U.S. Paralympic athlete and Rochelle Township High School graduate Aubrey Headon had one final stop to make before departing the United States to represent Team USA in the 2019 Para World Athletics Junior Championships in Nottwil, Switzerland this past weekend.
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ROCHELLE — U.S. Paralympic athlete and Rochelle Township High School graduate Aubrey Headon had one final stop to make before departing the United States to represent Team USA in the 2019 Para World Athletics Junior Championships in Nottwil, Switzerland this past weekend.
That stop took place at MedCare in Rochelle on Saturday, July 27, when Headon united with family members, friends, veterans, policemen and firefighters before receiving a special escort away from the Hub City. Headon and her family spent roughly one week in Switzerland, where she competed in three events including the shot put, the 100-meter dash and the 200-meter dash at the junior championships, which ran from Aug. 1-4.
“The send-off was great,” Headon said. “It was awesome to see how much this city supports me. Overall, my time in Nottwil, Switzerland was awesome. I made a new friend named India Oates from Great Britain who is the same classification as me. I think I performed well.”
Headon set a new personal record in the 100-meter dash, clocking in at 17.99 seconds to take ninth place in the mixed heat. Headon finished eighth in the mixed heat of her 200-meter dash with a time of 39.50, and despite rainy conditions, Headon marked 4.73 meters in the shot put to place third in her group.
Team USA selected only 20 athletes to compete in the junior championships including Headon, who will now prepare to begin her academics at Carroll University, where she plans to study exercise science with an emphasis in physical therapy. Headon also said she hopes to compete for the Carroll University track and field team. Headon will leave for school on Aug. 30.