Oakland’s Youngest Track Stars Make Junior Olympics Debut in 2 States
Nonprofit East Oakland Track Gems introduces Oakland Unified School District students to track and field and helps them with various travel expenses. Led by Coach Traivon Soto-Johnson, the boys travel out of state to compete in relay races, shot put, long jump, and more.
For KQED, copy by Steph Rodriguez.
From left to right: John Howard III, Elijah Soto-Sims, Kayden Thompson and Kaden Remson run on the track at Castlemont High School in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, July 31, 2023. The four boys are a part of East Oakland Track Gems, a nonprofit that introduces OUSD students to track and field and helps them with various travel expenses. | Juliana Yamada/KQED
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East Oakland Track Gems Coach Traivon Soto-Johnson (right) helps Kayden Thompson (left) tie his shoes at Castlemont High School in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, July 31, 2023. Coach Soto trains the East Oakland Track Gems, a nonprofit that introduces OUSD students to track and field and helps them with various travel expenses. | Juliana Yamada/KQED
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John Howard III (front) and Kaden Remson do a drill at track practice with their coach, Traivon Soto-Johnson at Castlemont High School in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, July 31, 2023. Coach Soto trains the boys with the East Oakland Track Gems, a nonprofit that introduces OUSD students to track and field and helps them with various travel expenses. | Juliana Yamada/KQED
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Kaden Remson (left) and John Howard III (right) run a drill on the track at Castlemont High School in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, July 31, 2023. Remson and Howard III train for competitions as a part of the East Oakland Track Gems, a nonprofit that introduces OUSD students to track and field and helps them with various travel expenses. | Juliana Yamada/KQED
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John Howard III, 8, poses for a portrait with his track medals at Castlemont High School in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, July 31, 2023. Howard III runs track with the East Oakland Track Gems, a nonprofit that introduces OUSD students to track and field and helps them with various travel expenses. | Juliana Yamada/KQED
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Kayden Thompson, 5, poses for a portrait with his track medals at Castlemont High School in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, July 31, 2023. Thompson runs track with the East Oakland Track Gems, a nonprofit that introduces OUSD students to track and field and helps them with various travel expenses. | Juliana Yamada/KQED
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Elijah Soto-Sims, 7, poses for a portrait with his track medals at Castlemont High School in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, July 31, 2023. Soto-Sims runs track with the East Oakland Track Gems, a nonprofit that introduces OUSD students to track and field and helps them with various travel expenses. | Juliana Yamada/KQED
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John Howard III, 8, poses for a portrait with his track medals at Castlemont High School in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, July 31, 2023. Howard III runs track with the East Oakland Track Gems, a nonprofit that introduces OUSD students to track and field and helps them with various travel expenses. | Juliana Yamada/KQED
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Kaden Remson, 9, poses for a portrait with his track medals during track practice at Castlemont High School in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, July 31, 2023. Remson runs track with the East Oakland Track Gems, a nonprofit that introduces OUSD students to track and field and helps them with various travel expenses. | Juliana Yamada/KQED
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