07-08-2025
Bentley Satele: Hawai'i's eight-year-old All-American
Bentley Satele concentrating on his race at the Junior Olympics in Savannah
Photo:
Joy Satele
Eight-year-old Bentley Satele from Hawai'i is an All-American runner.
At this year's Junior Olympics in Georgia, Bentley Satele placed top eight in his division officially earning the title of All-American.
His mother Joy Satele said it was an emotional rollercoaster.
"When he initially crossed the finish line, he came in fourth in his heat...I certainly was already starting to tear up because he didn't finish top two, which would automatically qualify him for the finals," she said.
"Instantly I ran over, I went to go talk with him, and just kind of just tell him how proud I was of him, but we weren't sure if he qualified for the finals. It wasn't until Dad actually texted me and he's like, 'Hey, Bentley's time qualified him into the finals'.
"When we found out we were ecstatic. We were so excited, because being top eight in the finals automatically means he becomes an All-American."
She believes Bentley is the youngest All-American in track and field out of Hawai'i.
"He didn't finish in the way he wanted to finish [in the final].
"But just to be an all-American at eight years old, making history in Hawai'i. There was so much joy to be celebrated because we're from a small island, and for Bentley to go out there and kind of make a name for himself, represent his family, his island, represent the Lord - it was just such a proud moment.
"I don't know how dad felt, but for me, I was just so proud of him."
The Satele Family in Georgia supporting Bentley.
Photo:
Joy Satele
Dad, Brashton Satele, said it was good to see Bentley racing out of Hawai'i in a Junior Olympics setting.
"Just to see him compete at the highest level was very good for us. I was really excited to watch him, and it was good for him to see what other talent's out there too."
Joy Satele said to qualify for the Junior Olympics, a national meet, someone has to finish in the top three in their regional state. Bentley was the only competitor in his age group from Hawai'i to travel to the meet.
"In his heat alone, in his age-group alone for the 100-metre dash there were about 80 athletes.
"Anybody who competes in the finals, which is the top eight of their age group, they are now considered all-American."
She said after doing drills with his big sister, Bentley started playing flag football at around four years old.
"We saw speed from him. But you know, for us, we think that's normal, because he's just running; it's normal.
"When he turned five, we found this track club team, and we're like, we should put him in club, in track.
"It wasn't until then that we noticed his speed was different."
Bentley holds state records for the ages of five, six, seven and eight. But that's not a focus for the family - Joy Satele said Bentley was probably only finding out about those state records while they were talking to
RNZ Pacific
.
"We really just want our kids to excel."
Dad said before Bentley was two, he was doing hurdles in the garage with his older sister.
"When he was born, he was just born with a lot of muscles. He just looked like a ball of muscles running around."
He said the garage training sessions were a way to spend time and connect with the kids.
"We go back and look at old videos, and it's really cute to see him in his little diaper running, and he's doing the same drills that we were doing then."
Their daughter, Payton, 10, also competed at the Junior Olympics in the long jump.
For Bentley, the All-American is a title he wasn't even aware he had earned until RNZ Pacific reached out to his parents.
"I was very surprised to hear it in the morning," he said.
When asked who he looks up to, Bentley quickly names
Olympic gold medallist sprinter Noah Lyles
.
And what would be his next achievement?
"I want to become the fastest eight-year-old," he said.
Asked about his challenges, Bentley said: "Just anytime I'm tired I have to push, push in workouts and in the race."
He also had a message for other young athletes.
"Just to make sure that you never give up on yourself. Always know that you did a great job and never ever quit yourself on anything. That God is always pleased with you."
Athleticism runs in the family with competitors on both sides, where cultures like Samoan, Portugese, Chinese and Swedish make up the ethnicities for Bentley.
Despite his success, Joy said they are intentional about keeping Bentley grounded.
"One thing that I found that was our biggest success as parents was making sure that our children not just Bentley, our other kids as well, because they're growing in sport, was that they were rooted in who they were in Christ.
"We love the Lord and one scripture that really brings us in as a family when we feel like we're drifting... trying to chase things is in Matthew 16:26, and it says, 'What is it for a man to gain the world but lose his soul?'
"And so for us, that has been the greatest word in our family, because we can push them to achieve all these things, break records, all the accolades but what is it if he doesn't know who he is?
"And so that's our foundation, was build a strong foundation for your children so that as they grow in the sport it doesn't come down to wanting to please mom and dad. It's really just performing and playing for the Lord."
