DETROIT — If your kids spend too much time watching television, playing video games and chatting on the internet, you may want to have a talk with Rocky and Kellie Russell to see what keeps their daughters busy.

The Russells are parents to daughters Harper, seven, and Kylie, 13. The girls spend very little time sitting still and both recently competed in the AAU Junior Olympics in Detroit, Michigan.  Summer Jackson, 13, the daughter of Cynthia and Bill Jackson also traveled to Michigan to compete.  Both families live in  Rogersville.  The girls attend Rogersville City School.  Kylie and Summer are in the 8th grade and Harper is in second.

The road to Detroit wasn’t an easy one for the girls. All three had to get through a district meet in Johnson City where the top eight finishers qualify for the regional in Knoxville.The top four finishers in Knoxville for each event qualified for the Junior Olympics in Detroit.  Summer and Kylie qualified in relays (4x400 and 4x800) while Harper made it in the 800 and 400 meter run.

Making it to Detroit was an accomplishment for the girls but it got even better when Harper, who has only been running for about a year, received a medal for a fourth place finish in the 800 meters. 

She went up against 58 other girls in that event.  She also finished 22nd out 64 competitors in the 400 meter run.  Along with that achievement, Harper holds seven Tennessee state running records for her age. She holds record times in the 8K, one mile, 5K and four mile. 

In a couple of events, she has improved her record time. The AAU doesn’t allow seven year olds to compete in the longer running events.

“Harper has a passion for running,” Kellie says. “She wanted to do something that big sister Kylie was doing and that’s how it started. Kylie plays basketball and runs track at school.  Harper runs two miles after school around our subdivision with her sister. Our kids are outside all the time. They also spend a lot of time swimming.”

Summer’s mother Cynthia added Kylie and her daughter were teammates at Rogersville City School on both the basketball and track teams.  The girls are also all part of the Slip Stream Running Club in Johnson City and traveled to Gray twice a week this summer to get ready to compete.  The mothers took turns driving to Gray for the practices.

The trip to Detroit was at the family’s expense but Kellie notes, “it was worth it and we told the kids that it was their vacation this year. The AAU competition was new to us this year.”

Although Harper occasionally steals the spotlight from older sister Kylie, Kellie is quick to point out that she is being cautious dealing with a very active seven year old.

“The doctor says she is doing enough right now in terms of physical activity.  I don’t know if she will stick with this or not. Sometimes kids have a different focus when they get older but right now she really enjoys it.  She is really better at the long distances but the AAU says she has to wait another year to compete in those events.”

The next event for the girls is the Erwin Apple Fest in October.  Harper is competing in the 4 mile event and hoping to better a previous time of 30:30.  Kylie and Summer  will also compete at the event.