Izac Canchola of Refugio won a gold medal for the second year in a row in the multi-event at the AAU Junior Olympic Games in San Antonio on Friday, June 25.

As a sub-bantam boy the multi-event consists of the shot put, high jump and the 400-meter dash.

Izac, Jemal LaFond, Chris Moya, Jaylon Mascorro, Shaylan “Shaky” Brown, Shaylian “Puffy” Bisby, Robert Ortiz, Brianna Rodriguez, Jordy Martinez, Trenton Ross, Trever Ross, Tracelyn Ross, Kaitlyn Valderrama, Kaleb Wright, Jasmine Perez, Alexis Boyd, Jared Kelley and Alicia Canchola will travel to San Antonio today, Thursday, July 1-3 to compete in the Track and Field District Qualifying meet.

The top three in each event from this meet will advance to the National Qualifiers Meet July 8-10; and the top three at that meet will qualify for the AAU Junior Olympics on Aug. 2-8 in Norfold, Va.

These youth athletes joined the San Antonio Blazers, founded by Willie Davis, a Refugio Alumni and 1983 graduate.

Born and reared in Refugio, Willie was on the 1982 State Championship team with Izac’s father John Canchola. Willie is the son of Andre Davis.

Other coaches take time out after work every summer to coach kids in track and field events. You can visit Willie’s web page on sablazer.com for more information on his non-profit organization.

“We have been seeing Willie’s team at all the track meets and last year we asked him if we could join their team,” Izac said.

Izac, his older brothers and cousins Thomas and Alicia Canchola have competed in summer track and then advanced to the Olympics.

Following the summer track program at the school, the parents of the athletes are responsible for transportation and fees associated with the competing.

To help defray travel costs and allow the children to advance, a booth will be set up at the Fourth of July Celebration at the Refugio County Fairgrounds.

The food booth will feature carne guisada, burritos and drinks.