Scott has always loved to run. “The track coach, Patrick Reifsteck, saw something in me when I was in the 6th grade.” With the support of his parents, Sidiq and Keisha Young, Scott pursued his passion by running on the school track team. He even enrolled in a competitive running club called Adrenaline Rush Track Team, a USA Track and Field in the Georgia Association that is based in Snellville. Coach Ken Scott trains the team; athletes are from the Archer, Brookwood, Grayson, Shiloh, and the South Gwinnett school cluster.
Last year, Scott broke his big toe not once, but twice! As a result, the seventh-grader wasn’t able to participate in the middle school track season. Once his fractured toe healed, he did train in the summer with Adrenaline Rush.
In January, 2017, Scott recounted entering into the track season as an eighth grader. “Everything was going good. However, before the first track meet, I tripped and fell onto my shoulder during practice. I broke my clavicle. One orthopedic doctor told my parents that I couldn’t run this track season, nor could I practice with the team.”
Scott needed to find a way to stay in shape and train at home while his fracture healed. Adrenaline Rush lay coach, Jerome Berry, stepped up and contacted lifelong Snellville resident and community volunteer, Anne Britt.Together, they found an unused treadmill that was donated to Scott. Britt cares a great deal about her community. She added, “It meant a lot to me and I was happy to help.”
Joshua Scott and his teammates – Roderick Russell, Anthony Sheppard, Brandon White – took 4th place in the 4×4 relay.Sidiq Young recalled that wonderful moment – a community’s generosity. “It was an angel moment. Sight unseen, people in the community stepped up to help focus on fulfilling a dream.”
“I walked for an hour, up to one to two miles a day on that treadmill,” said Scott.
In March, subsequent visits to the doctor indicated that surgery may be required to help the clavicle heal. Scott persevered and continued to train at home. By April, x-rays revealed that his broken bones were mending and healing on their own. With only three weeks left in Shiloh’s track season and with clearance from his doctor, Scott worked 1:1 with Coach Scott to get him ready for the final track meet.
“I’m driven to be the best, no matter what I do. I made a bet with Elijah Berry, my running-mate and friend. He said that if I beat his record in the 400-meter race, he would give me money,” Scott said the bet was on.
Scott came in 1st in the 400-meter race. His time was 53.44, breaking Berry’s school record (54.40). The Generals placed first in the 3,200-meter relay in 9 minutes, 16.34 seconds with Anthony Sheppard, Demarian Murray, Andy Salgado, and Trevino Glover. Scott and his teammates – Roderick Russell Anthony Sheppard, Brandon White – took 4th place in the 4×4 (1,600-meter relay) with a time of 3:45.46. The Shiloh girls team placed 13th in the meet, that overall, featured fifty middle school teams.
Coach Berry (Elijah’s father) commented, “Joshua overcame so many obstacles. He is inspiring and is such a great role model.”
Scott looks forward to participating in the track and field team at Shiloh High School. “I’m so appreciative of my coaches, teammates, and the support from my community. My life goal is to go to the Olympics.”
