Girl From Cherry Hill Places 5th In National Track & Field Event

CHERRY HILL, NJ — A Cherry Hill 1o-year-old raced against other athletes in the scorching heat of Texas earlier this month to place in the top 20 nationwide in two different Junior Olympic events, her mother told Patch.

Peyton Barger "placed 5th in the 3000 meters and placed 18th in the 1500 [meter]," her mom Rachel Barger continued. "The 1500 wasn’t her best race and it was hot but she gave it her all ... It's an unbelievable experience."

The medals at the AAU Junior Olympics are the latest ribbons and medals for Peyton, who told Patch she took up running at a young age.

"When I was in 1st or 2nd grade, I did the Healthy Kids Running Series and was much faster than all the kids which made my parents look into a more competitive program," she said. "That is when they found South Jersey Track and Field."

She stays in shape and remains competitive by running twice weekly, training with a speed runner once a week, playing soccer and may try playing field hockey later this year, she said.

Peyton shines on the track and off of it, said Craig Strimel, one of her coaches with the South Jersey Track and Field Club.

She "is just incredibly talented and ... just a regular great kid," Strimel told Patch.

Another one of Peyton's coaches said "her jaw dropped" when she saw the youngster compete in a 400-meter race earlier in her career.

"I walked over to Craig and said, 'did you just see that?'" Jill Chestnut, that other coach, said in an interview.

"Peyton has since moved up to the 1500 and 3000 and there is no comparing her enthusiasm for the longer races," Chestnut continued. "Recently, I told her that there's an event called the 10,000 (26 laps on the track) and she responded with 'ooh that sounds fun!' She exudes pure joy during her races and always finishes with a smile."

Peyton said being a Junior Olympian is "the best feeling" she has had as a 10-year-old, and that she also hopes to stand on an Olympic podium one day.

"I participate [in running] because I enjoy it and everyone encourages me," she said in the interview. "I love being with the other kids on our team. That is a huge part of it for me, is having fun with my teammates too."

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