Suffolk had a presence at the 2014 Amateur Athletic Union Junior Olympic Games in Des Moines, Iowa, this past week thanks to three young qualifiers who were able to make the trip: 13-year-old Betsy Pollard, 9-year-old Jordan Linneman and 8-year-old Lauryn McGlone.

More Suffolk athletes qualified, but the time and money commitment to go is significant.

All three girls were making their first appearances at the AAU Junior Olympic Games, but it was the second year Pollard had qualified for them. She put forth her best-ever performances in the 1500- and 3000-meter runs for 13-year-old girls.

Steven Sheppard, her coach with the Suffolk New Energy Running Club, a Tidewater Striders group, made the trip to Iowa and was pleased with what he saw.

“I enjoyed it, enjoyed watching it, coaching her through it,” he said.

On Thursday, Pollard ran in the 1500 and produced a time of 5:32.63, improving on her seed time of 5:38.67.

Sheppard said she “beat a half a dozen girls who were seeded higher than her,” and she placed 36th.

On Saturday, she ran in the 3000, and Sheppard said, “She dropped 35 seconds off of her seed time, which is really, really impressive.”

Pollard finished with a time of 12:44.13, good for 31st.

“She caught the track and field fever,” Sheppard said after the AAU Junior Olympics. “I don’t see her not being competitive throughout her high school years after this event.”

Jordan Linneman, also with Suffolk New Energy, competed in the girls’ javelin throw turbo for 9-year-olds, with a javelin weighing 400 grams. She placed 21st with a throw of 28-feet-1-inch.

“She just started with us this last year,” Sheppard said. “It was a pretty neat event for her.”

The mark she produced was near her personal record, and Sheppard sensed she had caught the track and field fever, as well.

He said he looks forward to Suffolk New Energy offering more instruction for field events this coming year to help Linneman and athletes with similar interests.

In her event, Lauryn McGlone ended up placing the highest out of all three Suffolk girls.

At the 8-year-old level of the girls’ javelin throw turbo, featuring a 300-gram javelin, she placed 19th with a personal record distance of 29-feet-7-inches.

“She did a good job,” said Gregory Rountree, her coach with the Suffolk Stars Track Club, where she has spent her first year as part of a track team. Even within that time, she has not been working with the javelin for long.

“She just picked it up at the end, so that was good for her to go out there,” Rountree said.

She was nervous during her experience in Iowa, but said, “It was fun,” and her father, Alonza McGlone, helped her get over the nerves through his encouragement.

Her mother, LaToya McGlone, stated in an email, “Alonza and I are very proud of Lauryn. She is making her dad, Alonza’s dream come true because he also participated in track and field.”