By Andrew Cato, ShowMe Times Sports Editor

The Southeast Missouri Cleats of Fire will be competing in the AAU Junior Olympics in New Orleans, La., from July 29 - Aug. 6, with MaKayla Waldner representing Dexter in the competition.

MaKayla, the 13 year old daughter of Bob and Kim Waldner, is no stranger to competition. Her two older sisters, Sammy and Brittany, are both on collegiate track teams. Her older brother, Trevor, is a wrestler at Dexter High School. Her younger brother, Travis, appears to be as athletic as any other member of the family.

“I’ve been with the team since I was seven,” Waldner said. “It’s a traveling team of kids around Dexter - Poplar Bluff, Sikeston, stuff like that - and we compete in summer track. Our coach is Kevin Ellis. We ranged from 11 to 14 years old. Every year we try to go to the Junior Olympics, which rotates locations every five years.”


“I’ve gone to [the Junior Olympics] every year since I’ve started with Cleats of Fire,” Waldner added. “I’ve usually placed in most of my events down there.”


Waldner competes in nine events during meets - five multi’s and four individuals. In multi’s, Waldner runs the 800 meter dash, high jumps, long jumps, throws shotput, and runs hurdles. In her individual events, she runs the 100 and 200 meter hurdles, pole vaults, and does the high jump.


“Hurdles and pole vault are my favorite,” Waldner said. “I really like both of them.”

Waldner also competes for the DHS Bearcats during the school year, and noted the heightened level of competition that she faces during the AAU Junior Olympics.

“This is so much harder than school track. I have to train ten times harder if I want to place,” Waldner added. “We train four times a week - one day we’ll do hurdles, one day we’ll run hills, basically whatever coach wants us to do.”

The team is currently accepting donations and selling smoked pork loins and Boston butts to help fund the trip. Pre-ordered meat is to be picked up on July 23. For more details regarding the meat sale, send an email to acato@showmetimes.com.

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Make sure to check back with the ShowMe Times for updates on MaKayla's journey to the AAU Junior Olympics!