Local elementary school students hit the track at NAU's Lumberjack Stadium last week for the Junior Olympic Skills Competition.

Local youth get into Olympic spirit at NAU

NAU's Center for High Altitude Training celebrated last week's Olympic Week in America by bringing together local elementary school children, high school minority students, college athletes and Olympic hopefuls for the Junior Olympic Skills Competition at Lumberjack Stadium.

The event gave local fifth- and sixth-graders from South Beaver and DeMiguel elementary schools a chance to showcase their athletic abilities in two Olympic events, soccer and track and field.

Winners from this local qualifying event will advance to a regional competition in Anthem, Ariz., in June.

"Any chance to get outside and tune-up our bodies for activities that will encourage healthy, life-long physical activities is wonderful, not to mention the real-life connection to the upcoming Olympics," said Julie Elliott, coach for DeMiguel students.

NAU student-athletes worked with Olympic hopefuls to run the competition, along with students from Flagstaff High School and Coconino High School who were participating in the U.S. Olympic regional FLAME Program, or Finding Leaders Among Minorities Everywhere.