NATCHEZ — A handful of local athletes ran and jumped their way to some prestigious honors on July 11 through 17 in Orlando, Fla.

Eight members of the Raising an Alliance of Discerning Leaders Track Club participated in the AAU National Club Track and Field Championships, and the team had a very good showing, coach Eddie Ray Jackson said.

“All of our athletes performed exceptionally, and I was very proud of the results that they posted in front of a national crowd, with over 8,000 athletes from all over the U.S., as well as Jamaica and Puerto Rico,” Jackson said.

Jackson was especially impressed with the performance of the five athletes that made up the Young Men’s division (17-18), he said.

“In our Young Men’s division we only came with five, but at the end of the day, they were being acknowledged by almost everyone there,” Jackson said. “All they did was finish third overall, competing against over 50 teams. That was totally awesome, and I am so very proud of them.”

Jeryl Brazil, Lamar Carraway Jr., D’Querius Bullock, Robert Curry and Jacquey Huff made up the Young Men’s team for RADL.

Brazil led the way for the team. He finished first in the 100-meter dash, the long jump and the 4×100-meter relay along with teammates Brazil, Carraway Jr. and Huff.

Brazil finished second to Bullock in the 100-meter dash and also finished second in the 200-meter dash.

Huff’s top individual performance was in the 400-meter dash, where he finished 11th. Curry placed fourth in the triple jump and 13th in the long jump.

Jackson also took his 13-year-old son Ramonte to the event. Ramonte finished third in the Sub-Youth Division long jump and second in the triple jump. Ramonte holds the top ranking in the country for triple jump in his age group.

Two female athletes, Jada Hunt and Tyceona Campbell, also had good showings for RADL.

Hunt placed fifth in the Youth Girls’ 100-meter dash, second in the long jump and 10th in the 200-meter dash and 400-meter dash.

Campbell placed 42nd in the 100-meter dash, 36th in the 200-meter dash and 40th in the long jump in the Intermediate Girls’ division.

Eddie Ray said hard work and ability make the athletes on the RADL team so competitive in the competitions.

“It’s a combination of talent and hard work, they do work,” he said. “For them to go down and compete against that type of competition at that level is proof.

“We believe in putting in good, hard work, and what you put in you can expect a reward on the other end, and that reward is to get better.”

Eddie Ray said each of the eight athletes that competed in the AAU competition qualified for the AAU Junior Olympic Games in New Orleans July 30 through Aug. 7.

“I can’t wait,” he said. “I’ve been on edge ever since last week. It’s going to be a little bit higher competition. I get texts (from the athletes) every day wanting to know what time we are leaving. I know they are very excited.

“Most of them are new to the program and have never been to this type of competition before.”

C.J. White and Lester Wells will also be going to New Orleans along with the eight members that went to Orlando, Eddie Ray said.

Eddie Ray said he is using this week to prepare his athletes for the event.

“Right now we’re not running them too much,” he said. “We are relaxing a little bit and getting mentally focused, because the level of competition will be high. We have to be on our A-game.

“I just want them to go out and perform well. If you run your personal best and finish dead last, I can’t get mad.”

Eddie Ray said he still believes his Young Men’s team will perform at a high level in New Orleans.

“I really do believe my young men can fare well,” he said.

RADL is a program Eddie Ray started approximately six years ago that focuses on helping children overcome bad situations, he said.

“It’s a workbook to help at-risk kids make positive and better choices,” he said.

The program works with the Adolescent Offender Program to identify at-risk youth and provide them guidance, Eddie Ray said.

Eddie Ray said the track team provides children an opportunity to get out and compete athletically, even if they are not suited, or do not enjoy, team sports.

“There are a lot of kids in our area that play football, basketball or baseball, and some of those kids may not be the best on the team so they don’t get to play,” he said. “Track gives everybody an equal opportunity to perform, whether they are the greatest athlete in the world or not.”

Eddie Ray said the track club is for all children in the Miss-Lou, and he just wants to provide a good example for the athletes while giving them a chance to compete.