The synergy between the athletes and coaches in the Evergreen Storm Track Club is creating All-Americans.
“We’re kind of like a family,” said Rachel Blair, a 13-year-old from Camas. “We spend so much time running together.”
Blair, Tyler Dinh, Tory Kehler and Darlina Rose became All-Americans after finishing in the top 20 of their age groups at the Junior Olympic National Cross Country Championships Dec. 13, in Myrtle Beach, S.C. Allison and Gabriella Warta, Aiden and Amelia Pullen, Serena Smith and Ryan Stuck also competed at the meet.
“I’ll remember the feelings I had the whole day,” Gabriella Warta said. “Nervousness, excitement, pain and then relief. It was all worth it in the end.”
Dinh earned fifth place in the boys 9-10 division’s 3,000-meter national race. The 10-year-old from Camas crossed the finish line in 10 minutes, 47.52 seconds.