MESQUITE, Texas — Anyone who knows Coach Shelby Rossum would tell you he is tough. But beneath his sternness, he has a soft spot for his team, Track Dynamite.
Rossum has coached the team since 2007. The team has produced more than 300 All-American Honors and more than 50 Junior Olympic champions such as Nayia Morgan and Kendrick Smallwood.
“It allowed me to maintain a steady level of motivation,” said Smallwood, a collegiate track athlete.
“I feel like we learned not only track lessons but a lot of life lessons also,” said Morgan, Arizona State University track athlete.
That is what matters most to Coach Rossum. That is why this year’s Junior Olympic competition in North Carolina is so important. For the first time, 34 Track Dynamite members qualified. Now, the hurdle is getting there.
“I’m kind of teared up about it. We’re almost at 100-percent graduation rate,” said Rossum. “I see so many youths today that don’t get the opportunities. As we know, opportunities are few even for us adults.”
They need food and a bus. If you would like to help Track Dynamite, click here for their GoFundMe page. The team plans to leave for North Carolina on July 29.
Grant Holden is a first-time runner. He is seven years old and just wants to be the fastest in the world. “I feel glad about myself…because I completed my dream halfway, and my dad is proud of me,” said Holden, a Track Dynamite member.
While he and his team are at the halfway mark to the competition, they stay encouraged. “You’ve got to go through the process in order to make progress,” said Rossum with tears in his eyes. “I’m not crying because I’m sad. I’m crying because this is great joy. It’s better than the Holy Spirit right now just knowing and seeing the accomplishments that these young people have.”