/jerseyheattc. Anyone who would like to make a donation to the club can do so at http://www.gofundme.com/jhtc2015-16indoor.