Supersonic set for AAU nationals debut

Competing at the Amateur Athletic Union Junior Olympics for Supersonic Track are (from left) Hadley Faught, Charlotte Farhat, Bridger Jarrett, Colsen Ing, Sawyer Loe, Jude Jackson, and Carlito Richards.

Richard Searcy

The games are currently going on through the greater Houston area and conclude Aug. 2.

“Our mission is to empower young athletes to reach their fullest potential on and off the track,” said Richard Searcy, who created the club with his wife Adele in 2019. “We focus on building positive character in our athletes, self-discipline, and teamwork.

“We accept all athletes regardless of their talent level. We tell our athletes it’s not about medals and ribbons, it about progression. Be better every week is what we preach.”

The club includes athletes from throughout Parker County and works with ages 4-18. The seven athletes competing this week in Houston are:

• Bridger Jarrett (Boys age 9), from Peaster, is in his first year of competing in track and Searcy calls him “The surprise of this year’s track season.” He came out of nowhere at AAU district meet and kept going at the AAU regionals, where he qualified for Junior Olympics in all three of his events. He placed fifth in the 400-meter dash, third in the 800 and second in the 1500. “I look forward to his progression in all of his events at the Junior Olympics,” Searcy said.
• Hadley Faught (Girls age 9), from Weatherford, is in her second year with the club. She will be competing in the 800 after placing fifth at regionals, along with the 1500 in which she was fourth. “I anticipate Hadley having a strong performance at the Junior Olympics,” Searcy said.
• Charlotte Farhat (Girls age 14), from Weatherford, is also in her second year with the team. She placed fourth in the 3000 at regionals. “Charlotte is a very good distance runner and I expect her to run very well at the Junior Olympics,” Searcy said.
• Jude Jackson (Boys 13-14) is another first-year member. The Millsap runner is part of the regional-winning 4x800 relay, along with the fourth-place 4x400 relay. “I call the relay team the Millsap/Weatherford Connection. I am very excited to see Jude and the relay time work their magic at the JO’s,” Searcy said.
• Sawyer Loe (Boys age 13 and 13-14) is, likewise, from Millsap and also in his fifth season. Along with being part of the two relays, he will be competing in the 100 hurdles (third at regionals) and pole vault (first). Additionally, he is a national champion from the 2024 State Games of America that was held in San Diego as part of the gold medalists 4X400 relay. “I see a bright future in Sawyer, especially becoming a multi-event athlete,” Searcy said.
• Carlito Richards (Boys age 13 and 13-14), from Weatherford, has been with the club since its inaugural season. He won gold in the long jump at regionals and ran a leg of both relays. He was also on the State Games national champion relay. “Carlito has a big future in track and field and the sky is the limit for him,” Searcy said.
• Weatherford’s Colsen Ing (Boys age 13 and 13-14) is in his fourth year and will be competing in four events. He placed third at regionals in the 400 dash, won the 800 and is the anchor leg of both relays. He won three titles at the State Games of America as part of the relay, along with the 400 and 800. He broke the California state record among ages 12 and under in the 800, clocking 2:15.66, and is the 12th-ranked 13-year-old nationally in that same event currently after posting a 2:07.56. “Colsen is going places in track and field. You will remember his name,” Searcy said.

While the team has yet to send any athletes to college, Searcy believes that is on the horizon.

“We do have a senior by the name of Xavier Craven who will be attending Bethel College to play football, and hopefully he will run track there, too,” he said. “He learned that track gets you ready for football — all sports, really.”

Searcy noted how proud he is of his athletes who are competing at the “next level” at the AAU Junior Olympics.

“They have set an example that athletes from Parker County can compete against not only the athletes from the DFW or Texas, but against athletes from all over the nation,” he said. “These athletes work hard for this and it was not given to them, they had to earn it. So I hope our other athletes are motivated by them to be their best.”