While athletes from around the globe gathered at the Rio Olympics, young athletes from across the nation were gathering in Houston, Texas for the 2016 AAU Junior Olympics July 27-August 6 to compete in more than 17 different sporting events.

One such athlete was Sam McMaken, of Oxford, who was one of more than 14,000 Junior Olympians that competed in the event.

Sam took third place in the 4×800 Meter Relay (15-16 years old) in 8:15.94, as part of the “Oakland Elite Track Club.”

The team consisted of McMaken, Alec Miracle (Brother Rice), Noah Fuerst (Waterford Mott), and Parker Raymond (Rochester Adams).

The four boys have trained together three days a week throughout the summer in preparation for the event. As top runners in Oakland County, the boys came together to form the “Oakland Elite” when they were freshmen.

Now sophomores, they have competed in track and field events across the state.

As a varsity runner on the OHS Track & Field team, Sam believes his hard work at the Junior Olympics will strengthen his performance when he returns to Oxford High in the fall.

“It’s a big step for me. I’m on the varsity team for track and I think it’s going to make me a better runner for the high school team, too,” Sam said of his accomplishment. “It definitely keeps me in shape. Mentally, it helps with my wrestling since I’m working out for that, too. It helps me (stay prepared),” Sam said.

He is also involved in junior varsity soccer and varsity wrestling at OHS.

“He’s very competitive and he’s got the energy and the stamina (to succeed),” said his mother, Denise McMaken. “He’s been playing soccer since he was 4 years old. I think that’s given him a really good base for endurance and speed and all the things he’s doing well in Track and Field, as well.”

Sam says he looks forward to competing in the Junior Olympics again next year, when the event is scheduled to be held in Detroit.