The Epitome of Excellence…

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A Hall Of Famer with a passion for helping youth. That’s what Angela Holmes Harris is and how so many describe her, in the role as Founder and President of the Epitome of Excellence Track & Field Club. Excellence is something Angela has become accustomed to hearing synonymous with her name. A graduate of Ribault High School in 1986, Harris was a stand out track athlete. Her success at the high school level granted her the opportunity to excel in college, and excel she did. Harris would go on to win at almost every turn, specializing in the 200m, 400m and many of the relays. Her excellence would land her a prestigious induction into the Alabama A&M University Sports Hall of Fame (2012). To think that a kid who grew up in Jacksonville running for the young achievers track club, would some day be remembered as one of the best to ever compete at her University is aw-inspiring. And that’s exactly what Harris intends to do with her track club Epitome, inspire.

“Epitome of Excellence, Inc. is a Youth non-profit track and field and educational club that is for our kids and driven by our kids. Epitome brings together talented and not so talented athletes from Duval County and surrounding areas to participate in high-level competitions and to lead them on their way to become the athlete they aspire to be.” -Angela Holmes Harris

With Epitome, youth ages 19 and under can participate in a sport that could lead to experiences greater than many other sports could ever offer. It’s a little known fact that the likelihood of a high school athlete receiving a track & field scholarship is greater than that same athlete receiving a football scholarship. Why? because the money is there but the athletes aren’t. Many of the athletes are playing football and their primary focus is on the gridiron. Yet Epitome takes those same kids tossing the pigskin around at youth parks, and turns them into National Champions tossing the shot put or discus. Take a look at some of the Epitome athletes, their accomplishments, and what parks they played football or other sports with in the city.

Joshua Patterson USATF 2015 National Champion – Boys 8 & Under Long Jump – (District, State and Regional Champion in 800 (Lake Shore)
Devaughn Patterson (Lake Shore),
JaQuon King (Grand Park)
DeQuon King (Grand Park)
Maurion Watkins (Forestview – Super Bowl Runner Up Team) – (District, State and Regional Champion in Boys 4×400 and 4×800 meter relay

The key is to introduce the athlete at a young age and show them that their aspirations of playing sports in college can come in many different ways. Then show them that one of these ways is through track & field. Recently at the USATF Region 4 Junior Olympic Track and Field Championships, several of Epitome’s athletes were awarded medals. Athletes like Da’Moni Kelly ( Gold Medallist Shotput & Discus ), Terren Peterson (Silver Medallist 200M), Charles McPhail ( Bronze Medallist Steeple Chase), and Jordan Williams, Terren Peterson, Anara Peterson, and Faith Sampson (Girls 11-12yr old 4×1 Silver Medalists), all showcased their talents on one of the nation’s grandest stages for youth sports.

Many of Epitome’s members have gone on to become national champions as 37 athletes qualified for the junior Olympics just this year. Fourteen 8 and under athletes and 17 athletes qualified for the Junior Olympics in California and Texas. A major accomplishment for a track club that is still relatively new compared to other outlets in the area. The volunteers and coaches play a major part in the development of each young athlete on and off the track. They ensure that almost every boy and girl graduates from high school irregardless if they pursue collegiate track & field. It’s that commitment to excellence that has Epitome living up to it’s name, and bringing in more and more youth each year.

Donate to the Epitome of Excellence Go FundMe Account to help them Win the Junior Olympics in August