CES student competes in Junior Olympics
Weston Paul, a CES third grade student, recently competed at the AAU Junior Olympic Games in North Carolina. Photo submitted.
Mary Beth Sallee
Managing Editor
Hart Co. News-Herald
Eight-year-old Weston Paul is a third-grade student at Caverna Elementary School. As a member of the Vette City Blazers Track Club based out of Bowling Green, he competes in the long jump, 100m dash, 200m dash and sometimes the 400m dash.
Weston’s journey with track began at the age of six, encouraged by his mom and dad who knew he enjoyed running and was great at it. One day at practice, his coaches also noticed his impressive jumping abilities. That’s when Weston was introduced to the long jump competition.
Earlier this month, Weston’s talents were taken to new heights as he qualified for the AAU Junior Olympic Games in the long jump competition. He, as well as other Vette City Blazers athletes, traveled to North Carolina A&T on August 2nd-3rd to compete against other top athletes from across the nation.
To qualify for the Junior Olympics, an athlete had to finish in the top 5 in their event at their local AAU regional track meet or in the top 8 of an AAU national track meet.
“During the 2023 season, Weston missed qualifying for the Junior Olympics by one spot,” shared his parents, Dont’e and Whitney. “After that, he went into the 2024 season with a goal of competing at the Junior Olympics, and that fueled his passion every single meet.”
Weston qualified for the Junior Olympics when he finished 4th at the Tennessee Regional Track Meet in Knoxville. On August 3 at the AAU Junior Olympic Games, he competed in the long jump competition against 93 other registered competitors. Weston finished 43rd over all and clinched a spot in the national rankings for his event, making it into the top 100 (8 & under) long jumpers ranking within the nation. He was one of only two from Kentucky to do so.
“As parents, you want to see your children do amazing things and enjoy doing them,” Dont’e and Whitney said. “Watching Weston set a goal and work so hard to achieve it fills us with so much pride. We have loved every minute of competition. It’s been a wonderful journey. While getting to the Junior Olympics was the ultimate goal, watching Weston come out and get new personal records every meet was the best part.”
Now that track season has ended, Weston will transition into football season, playing for a travel football team based out of Bowling Green. In November, he will begin training again for indoor track season.
Weston Paul finished 43rd over all in the long jump competition at the Junior Olympics and clinched a spot in the national rankings for his event (top 100 for age 8 and under). Photo submitted.
Weston Paul is a member of the Vette City Blazers Track Club based out of Bowling Green. He recently competed at the Junior Olympics in North Carolina. Photo submitted.
