There won’t be a torch, fireworks or a massive opening ceremony anchored by international pop stars and plenty of pomp and circumstance.

But the USA Track and Field Junior Olympics championship will mean just as much to a group of local athletes competing in the event for the first time. Usually, the Heat have competed in AAU events, but decided to head to the nation’s primary track and field sanctioning body’s official event.

The Mississippi Heat Track Club is sending a contingent of athletes to compete in the prestigious event held on the campus of North Carolina A&T in Greensboro, N.C. The event is open to athletes from ages 8 to 18.

The team left for Greensboro today and the 4×100-meter relay teams will compete on Saturday.

“This is going to be a great opportunity for these kids to see facilities they’d never get to see and compete against the nation’s best,” Heat coach Clarence Maxey Jr. said.

Maxey, a Vicksburg city firefighter and a former Alcorn State standout, took over the team from founder Michael Keyton, who remains as the team’s sponsor.  The team hails from all parts of the state, but most of the team is from Warren and Claiborne Counties and the Heat includes some of the area’s best athletes.

Maxey will have a four-man relay team in each of the     different age divisions.

Long-time Heat competitor Demond Calvin of Vicksburg is part of the young mens’ 4×100 relay team. Renaldo Hollingbird of Indianola, Dannie Kimble of Vicksburg, Xavier Keyton of Port Gibson, Curtis Robinson of Port Gibson, Jalen Williams of Vicksburg, Terrell Smith of Vicksburg, Malcolm Maxey of Vicksburg, Antonio Maxey of Vicksburg, Darius White of Vicksburg and Robert Wells of Fayette all will run the 4×100 relay.

The relays won’t be the only place where the Heat will be amassing points.

Kailo Moore of Rosedale will run in the 100-meter sprint, while Audrianna Ratliff, who won the AAU Region 6 title, will be running in the 800-meter race. William Brokaw of Vicksburg will compete in the 5000-meter race.

*

Contact Steve Wilson at swilson@vicksburgpost.com