BYU Track & Field hosts 11th annual Courageous Kids Invitational

BYU track and field hosted the 11th annual Courageous Kids Invitational Wednesday night.

Author Mayci Taylor
BYU Track & Field hosts 11th annual Courageous Kids InvitationalBYU Track & Field hosts 11th annual Courageous Kids Invitational

PROVO, Utah — BYU track and field hosted the 11th annual Courageous Kids Invitational at the Robison Track and Field Complex on Wednesday night. 

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The Courageous Kids Invitational aims to provide children with medical conditions and their families an opportunity to mingle with BYU athletes and join them in a variety of kid-friendly track and field events. 

Tammy (Kirby) Bowers, a former BYU pole vaulter (2000-02), teamed-up with the Cougar track and field program to found the event in 2011. Bowers and former BYU multi-athlete Marsha Mark (1996-98) have combined to organize Courageous Kids nearly each year since.

This year's invitational was also a donut party in honor of Asia Atwater. Atwater passed away Aug. 28, 2022 at just 16-years-old. She suffered from a rare genetic disorder called Micordeletion Syndrome, which caused her to be very nonverbal and delayed in learning and physicaly abilities. She loved coming to the Courageous Kids "track party" and looked forward to the event year after year. Atwater was a friend to all, in fact, there wasn't a single person she didn't like. She was an example to everyone around her to enjoy the little things that life has to offer: her favorite, eating a donut.

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Asia

"Asia wasn't super mobile, coordinated or balanced, but she loved this event. She loved Cosmo, BYU and the opportunity to come out here and run. She always tried to do it all. She was social and loved everybody here."

Season AtwaterMother
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"I think the event helps us appreciate things outside of ourselves and our every day lives. Jesus Christ taught us to follow the little children and to look to their example. I think this It a great way to do that and realize that other things are bigger than us."

Lucas BonsBYU distance runner