Decatur’s Mark Trail Flying Eagles didn’t win gold at the U.S. Amateur Athletes Union Junior Olympics in Houston, but the DeKalb County team won a bronze medal and placed in hurdles, relays and sprint events.

The team of 46 athletes, who are based at the N.H. Scott Recreation Center in Atlanta, formerly Mark Trail Recreational Center, placed third in the 100-meter race in the Youth Girls category.

The team also placed in eight other events and received copper medals.

Head coach Stephon Rivos, who has been with the Flying Eagles since its launch in 1994, said the kids ages 8 to 13 exceeded expectations.

“They all did a good job, and we’re just proud of all of them,” said Rivos, who ran for the team before he became one of its coaches.

The Mark Trail Athletic Association, which formed in 1994, offers economically disadvantaged children the opportunity to compete at local, state, regional and national levels.

To make it to the 2012 Junior Olympics, the Flying Eagles made it through the AAU National Qualifier in Douglasville in June and the AAU Club Championship in Orlando, Fla., in mid-July.

Among those placing in Houston:

- Caitlin Tate placed third in the Youth Girls 100-meter relay race.

- Nolan Johnson from the Sub Bantam Boys placed fourth in the 100-meter relay and 200-meter sprint race.

- Boys Midget placed fourth in the 4x100-meter relay race.

- Destinee Rocker from the Sub Youth Girls placed fifth in the 200-meter hurdles.

-Terez Davis-Giles placed sixth in the 800-meter race.

The 2012 competition was the team’s ninth consecutive year at the AAU Junior Olympics.

Rivos said the nonprofit MTAA goal is to introduce track and field to more students in DeKalb and keep them running through high school and college.

When he was running for the club in 1994, Rivos said his coaches were very good to him and he wanted to give back to the club.

“I remember the positive influences my old volunteer coaches had on my life,” he said. “Since they had volunteered their time to coach me, I’m returning the favor.”