Local student-athletes and siblings Zavier (in orange) and Zara (in blue) Walker were recognized by council members for competing in the 2026 USATF Mid-Atlantic Youth Indoor Championship on Jan. 18 in Reading, Pennsylvania.
Evesham council celebrated February’s Black History Month and recognized two student athletes at its Feb. 3 meeting.
“Tonight I stand before you with great pride as we celebrate the profound and resilient history of Evesham’s Black community,” Mayor Jaclyn Veasy said. “Our township is built upon the legacies of groundbreaking entrepreneurs, courageous freedom seekers and families whose roots here span centuries.”
The meeting included a slideshow that focused on the township’s Black history, including the Milford Settlement, the legacy of James Mintis, the Truitt Family and the township’s role in the Underground Railroad.
Council then awarded certificates of achievement to siblings Zavier and Zara Walker. The two elementary-school student-athletes competed at the 2026 USATF Mid-Atlantic Youth Indoor Championship in Reading, Pennsylvania, last month. That contest is sponsored by USA Track and Field, the national governing body for track, long-distance running and race walking.
Zavier and Zara were previously cited by council for their performances at the 2024 USATF Junior Olympics, where Zara competed in the 50-, 60-, 100-, 200- and 400-meter dash events, as well as the 4×100 relay and the long jump. Zavier competed in the 400-meter dash, the javelin throw and the long jump. Zara’s longest jump was recorded at 10.8 feet, Zavier’s at 6.8 feet.
Zavier earned first-place finishes in the long jump, shot put and 200-meter dash, where he set a new personal best record. Zara was also dominant on the track, securing a first-place finish in the 60-meter dash and setting a new facility record at the Alvernia University PLEX in Reading. She continued her winning streak by taking first place in the 200-meter and second-place in the 400 meter.
“We applaud you on your Black excellence and your achievements as you represented Evesham Township, and we appreciate and celebrate you,” Deputy Mayor Heather Cooper told the students.
