Local youth track and field team heading to North Carolina for national championship

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- A local youth track and field team is heading to North Carolina to compete for a national championship.

The team goes by "W.A.R.", an acronym for We Always Ready, and includes 37 boys and girls from eight to 18 years old.

W.A.R. is a team composed of amateur and veteran track athletes, but the name goes beyond the sport.

"We wanted to make sure that we're always ready on the track, in life, in general, period," said Head Coach Clint Miller.

Miller is a former track star at Penn High School and knows exactly how much of an impact sports can have on and off the track, especially to kids in South Bend.

"I had a special coach that gave into the community and gave me an opportunity to run all around the United States," said Miller.  "We've had a lot of issues in our area that have been going on and we want to show that there's lots of good that's being done."

Miller says that many of the team members can already see the growth in themselves and have gained confidence as they prepare for nationals.

To learn more about the team and to donate to their trip, visit the We Always Ready website.