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GREENSBORO — About 6,500 track and field competitors ages 8-18 will be in Greensboro this week competing in the USATF National Junior Olympic Track & Field Championships at N.C. A&T's Irwin Belk Track.

Competitors from four Greensboro clubs — the Pacesetters, Champions, Blazers and Cheetahs — will participate.

Competition on the first of six consecutive days will begin at 8 a.m. today inside Aggie Stadium for intermediate girls (ages 15-16) and young women (ages 17-18) in the heptathlon. Events will begin at 7:30 or 8 a.m. daily, with most competition completed before evening. All totaled, 276 championships in 10 divisions will be decided.

Entry for the championship is based on performances at preliminary, association and regional levels of the Junior Olympic program. Competition takes place in five two-year age divisions.

"For some athletes, this may be the only time they compete in a national championship," says Andy Martin, the USATF's director of Grass Roots Programs. "Some of our Olympians came up through the Junior Olympic program. Allyson Felix (gold, 1,600 relay, 2008 Olympics), Sanya Richards (gold, 1,600 relay, 2008 Olympics), Deena Kastor (bronze, marathon, 2004 Olympics) and Bryan Clay (gold, decathlon, 2008 Olympics) have all competed in this meet. It's a range of people that'll stay in the sport, and we hope they all will. Some will go on to be on our international teams, and some will find other things in life to participate in."

Greensboro and A&T join locales such as Eugene, Ore.; Indianapolis; Baltimore; Walnut, Calif. (near Los Angeles); and Omaha, Neb., as a host. A&T was the host site this year for a NCAA regional and for the Nike Outdoor Nationals high school meet.

Charlie Brown, the Pacesetters' president and head coach, says several factors contributed to Greensboro and A&T's selection as Junior Olympics host. One stands out.

"The track," he says. "It's probably one of the top seven tracks in the United States for speed."

Martin agrees and adds that a facility must have enough long-jump runways, pole-vault and high-jump pits and throwing venues.

"Whether it's the midget boys discus or the young men's steeplechase, you have to make sure each has the best venue and facility available to them," Martin says. "And Greensboro has that."

The horseshoe-style seating configuration at Aggie Stadium is a plus for spectators, Brown says.

"The stadium wasn't built for track," Brown says, "but just by pure luck when they put the track in, it's one of the great viewing stadiums around also."

Contact Eddie Wooten at 373-7093 or eddie.wooten@news-record.com