Russell Continues Olympic Quest In Azerbaijan; Hackett Competes In Amateur Tourney In Puerto Rico!

Two Beltway amateurs will be competing this week representing the US in foreign countries.

Capitol Heights MD's Gary Antuanne Russell continues his bid to compete at the 2016 Olympics by participating in a qualifying tournament in Baku, Azerbaijan this week. Russell, the US Olympian at 141 pounds, begins work on Friday, June 17 as he faces Victor Petrov of the Ukraine.  Russell must finish in the top five in his weight class to qualify for the Olympics in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.

Meanwhile, members of the US Junior Olympic Team are in Puerto Rico competing against some of the best juniors in the world.  One of the US team members is 13-year-old Jalil Hackett of Washington, DC.  Hackett is a National Junior Olympic champion as well as a Silver Gloves titleholder at 108 Pounds.  Leadership runs in the Hackett family. Jalil's father, Bernard, is one of the coaches for the US team and Jalil has been named the team captain.