Beltway Amateurs Prepare For Women's Olympic Trials And Men's Final Qualifier!

A big week is in store for a number of Beltway amateurs as they are in Memphis, TN for the Women's US Olympic Team trials and the final qualifier for the Men's Olympic Trials.

The competitions
will begin on Monday, October 26 and conclude on Saturday, October 31.

There will be four locals in the women's competition.  In the Lightweight division, Tiara Brown of Oxon Hill, MD makes her second trip to the Olympic Trials. Brown, who won a gold medal at 126 pounds at the World Championships in 2012, has kept her training going while also keeping a commitment with the DC Police Academy as she seeks to become a Metropolitan Police Officer.

Columbia, MD's Amelia Moore makes her first trip to the trials.  Moore also works as an accountant and an automotive service administrator.

In the middleweight division, two locals bridge the gap  between experience and youth.  Multi-time national champion Franchon Crews of Baltimore, MD competes at the Olympic trials for the second time.  Crews won a world championship in 2012.

On the other end of the spectrum is Iesha Kenney of Alexandria, VA.  At 17 years old, Kenney is the youngest competitor in the entire tournament.  Kenney, a senior and an honor student at TC Williams High School, is a two-time Youth National Champion and a two-time bronze medalist at the Junior and Youth World championships.

In the men's tournament, 19 Beltway Boxers will be among the 414 competitors in th final qualifier.  The two top finishers in each of the 10 weight divisions will claim the final spots for the Olympic Trials taking place December 7-12 in Reno, NV.

Here is the list of Beltway Boxers participating in the final qualifier:

Lightweight (132 Pounds)

Jalonte Cole, Burke, VA

Ernest Hall, Baltimore, MD

Ebrima Jawara, Gaithersburg, MD

William Sawin, Alexandria, VA

Sippriano Zelldon, Silver Spring, MD


Light Welterweight (141 Pounds)

Dante Cox, Severn, MD

Sammie Smith, Hyattsville, MD


Welterweight (152 Pounds)

Jonathan Burrs, Frederick, MD

Nigel Fennell, Salisbury, MD

Keeshawn Williams, Washington, DC


Middleweight (165 Pounds)

Jason Bell-Edwards, District Heights, MD

Tavon Body, Burtonsville, MD

Clinso Brumfield, Alexandria, VA

Jordon Payne, Hyattsville, MD

Donald Wallace, Catonsville, MD


Light Heavyweight (178 Pounds)

Justin Bell-Edwards, Temple Hills, MD

Mark Duncan, Clarksburg, MD


Heavyweight (201 Pounds)

Samuel Smith, Clinton, MD

Super Heavyweight (201+ Pounds)

Colby Madison, Owings Mills, MD