Local track athletes train for Junior Olympic Games

Head coach Kevin Ellis leads a group of local track athletes through a summer workout Thursday, July 25, 2019, at the Abe Stuber Track & Field Complex in Cape Girardeau to help them prepare for the 2019 AAU Junior Olympic Games, which will be held at North Carolina A&T Aggie Stadium in Greensboro, North Carolina.

Head coach Kevin Ellis smiles while talking to his athletes during practice Thursday, July 25, 2019, at the Abe Stuber Track & Field Complex in Cape Girardeau. Ellis, of Poplar Bluff, has been coaching for 17 years.Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian

Margo Nea leaps over a barrier during practice Thursday, July 25, 2019, at the Abe Stuber Track & Field Complex in Cape Girardeau.Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian

Head coach Kevin Ellis watches as Blayne Sterling, 11, of Cape Girardeau, lands in the sand while practicing his long jump Thursday, July 25, 2019, at the Abe Stuber Track & Field Complex in Cape Girardeau.Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian

Cole Barker, of Dexter, changes out of his racing spikes before practicing long jump during a practice Thursday, July 25, 2019, at the Abe Stuber Track & Field Complex in Cape Girardeau.Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian

From left, McKinlei Sterling, 8, JaShawn Sterling, 15, and Emilei Sterling, 10, pose for a portrait Thursday, July 25, 2019, before practice at the Abe Stuber Track & Field Complex in Cape Girardeau. The group of Cape Girardeau siblings qualified for the 2019 AAU Junior Olympic Games, which will be held next week in Greensboro, North Carolina.Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian

From left, McKinlei Sterling, 8, Emilei Sterling, 10, and JaShawn Sterling, 15, pose for a portrait Thursday, July 25, 2019, before practice at the Abe Stuber Track & Field Complex in Cape Girardeau. The group of Cape Girardeau siblings qualified for the 2019 AAU Junior Olympic Games, which will be held next week in Greensboro, North Carolina.Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian

Head coach Kevin Ellis talks to Margo Nea as his athletes rest before their next round of drills during practice Thursday, July 25, 2019, at the Abe Stuber Track & Field Complex in Cape Girardeau.Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian

Margo Nea leaps over a barrier while running an 800-meter steeplechase during practice Thursday, July 25, 2019, at the Abe Stuber Track & Field Complex in Cape Girardeau.Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian

Blayne Sterling, 11, of Cape Girardeau, keeps one hand on head coach Kevin Ellis while leaping a hurdle during practice Thursday, July 25, 2019, at the Abe Stuber Track & Field Complex in Cape Girardeau. "There's a difference between a want and a need," Ellis told Sterling. "You want help, you don't need it."Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian

Cole Barker stretches his muscles by hanging from a pole between exercises during a practice Thursday, July 25, 2019, at the Abe Stuber Track & Field Complex in Cape Girardeau.Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian

Head coach Kevin Ellis shows McKinlei and Emilei Sterling, 8 and 10, how to adjust a starting block during practice Thursday, July 25, 2019, at the Abe Stuber Track & Field Complex in Cape Girardeau.Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian

Emilei Sterling, 10, back right, stands with head coach Kevin Ellis as Cole Barker, front left, of Dexter, and JaShawn Sterling, 15, of Cape Girardeau, take their marks on starting blocks during practice Thursday, July 25, 2019, at the Abe Stuber Track & Field Complex in Cape Girardeau.Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian

Jaden Deaton, 16, of Poplar Bluff, leaps over a barrier while running with Carter Dorton, 16, of Dexter, during practice Thursday, July 25, 2019, at the Abe Stuber Track & Field Complex in Cape Girardeau.Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian

McKinlei Sterling, 8, of Cape Girardeau, sneaks in a dance move in-between workouts during practice Thursday, July 25, 2019, at the Abe Stuber Track & Field Complex in Cape Girardeau.Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian