The Walker Track Club hasn’t been around for a year yet, but it’s already blazing a trail on the national stage.

Seven runners from the track club — Josiah Walker, Malachi Walker, Rashni Walker, JoDarius Hamilton, Iyana Woods, Jeffon Walker and Jeremiah Wright — qualified for national competition in Houston, Texas. The runners have qualified to compete Aug. 10-13 at the National Junior Olympics, which take splace in Humble, Texas — which is about half an hour from Houston.

“It’s real exciting, especially to know that I have kids that have a chance to go and compete against the USA — teams from California, teams from New York, from the west coast to the east coast,” track team organizer Jeffery Walker said. “I never got a chance to do it, so it is awesome that they are getting a chance to do it at an early age.”

However, the team needs some help getting to Texas for the competition.

The club will hold a car wash and fish fry Saturday, Aug. 9 at Advanced Auto Parts to try to raise money for the trip to Humble.

The car wash and fish fry start at 8 a.m and will last throughout the morning.

Walker said the team needs all the help it can get in order to make the trip possible.

“We are asking all the churches if they will support us too,” Walker said.

A little donation could go a long way, if an athlete finishes in the top three in one of their races in Houston, he or she will qualify to go to China for the international competition.

The club will have athletes compete in the shot put, 100 meters, 200 meters and 400 meters at the National Junior Olympics.

Walker started the track team earlier this year with a focus on academics. In order to compete, the athletes must have a 3.0 GPA.

“With a 3.0 GPA, you can basically go to any college you want in this world, so I stress that,” Walker said. “I reward my kids when they do it. If they get all A-honor roll, I reward them. If they get A and B-honor roll, I reward them.”

He also started the track program so young runners would have a way to compete outside of school teams.

The current roster of 25 runners is made up of athletes ages 6 —18.