Sunset Beach's James J. Kress, 39, has qualified for the largest amateur motocross race in the world — the 28th annual Air Nautiques/AMA Amateur National Motocross championships.

The event will be held tomorrow through Aug. 8 at Loretta Lynn's Ranch in Hurricane Mills, Tenn.

More than 20,000 competitors attempted to qualify for 1,386 spots, with Kress being the only Hawai'i qualifier.

He went through two rounds of qualifying in California — the first in March at Paris in which he had to place in the top 10 and the second in May at San Bernardino in which he had to place in the top five.

Kress, who said he was interested in motocross riding since he was about 5, actually took up the sport just three years ago.

"I always wanted to do it my whole life. I did a lot of surfing my whole life," Kress said. "But living so close to the race track gave an incentive to try it out, just seeing the bikes go by. I'm really happy that I did."

Kress, who works at Turtle Bay and trains about six hours a week at the Kahuku motocross track, will compete in the 25-older and 35-older divisions.

AUGHENBAUGH TAKES BRONZE AT USTA RALLY

Josh Aughenbaugh, 11, of Lai'e won the bronze for the 10- to 11-year-old boys division at the recently completed USTA's Rapid Rally competition at Chula Vista, Calif.

The skills competition event called for players to stand behind a line and hit a low-compression tennis ball off a wall for as many times in 30 seconds.

TRYOUT

The CRUSH Soccer Academy will hold open tryouts for boys and girls of all ages at 2 p.m. Sunday at Wai'alae Iki field. Those interested should bring shin guards, soccer ball, and water. For information, contact Matt Yim at 349-3084 or go to www.Crushsportsacademy.com.