Roses dominate on track

Published 7:46 pm Friday, June 17, 2016

The Rose family continues to dominate on the track in AAU meets after having won 10 medals during the AAU District Qualifier.

Michaela

Michaela

Michail

Michail

Michael Jr., Michaela, Michail and Michailyn Rose all received medals at the AAU District Qualifier on Saturday. Out of the 10 medals they won, eight were gold.

“We are a track family,” said their mother, Marcia Rose, who ran track herself as a youngster. “That’s all we know.”

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Michael Jr. performed in the 15-16 age group, winning three medals: a gold medal in the 4×100 relay and two bronze medals, one in the 200-meter dash and one in the 400-meter dash.

Michaela ran in the 13-14 age group, winning three gold medals: one in the 400-meter dash, one in the 800-meter dash and one in the 4×800 relay.

Michail performed in the 11-12 age group, winning gold in the high jump. The youngest, Michailyn, ran in the 8 and under age group, winning three gold medals in the 400-meter dash, the 800-meter dash and the 4×100 relay.

“That was her first time running the 4×100 relay, so she was really excited about that,” said Marcia Rose said.

Both parents both ran track for Auburn University, where they graduated. Michael Rose Sr. is currently a coach at Tallwood High School. The Rose parents homeschool their children but say they have been contacted by different high schools in the area who would like to have their kids run for them.

“Nansemond River has contacted me about (Michael Jr.), and a number of other schools have contacted me about Michaela, but I like homeschooling my kids and training them myself,” said Rose.

Michael Jr.

Michael Jr.

Michailyn

Michailyn

Michael Jr. qualified for the New Balance Nationals meet happening June 17-19 in North Carolina, running in the freshman 100-meter and 400-meter dash.

“That’s a big deal because you don’t have too many homeschoolers going there,” said Rose. “We’re just hoping he does well there.”

The other three young athletes will be attending the 2016 USATF Virginia Junior Olympic Track and Field Championship in Milford on June 18, which could qualify them for the USATF National Junior Olympic Track and Field Championship in Sacramento, Calif., on July 25-31.

The AAU Regionals will be held in Gloucester on June 25, and that will be the qualifier for the AAU Junior Olympic Games July 27 through Aug. 6 in Houston, Texas.

If all four were to qualify for either event, it would be expensive. Rose said the airfare one way averages $350, but she is excited that her children are performing so well.

“I’m proud of all four of them, all four of them did well, and I’m looking forward to hopefully making it to California and Houston to the Nationals,” she said.

Any contributions to the Rose family children making it to nationals can be made at www.gofundme.com/fia2016.