LOVELAND — Graham Cheben could have spent his summer on the couch, watching television and playing video games. But that wasn't what the 15-year-old athlete had in mind.

Assistant coach George Wise (left to right), Alex Elias, Erin Bauer and Sarah Leeper race during practice at Loveland High School on Tuesday. (Michael Snyder photo) | ZOOM |

        Before the summer began, Graham and about 10 teens had their sights set on the USA Track & Field Junior Olympics National Championships in Omaha, Neb.

        Like gladiators, the high school and middle school students have been running, jumping and hurdling during the hottest days of the summer, practicing three days a week. Their coaches are optimistic that the hard work will pay off when the teens compete in regional competition in Dayton, Ohio, this weekend.

        “We have a pretty good chance, as a team, to continue on to nationals,” Graham said on Tuesday, a few hours before heading out to one of the team's final practices outside Loveland High School. If the teens from Loveland qualify in the regionals, the next step will be the national competition July 23-28.

        Graham, who has placed third in the state in long jump and first in a team relay, is on the team with his brother, Landon, 14, who has placed second in two hurdling competitions on the state level.

        “Instead of sleeping until noon, we get them up and going,” said the boys' mother, Cindy Cheben. “I like to keep them involved in sports. The more sports they participate in, the less trouble they will get into.”

        But no one is forcing these teens to bake in the sun all summer. They say they do it because they love the adrenaline rush of making it to the finish line — win or lose.

        Assistant coach George Wise says the team is a “coach's dream.”

        “The kids want to do this,” said Mr. Wise, who also coaches the track team at Loveland Middle School. “It has been a pleasure to coach a team that is as talented as they are.”

        About 100,000 teens nationwide participate in the Junior Olympics National Championships. About 6,000 of them will qualify for the championship in Nebraska.

        The competition “gives the young ones a wonderful opportunity to compete and find out where they stand,” said Tom Surber, a spokesman for USA Track & Field. “A number of athletes have climbed the ranks and gone on to win world championships and Olympic championships.”

        Mr. Wise said he wouldn't be surprised if a few of the kids he coached during the summer become stars.

        “A couple of kids will someday be pretty big names, at least in our area, if not the nation,” he said.

        To help the Loveland team travel to the national competition, send donations to coach John Waple, 10275 Richland Park Drive, Loveland, OH 45140. If the teens do not qualify, donations will be returned.
       

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