Most novice runners enjoy sprinting events such as the 50- and 100-meter races at the 2006 Junior Olympic Summer Track program.

Ma'ila Aluli is a little different.

"I like the 400 because we have a lot of time to catch up to people," said the 9-year-old from La'ie, who recently competed in her second Junior Olympic meet at Punahou School.

Aluli is one of more than 700 participants in the Junior Olympic Summer Track program that hosts meets every Saturday at either Punahou School or the University of Hawai'i.

The meets are open to boys and girls from 7 to 17, and to men and women in open and masters categories. Participants may enter as members of one of the 15 youth and adult track clubs around O'ahu, or as unattached. All participants must be members of USA Track & Field.

"For a lot of these kids, it's the first experience running on a track, it's the first experience being in a major competition," said organizer Mark Zeug. "It really gets track off to a wonderful start."

Top Hawai'i competitors who meet certain qualifying standards may run at the National Junior Olympic Championships, July 25 to 30, in Baltimore. In the past, Hawai'i notables such as Bryan Clay and Joey Bunch have competed at the nationals, according to USA Track & Field administrator Gordon Scruton.

Most youth participants aren't interested in their times or their finishes; they just want to have fun, according to Walter Thompson, who coaches the Renegades, the largest club on the island with 280 athletes.

"We pretty much let the younger kids try what they want to do, rather than us telling them, 'Go try this event,' and the next time they don't come back," said Thompson, whose club practices Monday through Thursday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Punahou. "Everybody thinks they are a sprinter ... Most of the younger kids run the 50 and the 100, and maybe the long jump or the 4x100 relay."

Novice runner Aluli, who runs for the Ko'olauloa track club, said she started running track to follow her sisters, and as a complement to healthy school activities.

"They got us involved in physical fitness at the school," said Aluli, who will enter the fourth grade at La'ie Elementary. "They want us to do track."

Aluli's coach, Asai Gilman, said many of the Ko'olauloa participants are raw athletes who see track as a way to increase speed for other sports.

"We believe that speed kills," Gilman said. "Without speed, you won't be able to compete at any sport. This is where it starts."

Other runners, such as 14-year-old Tia Nakashima, use the meets to prepare for high school. Nakashima will be a freshman at Hawai'i Baptist Academy.

"My goal is to reach 64 seconds this summer for the 400; my personal best is 66.9," said Nakashima, who placed third in the 400 meters at the Interscholastic League of Honolulu Intermediate Track and Field Championships, and fourth in the ILH Intermediate Cross Country Championships.

Nakashima's father, Rick, said the Junior Olympic Summer Track program keeps children occupied with a positive and healthy activity.

"Hopefully, we're able to teach them technique and keep them in shape, instead of having them out and about in a shopping mall or potentially getting in trouble," said Nakashima, who also coaches the Renegades.

"This is perfect for beginners," he added. "They can get a feel of it, without the pressure of a school team, where points are important to a lot of coaches. Out here, there's no pressure. It's almost like the basis of the (American Youth Soccer Organization). Everyone competes, everyone has fun."

Note: The Honolulu Marathon Association has donated $5,000 to the 2006 Junior Olympic Summer Track program. The marathon is the largest donor to the program.

Reach Brandon Masuoka at bmasuoka@honoluluadvertiser.com.