CJ Blevins exceeded expectations during his first season of track and field.
The soon-to-be fifth grader at Patricia Kay Beaver Leadership Magnet School competed in the shot put while representing the Central Valley Roadrunners Club at the 2025 USATF National Junior Olympic Championships in Georgia this summer.
“It was exciting because not a lot of kids get a chance to do this,” he said.
“This is his first year,” mother Kelene Blevins added. “We were really shocked at how fast he developed and the distance he threw compared to kids his age.”
CJ Blevins, who turned 10 in April, placed 26th overall at the National Junior Olympic Championships, staged July 21-27 in Savannah.
“It was fun,” he said. “I liked it. A lot of kids were there.”
CJ Blevins showed improvement with each throw.
After fouling on his first attempt, CJ Blevins posted marks of 19-6 and 20-113/4.
He recorded his second-best throw of his career after changing his form from shuffle to two-step.
He also changed his mindset.
“I took a breath and calmed down,” said CJ Blevins, who admitted he was nervous prior to fouling on his first attempt. “I acted like it was every other meet.”
CJ Blevins qualified for the National Junior Olympic Championships after finishing in the top eight at the Region 14 Junior Olympic Championship, which were held in June at Fresno Pacific University.
He took seventh in the shot put with a throw of 20-41/2.
CJ Blevins has experienced success in a sport his older sister Lily Blevins excelled in.
She graduated as one of Ceres High School’s all-time greatest throwers in 2024.
She won the Western Athletic Conference shot put title (29-8) during her final two years.
She had a perfect record against WAC competition as a senior and junior.
She just missed securing a berth to the Sac-Joaquin Section Masters Championships after taking fourth in the discus at the Division-IV meet. She set a personal record in the event.
CJ watched Lily work on her craft while taking private lessons with Golden State Throwers head coach/founder Mike Curry in Galt during her final two years of high school.
Lily’s intense work ethic rubbed off on CJ.
“That’s when I learned about the shot put and discus,” he said.
“His older sister being a thrower at Ceres High School peaked his interest,” Kelene Blevins added.
Determined to improve in the shot put during his first season with the Central Valley Roadrunners, CJ Blevins attended Throws Lab clinics in Stockton and Caruthers.
“He was the youngest kid by far,” Kelene Blevins said. “The majority of the other kids were in high school and college.”
A newcomer to track and field, CJ Blevins will vie for his second straight berth to the USATF National Junior Olympic Championships next summer.
He could qualify in several events.
“I’m going to continue it (shot put),” he said. “Next year, I might start discus. I’ll be old enough.”
It didn’t take long for CJ Blevins to become passionate about the sport of track and field.
“I enjoy competing against myself,” he said. “I get to throw and it’s fun.”
