First year track and field athlete named AAU All American

Jerek Taylor, an Alabama Track Club Member, was recently named Amateur Athletic Union All American in the 200-metere dash. This was during the AAU Club Nationals held in Orlando, Fla. at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.

Under the guidance of Coaches Elon Gaddy and Drew Bell, Taylor was able to successfully compete against athletes from all over the East Coast, along with Puerto Rico and the Bahamas.

Taylor finished ninth place in the 100-meter dash semi-finals with a personal best of 11.74 and sixth place in the 200-meter finals with a time of 23.91.

This was his first year running track.

He credits his enthusiasm and self determination to Coach Gaddy, as well as to some of the senior members of the club. Taylor is a rising ninth-grader at Discovery Middle School.