Naval Station Guantanamo Bay (NSGB) community members participated in the Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) Sprint Triathlon, March 3.

The Sprint Triathlon consisted of a half-mile swim, a 12.4 mile bike ride and a 3.1 mile run. One participant, 15-year-old A'Janil Stokes, son of Mr. and Mrs. Rodney Stokes, has been running since he was in elementary school and isn't letting GTMO slow down his progress at achieving his long-term running dreams.

The local Department of Defense Education Authority (DoDEA) school, W.T. Sampson School, has a small population and is often unable to meet the sports needs of every student due to numbers needed to start up a program and the coaches needed to run it.

A'Janil participates in many of the MWR running events because it's the only way for him to participate in track and field-type events that enable him to judge how well he is doing.

"The local school doesn't have a track and field program and, because it is so hard to get off island, the MWR events are a progress tracker," said Rodney Stokes.

A'Janil started running at Oakleaf Village Elementary School in Orange Park, Florida, in the school's run/walk club.

"I enjoy running, I loved it as soon as I stepped on the track the first time," said A'Janil Stokes, event participant. "I love running because you need to push yourself every single time, not just against other runners but run against yourself and the time clock. It also relaxes me."

According to Rodney Stokes, A'Janil participates in these events because he likes running and wants to compete at the college level and hopefully make the U.S. Olympic team.

A'Janil is well on his way to being a star on the national and possibly even international levels since he is already ranked in U.S. track and field on the high school level.

"These events allow him to compete with older adults," said Rodney Stokes. "When we get a chance to go off-island to compete in Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) track and field events, he is running against older kids so it helps him prepare."

"It makes me feel really confident in myself to know that I am beating most of the adults," said A'Janil. "The next step is to go ahead and beat some of the kids that are in the States."

A'Janil added that running in the MWR events helps him train for those stateside races.

"The courses are very accurate and it's set up just like the races I would run in back in the states," said the younger Stokes.

Mr. and Mrs. Stokes are extremely proud of A'Janil's accomplishments during his running events at NSGB.

"We can see the progress he has made in these last couple of months," said Rodney Stokes. "We just hope that he sticks with it because doors will open."

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