Only 135 athletes in the United States were invited to compete at the U.S. Paralympic Team Trials this past week. Former Rochelle Township High School track and field standout Aubrey Headon was among the select group of athletes who participated in the four-day event looking to earn a spot on the U.S. Paralympic Team for the Tokyo Paralympic Games.
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MINNEAPOLIS — Only 135 athletes in the United States were invited to compete at the U.S. Paralympic Team Trials this past week. Former Rochelle Township High School track and field standout Aubrey Headon was among the select group of athletes who participated in the four-day event looking to earn a spot on the U.S. Paralympic Team for the Tokyo Paralympic Games.
Headon competed in the 100-meter dash, 200-meter dash and shot put under the T35/F35 classification, which includes athletes with coordination impairments such as cerebral palsy. The RTHS graduate and current Carroll University track and field athlete set season records in two of her three events, ultimately earning one gold medal and two silver medals. It was Headon’s second time competing at a U.S. Paralympic Team Trial event in her career.
“I enjoyed seeing athletes I hadn’t seen since before COVID-19,” Headon said. “I was also happy to represent Carroll University and Rochelle on a national level. I felt like I performed well at the trials. I had season-best performances in both the 100 and the 200. I was happy that I earned three medals and I was happy to be one of the 135 athletes invited.”
Headon brought home a gold medal in the shot put competition with a distance of 4.95 meters. The former Lady Hub student-athlete earned silver medals in the 100-meter dash with a time of 18.31 seconds and the 200-meter dash with a time of 40.78 seconds. Although Headon didn’t earn a spot on the U.S. Paralympic Team for Tokyo, she said competing at the U.S. Paralympic Team Trials will motivate her to continue having fun and pushing forward.
“Seeing that this was my second team trials, this experience showed me again that I just need to have fun with what I’m doing and the results will follow,” Headon said. “The trials also motivated me to look toward the 2024 Paris Paralympics and the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics. I start my junior year at Carroll University this fall and I’m looking forward to my classes this coming semester. I will then take up track and field in the spring semester.”
