DAYO Lightning Track and Field Heads to Nationals

The Danbury DAYO Lightning Track and Field team is sending 12 people to the national AAU Jr. Olympics in New Orleans, if the team can raise enough money to send everyone.

"If you have dedication and you're in the right place, you get better. You're good," said Devonte Clarke, 13, who is going into 8th grade at Broadview. "I'm looking forward to a lot of competition and competing hard."

The Danbury Athletic Youth Organization already authorizied a gift of $300 per athelete, but each of the middle schoolers needs about $1,300 more to finish paying for the trip.

"It's totally awesome for a sport to make the nationals in its first year," said Pudgie DeLohery, President of DAYO. "I'm very proud of Gail and it's amazing how well it took off. It's like lightening."

Unlike older teams in Danbury with a larger following, the Lightning is new in town, now ending its first season. It was founded in 2010 by Gail Hill Williams, Julio Agosto and Hubert Parris.

"Track and Field was the only team that wasn't replaced after the middle schools gave up their teams," said Williams, who brought the idea to the DAYO board in 2010. "It really came together last year, and now I can really see the potential."

The potential turned into actual, when 12 Danbury Lightning middle schoolers qualified for the national tornament. One of the competitions is a 4X100 meter relay, and if those four runners fail to raise enough money, a third of the team can't compete.

"Track is super-fun," said Terrell Cunningham, 12, who will be a 7th grader at Broadview in September. "I wish it was year-round. I'm getting better and better."

Cunningham will be running a 400 meter race and an 800 meter race, if he can raise the money.

The group held a car wash/fund raiser at the A&P Super Foodmart on Padanaram Road Sunday, and they have about two weeks to finish raising the necessary money. Williams said she hopes to run other fund raisers as soon as possible.

The athletes who will compete in the AAU Junior Olympics are Kenneth Caldwell, Terrell Cunningham, Sara daSilva, Marcus Fox, Leah Sarkisian, Shaun Williams, Devonte Clarke, Cristiano daSilva, Ryan Fox, Jason Gomez, Elijah Simmons and Katie Witzig.

"It was a fun time. We went to New Brunswick. We were having a good time," said Shaun Williams, Gail's son, who will compete in the 4X100 relay and the hurdles at nationals. "We work hard, but when we're resting, it's fun to meet people."

In addition to a series of fundraisers, the DAYO Lightning is mailing out fundraising letters to corporations and banks, and to individuals who might like to help the new team.

People can make donations to the DAYO Lightning by making checks payable to DAYO Lightning Track and Field, 34-2 Grand St., Danbury, CT 06810.