Whether you are good or bad, a success or are a failure, you came from somewhere. Superstar athletes "Cinnamon" Dajour Miles, Katelynne Hart, and Marcellus Moore all trace part of their roots from the famed Aurora Flyers Track Club. Longtime head coach Thomas Boatright has schooled, developed, mentored, advocated, and all round cared for thousands of student-athletes. But this piece is really about the three aforementioned athletes. They represent and share a bond they call #Flytime.
#Flytime is defined as It's time to get out on the track and put everything that you've been training for on the track- put those wings on and fly. "Cinnamon is nothing but supportive of all her teammates," says Cinnamon Miles mother Joy Johnson. She adds: "She knows that each and everyone of her teammates all have different gifts and talents and there's room for them all. Just like us parents, we support each and every kid that represents the orange and blue #FLYTIME. You can't get anywhere being jealous or prideful. Our kids run for 2 things... to give God Glory and to represents that orange and blue."
Cinnamon was the first of the three to shine in track and field. She has competed since the toddler age group of AAU. In addition to breaking many age group records, Miles is an accomplished basketball player; she is a junior starting guard for West Aurora. Everything has not been peaches and cream for Miles who has had her share of injuries and personal setback. The state age group record holder for 100m, 200m and 400m set her personal records before she even entered high school last year: 11.90, 24.10 and 54.08. Many expected to see her tear up the state circuit during the spring of 2016, but a disagreement with her high school coach caused her not to perform while at Waubonsie Valley. Miles obviously moved on graciously and dropped several peak marks indoors (US#6 indoors 400m- 54.25) and outside (won 3A states 54.75). Already this season during the peak of basketball on limited track and field training, Miles ran 55.71 on a title and slow 200m oval which is the state leader and US#8. There will be more to come from Cinnamon that is certain.
Marcellus Moore has been burning his foes young and old since he was in 8th grade. As an official document Moore clocked 10.98/22.98 for AAU peak marks. That was just the beginning for the phenom who entered coach Tony Holler's fast track Plainfield North High School program. Moore did not disappoint. In his first indoor season he made history by becoming the first speedster from Illinois to make the New Balance Nationals Indoor 60m final. He would place 9th against the very best sprinters in the country. Moore later swept the Illinois Top Times 60/200 races. Moore became a marked man throughout the outdoor season and although he ran IL#1 100m 10.40 and 200m 21.28, he could quite capture the state titles. Youth, fatigue, and the competition stepping up prevailed over a 14 year old. Already in real time 2018, Moore showed no signs of slowing down as he has captured national attention burning the track at Texas A&M and U of Arkansas. Moore produced the fastest indoor 200 for an IL boy of 21.30- rocking the national consciousness and US#3.
By now you have heard of Katelynne Hart. In her inner circle she is affectionately known as "KK." Hart was an accomplished gymnast before running took hold of her life. She ran some pretty slick times as a middle school star. As impressive as her pre-high school resume was, not too people raised an eyebrow. It may have been because many girls have come along as freshmen darlings and then disappear after a year or two. Hart is different though. She is built like a mini tank strength wise and she runs on her forefoot and the posture? You would think KK was a 400m dash star. She won the state 3A cross country crown in 2016 as a freshman and picked up an NXN All-American honor in the process. But the big deal was last May at state in Charleston when she attempted and completed a unique triple unheard of in 3A (4x8 relay, 3200, 1600). Hart ran 2:13 on the relay and won the two open races. So it was five high powered races in less than 24 hours with prelims added in from Friday that enabled her Glenbard West team to win the state team title. This school year Hart won her second xc title and placed 2nd in the Footlocker National Final. And most recently she ran in Scotland for the US Junior team. As you can see the present and the future is very bright for Hart.
Kudos to the best friend/race trio #flytime