The Running Force Track Club is talented, in unison and has no problem showing off their speed.
“To know that our hard work is paying off. It's really exciting,” Kendall Kirkland said.
Kirkland, along with several other members on the squad, qualified for the Junior Olympics in Houston.
Not only that -- they're honor roll students at James Weldon Johnson Middle School and Paxon High. Both, magnet schools.
A tough task in a world where teen mischief is common.
“We’re trying to set a good example for the upcoming high-schoolers and middle-schoolers and show them -- they can do good things in the city of Jacksonville,” Reighan Sheppard said.
The Junior Olympics is set for the first week of August, but getting there will take a group effort.
Running Force is fundraising, trying to raise at least $5,000 to make sure each team member can get there.
“It’s not a small task to send all these athletes to Houston, Texas. We have 16 different athletes, male and female,” parent Maricia Kirkland said.
Out of 30,000 competitors, these girls are in the top 100 at their 14 year-age group.
The only thing left to do? Bring home gold.
“We just want to enlighten the community on those same efforts and get the community behind us,” parent Lito Sheppard said.
If you'd like to help Running Force get to Houston, you can donate here.
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