Detroit AYF Juniors Win Mid-West Summer Olympics

The Detroit AYF Chapter won this year’s Summer Junior Olympics. Held in Racine, Wisc., the weekend was organized under the direction of Zohrab Khaligian and hosted by local ARS, ARF, and AYF alumni.

The Detroit AYF Chapter won this year’s Summer Junior Olympics.

The traditional alumni welcome was held on Friday night, and games were held on Saturday. The well-attended and community-supported dance—with nearly 200 attending—was held on Saturday night. A picnic on Sunday concluded the weekend.

Forty-three participants from throughout the Mid-West participated in the games. Fielding 18 athletes, Detroit won with a total of 188 points. Chicago finished second with 129; Racine third with 25; and Granite City with 7.

Coached by Mike Crane, Armen Derderian, and David Shahrigian, and with the assistance of Junior advisor Mel Markarian, the Detroit Juniors showed a high level of energy and enthusiasm as they gained points with many second and third place finishes.

In the younger boys group, Harry Dakesian of Detroit was top scorer with 15 points, winning first in the long jump, 400 meters, and 800 meters.

In younger girls, Aleena Surenian of Chicago won first in the 100 and 200 meters, and in the long jump.

In the older girls group, Taleen Shahrigian of Detroit was top scorer with 15 points, with firsts in the 200, 440, and 800-meter races.

In older boys, Chicago’s Daron Bedian won three first-place medals, in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200-meter events.

Detroit’s Herman Torigian Sportsmanship Award was shared by Taleen Shahrigian and Arakail Khaligian of Racine.

Chicago awards a sportsmanship award in memory of Tina Peltekian, and that was given to Sevag Yacoubian of Chicago.

Once again, a number of Detroit AYF alumni were involved in running the games. Led by Alex Sarafian, the alumni involved were Anto Arslanian, Armen Derderian, and Mike Kazarian. Officiating were Chicago’s Raffi Killian—flying in from London, England—and Hagop Soulakian, along with Granite City’s Stephen Hagopian.

Next year, the Junior Olympics will be held in Granite City, Ill.

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