Canton 5-year-old claims national BMX title
Henley “Boo The Beast” Greer started racing BMX when she was just 3-years old.
That was two years ago, and last month she brought home a BMX Grand National Championship.
Over the Thanksgiving holiday, she traveled to the BMX Grand Nationals in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where she claimed first place, making her the grand National Champion in the girls’ 5-years-old and under category.
Greer, the daughter of Jimmy and Elizabeth Greer of Canton, competed against 21 other girls to claim the title.
“It is pretty crazy,” said Jimmy Greer of his daughter’s national title. “We’re just proud of her because she is probably the youngest to ever bring these titles back to Mississippi.”
The win put Henley as the No. 1 USA BMX ranked 5-year-old girl in the nation.
“She is ranked 29th out of all female riders in the country,” Jimmy said.
Jimmy said that Henley started BMX two years ago at the Mag Ridge BMX track in Ridgeland.
“We went to watch one of my friend’s son’s race, and she wanted to get out there,” Jimmy said. “That’s where it all started.”
Jimmy said Henley started out on a balance bike, which young riders start on. Balance bikes do not have pedals, so children propel themselves by kicking their feet while sitting on the bicycles.
“Then she went to a pedal bike,” Jimmy said.
Henley races in the 5-year-old girls expert group, and the family travels throughout the nation going to races. Henley has competed in Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Texas, Georgia and Florida.
“This sport has taken us to places we would have never been and has given her the opportunity to make friends all over the U.S.,” Jimmy said. “She is literally a 5-year old that has fans all across the country.”
Jimmy said Henley gave herself the nickname “Boo the Beast” after she started racing.
“Every national we go to, we have new faces coming up saying, ‘Hey, are you Boo the Beast?’” Jimmy said. “‘We follow you on Instagram.’”
Jimmy said he and Elizabeth enjoy watching Henley compete.
“It is awesome for us as parents to watch,” Jimmy said. “This little BMX girl is inspiring a lot of other little kids getting started in BMX. So, we welcome anybody that might want to give it a try out to Mag Ridge BMX in Ridgeland. We have people young and old getting started on the track.”
Mag Ridge BMX is located at 344 Old Town Crossing in Ridgeland. For more information, call 601-750-2456.