NC Elite Sprinters produce seven Adidas All-Americans at national meet

Competing against more than 8,000 athletes from around the world, Wayne County-based NC Elite Sprinters capped its outdoor season by producing seven Adidas All-Americans at the Adidas Outdoor Nationals in Greensboro.

Athletes earn Adidas All-American honors by finishing among the top eight in their respective events. Several NC Elite Sprinters reached that milestone, with others recording personal-best performances against one of the nation’s strongest fields.

Alexandro Innocent led the way with a runner-up finish in the boys 100-meter dash, earning second place overall to secure Adidas All-American honors. He also placed 10th in the 200 meters.

Eastern Wayne’s Ja’Mir Fowler claimed third place in the 110-meter hurdles, running a personal-best 14.28 seconds to become an Adidas All-American.

NC Elite Sprinters also found success in the relay events.

The boys 4x200-meter relay team of Timothy Jefferies, Alex Innocent, Javari Smith and Gavin Britcher finished third overall with a personal-best time of 1:27.96, earning Adidas All-American recognition.

The boys 4x100-meter relay team of Valensky Lewis, Alex Innocent, Javari Smith and Gavin Britcher placed fifth overall in 41.92 seconds, a personal best that also ranks among North Carolina’s top 50 times.

The boys 4x400-meter relay team of Alex Innocent, Timothy Jefferies, Skervenson Aphael and Javari Smith finished 20th overall while setting a personal-best mark of 3:26.93.

Britcher also recorded a personal-best 21.97 in the 200 meters to finish 13th overall, while Jefferies posted a personal-best 22.98 in the same event.

On the girls side, the 4x200-meter relay team of Diamond Edwards, Jada Harris, Dezerae Thompson and Nieirah Smith ran together for the first time and finished 19th overall in a personal-best 1:45.91 after winning its preliminary heat.

The girls 4x400-meter relay team finished 36th overall while posting a personal-best time of 4:40.53.

Jada Harris ran a personal-best 12.22 seconds in the 100 meters to finish 30th overall, while Diamond Edwards also recorded a personal best with a 12.50.

The program is made up primarily of athletes from Wayne County, featuring competitors from Goldsboro, Eastern Wayne, Southern Wayne, Wilson Prep and Wallace-Rose Hill. The team trains at the University of Mount Olive.

Founder and head coach Don Pollock said the program was created to provide local athletes with the same opportunities available in larger cities.

“I didn’t start this team for me,” Pollock said. “I started for the kids who have dreams of being more.”

Pollock said the idea grew after watching Rahkeem Faison and Jeremiah Faison leave Wayne County to compete with NC Flight Club in Fayetteville, where they became national-level athletes.

“My mindset was, why can’t it be here? Why can’t Wayne County have its own?” Pollock said. “So I did just that.”

Pollock credited assistant Delavisha Harris-Faison for helping build the organization, handling registrations, travel logistics, event scheduling and communication with parents.

“With her, all I had to do was coach,” Pollock said.

The team’s success has also translated into college opportunities.

Innocent, a Haitian immigrant who came to the United States in 2017, will continue his track career at Bryant & Stratton College in Virginia Beach.

“He came here and didn’t make any excuses,” Pollock said. “Now Alex is the first of his family to receive a scholarship to continue running track at the collegiate level.”

Destiny Brewington has signed to compete at Barton College, while Javari Smith is still deciding where he will continue his athletic career.

Pollock hopes NC Elite Sprinters will continue to prove that elite athletes can be developed close to home.

“Everybody is ready to pack their kids up and head to bigger cities because they think it’s better,” Pollock said. “But why not invest here and do the same thing these bigger cities are doing? Let’s build our community and city up. We are a dynasty town.”

NC Elite Sprinters roster

Goldsboro: Alexandro Innocent, Destiny Brewington, Javari Smith, Dezerae Thompson, Nieirah Smith

Eastern Wayne: Gavin Britcher, Valensky Lewis, Ja’Mir Fowler, Diamond Edwards, Jada Harris

Southern Wayne: Skervenson Aphael

Wilson Prep: Timothy Jefferies

Wallace-Rose Hill: Tyler Gabriel