Saraiah Walkes, 14, has a need for speed.
Whether she's racing around a Bradenton track or competing in the high jump, this local teen is dedicated.
- Saraiah Walkes plans to go to the Junior Olympics
- 8th grade runner has won dozens of medals
- Walkes is raising money for the expensive trip
"I feel like it just helps, because if I'm mad I just run and I feel better, or if I have a lot of school work I just come to track and forget about it," she said.
Walkes found her passion for running track when she was just 7 years old. Growing up, she says she spent a lot of time hanging around at home, and running was just something to do.
"I used to always race my brothers and I always used to beat them because I was so competitive, and there was nothing to do around the house," Walkes said.
But then it turned into a passion. The 8th grader has dozens of medals and trophies to prove it. Earlier this year, she took on high schoolers in a state-wide competition and came out on top in three different divisions.
"This just hypes me up for trying to be faster it's not like, 'I won I'm gonna be done,'" she said. "I'm trying to win and keep on winning until I get to college.. and probably even further than that."
Her success is a product of hard work. She trains five days a week, and a few of those days are under the watchful eye of coach Rodrick Miller.
Her next goal is the AAU Junior Olympics in Detriot. The competition is costly, but Walkes is doing everything she can to make sure she can get there.
"I'm gonna try to have another fundraiser like maybe a bake sale, or I'll try another way to make money to go," she said. "Or maybe, if the worst happens, I won't be able to go."
She says this is just the next goal of many. She wants to make it to the Olympic Games in 2020.
To support Saraiah visit https://www.gofundme.com/saraiah-2017-junior-olympic-fund.
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