Ten-year-old athlete, Jarius William Setefano Satele— a young man of Samoan descent who was born in California— is laying down his mark in the sport of track and field in the United States.  Jairus’ mother Bethellia Lealofi-Satele comes from the Taito family in Pago Pago and his father Falelaufa’i Tupua Satele comes from the Satele family of Vailoa and the Maiava family in Fagatogo.

The young Satele recently competed in Bloomington, Indiana for the 2014 USA Youth Track & Field Championships and according to his mother in an email interview with Samoa News, the Southern California Association Track and Field says the likelihood of him winning a gold medal this weekend is highly possible and he could very well be the first of Samoan descent to do this and be recognized as a medalist on the National Level.

“We currently reside in Carson, California. At ten years old, Jarius quickly learned to balance a hectic lifestyle,” said Bethellia. “He meets with his personal trainer 2-3 times a week, travels the country for track events and attends practices for either football, rugby, basketball or track and field and also still manages to have time to hang out with friends and family and be a normal ten year old child,” she said.

She said that most importantly, he is an honors student at Carson Street Elementary School and was most recently accepted to attend Lomita Math & Science Magnet School in the upcoming school year as a 5th grader.

She explained that two years ago, Jarius was offered the opportunity to join a track and field club by his football coach, not because of his blazing speed, but because he had at that time worked hard to lose 20 pounds in order to play football that year, and the coach wanted him to maintain the weight loss for the following season. “The coach often referred to Jarius as the most hard working and most disciplined child he has ever known. Through this track club, Jarius was able to maintain his weight and it was here that he was introduced to the shot put. Without any prior training, Jarius showed up to his very first track meet and won 1st place in the event,” explained his mother.

At the end of the season, Jarius qualified for the USA Track & Field Junior Olympics in North Carolina and went to the games ranked in the top 30 in the nation. Even though he did not medal in North Carolina, he was able to finish 10th in the nation amongst hundreds of youth who compete in track and field. According to his mother, this season Jarius returned to track and field again in order to maintain his weight for football, but this time not to be 10th in the nation but take the coveted number one spot.

Jarius qualified to compete in the USA Track & Field Junior Olympics again, which will be held in Houston, Texas this month. Most recently, he claimed a National title at the USA Track & Field National Championship at the University of Indiana in Bloomington, Indiana. He was able to earn a gold medal at this event, shattering his own personal record in the shot put by almost a whole meter. He also brought home a bronze medal in the javelin. His mother stated that he is the first of Samoan descent to have a national title in this sport.

Jarius said to Samoa News, also in an email interview, “There is no substitute for hard work. This has been my motto for everyday life since I was eight years old. I hope to inspire Samoan kids around the world to stay active, stay healthy and most importantly, dare to have big dreams. If I can do it, anyone can. What are your dreams?”

“I hope to one day attend the University of Southern California or Stanford on a football scholarship … I love working with people and I love math and science. I also hope to one day play football for the San Francisco 49ers. I just want to make my parents and my family proud,” he said.