Contact: Melvin Jackson II
Communications Coordinator
USA Track & Field
(317) 261-0478 x322
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://www.usatf.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sunday, July 06, 2003
Georgia sprinters star to close out Youth championships
AMHERST, N.Y. – Team USA members Michael Grant and Courtney Champion of the
New Horizon Track Club (Georgia) showed their dominance in the sprints in a
tune up for next week’s IAAF World Youth Athletics Championships to conclude
the USA Track & Field Youth Athletics National Championships. Grant and
Champion were named Verizon Athletes of the meet after their performances.
The 2001 World Youth silver medalist in the 200, Grant added the young men’s
100m (10.63) and the 4x100m relay (40.82) crowns to his young men’s 200m
(21.50) title he won yesterday. “I felt really good on my start. After I
was in front, I wanted to stay relaxed and ahead of the pack the rest of the
way,” said Grant.
Champion also added the 100m (11.80) and 4x100m relay (44.79) to her 200m
(23.73) title. Champion ran the second leg for New Horizon, helping her
club set a new young women’s relay record. “We wanted to break the record,
that is what we were here for from the beginning. I gave it my all as I
tried to catch all the outside lanes, but wasn’t able to catch that one
team,” said Champion. “I wanted to get out fast in the 100m because I was
racing against old rivals.” The 17-year-old won the 200m yesterday and was
happy to finish strong. “I always break down the last 30 meters and I just
wanted to follow through.” The senior at Collins High School won the 2003
Georgia State 100, 200m and 4x100m relay championships and will represent
Team USA in Sherbrooke.
The day had another national record when the West Valley Eagles won the
young women's 4X400m relay in 3:38.83 bettering the United Stars relay
record of 3:39.49 set July 29, 2001 in Sacramento, Calif.
Natasha Hastings ran a 53.98 to win the young women’s 400m. “I am not all
satisfied because I wanted to get in the 52s. I had difficulty breathing
during the race, but I started strong coming off the turn,” said Hastings.
The 16-year-old from Queens, N.Y. will represent Team USA next week in
Sherbrooke.
Cedric Goodman set a personal best in winning the young men’s 400m in 46.81
seconds. “I needed someone in front to run off of. I had to catch up at
the end because my teammate Reggie (Witherspoon) came off quick and passed
me on the 300m turn, but I got him in the end,” said Goodman.
Ebony Collins won the youth girls 400m in 54.43. “I slowed down and floated
on the backstretch and let everyone pass by because my shoes were about to
fall off. My strength is at the 200m mark and that is where I make my
strongest move in taking the lead,” said Collins. The 14-year-old Los
Angeles native is in the 9th grade.
The 2003 Georgia State 100m intermediate boys champion, Eddie Rush won his
division in the 100m in 10.99. “I felt good running the 100m at this meet.
I was happy to maintain my composure and finish strong,” said Rush.
The 2003 Texas State 5A 110m hurdles champion Jason Richardson won the 110m
and 400m hurdles young men championships in 13.89 and 50.72 seconds
respectively. “I got off to an amazing start in the 110 hurdles with my
biggest challenge going up against a (-3.7) headwind,” said Richardson. The
17-year-old’s strategy in the 400m hurdles was to get a fast leg snap over
the hurdles while associating his time with his competition from the start.
“I paced off of Aries (Merritt – 3rd place) the first 200m who got off to a
really fast start. I could see that he was ahead and made my move on the
last curve to run as fast as I could.” The Cedar Hill, Texas native will
also represent the USA next week in Sherbrooke. “I’m extremely excited to
compete in my first international meet. I am looking forward to compete
because I know most of the team already. We are going to have fun,”
Richardson continued.
University of South Carolina-bound Ronetta Alexander won the young women’s
100m hurdles in 13.60 seconds. “I knew it was going to be tough, but wanted
to run my own race not worrying about anyone catching or passing me while
staying aggressive and keeping my composure,” said Alexander. The New York
state indoor 60m hurdles record holder at 8.33 seconds is the 2003 New York
State 55m and 100m hurdles champion.
Brandi Cross of Houston won the intermediate girls 400m in 54.49 seconds.
“I was doing a little experimenting by breaking a stagger, but waited until
I got to the 200m mark when I normally stagger around the 150 meters. I
wanted to run a 52 or 53, but I have been doing well consistently running a
54,” said Cross. The 15-year-old will be one of the youngest members on
Team USA competing next week in Sherbrooke. “I am so excited to be on the
team and compete with older people that I can learn from. I think it will be
a fun experience to compete internationally for the first time,” Cross
continued.
Two-time Illinois state 100m champion Alexandria Anderson won the
intermediate girls 100m title in 12.10 seconds. “My start out of the blocks
was not that good, but I picked up speed to finish strong because I am a
closer. I focus on running my own race because paying attention to others
would get me off rhythm,” said Anderson. The 16-year-old Chicago native
will represent Team USA next week in Sherbrooke.
The 2003 Oregon state 1,500m and 3,000m champion Galen Rupp won the young
men’s division in the metric mile at 3:53.57. “I wanted to stay back with
one lap to go before making my move to take the lead,” said Rupp. “I’m
happy with today’s result and this gives me great confidence going into the
World Youth Championships next week,” Rupp continued.
Blake Eaton added the youth boys discus throw title to his shot put
championship he won yesterday. The Alleghany, N.Y. native threw
44.18m/144-11. “I had an overall good performance. At first, my throws
were going straight forward instead of steadily lifting upwards,” said
Eaton. “I am excited to be a double winner and I have a personal record in
the shot put at 52-4.75. John Godina and Michael Carter are my favorite
athletes and I really like to use the glide technique (starting from the
back of the circle and throwing from the power position) that Carter used to
win his titles in the shot put.” The 14-year-old’s goal coming into the
championship is to gain the top seed in the shot put and discus throw for
the 2005 World Youth Athletics Championships. “My next goal is to finish in
the top three at 2003 Junior Olympics,” Eaton continued.
Lazaris Evans leaped 14.70m/48-2.75 to win the young men’s triple jump. The
18-year-old won the 2003 Georgia State triple jump championships. “My
performance was alright, but I wasn’t at my best this morning. I need work
on my second phase, my landing and my speed down the runway,” said Evans.
The 2003 Pennsylvania State indoor and outdoor pole vault champion, Andrew
Rademacher won the young men’s division with a clearance of 4.90m/16-0.75.
The 17-year-old had to alternate his release due to the windy conditions.
“I had to push the pole away from the bar because the tailwind was pushing
the pole back in to the bar. I felt good after I cleared 15-7 and knew that
I had a better chance to win,” said Rademacher.
For more information on the 2003 USA Track & Field Youth Athletics National
Championships and the Verizon Youth Series, including complete results from
this year’s event, visit the USATF website at www.usatf.org.
# # #
2003 USATF Youth Athletics National Champs. - 7/2/2003 to 7/6/2003
University of Buffalo - Buffalo, NY
100 Meter Dash Bantam Girls Finals
(w: -2.1) 1, Chelsey Washington, Fast and Fit YA, 14.07. 2, Brandi Royster,
Durham Strid, 14.14. 3, Alexis Stroman, Southern Mar, 14.29.
400 Meter Dash Bantam Girls
1, Azia Walker, Capitol City, 1:03.66. 2, Brie Roller, New York Sta,
1:03.96.
3, Alexis Mapson, Burning Spear TC, 1:05.28.
1500 Meter Run Bantam Girls
1, Kaylor Murray, Nashville Il, 5:17.07. 2, Nyna Cutler, Gazelle TC,
5:20.24.
3, Nyree Burgess, Transy East, 5:26.02.
4x100 Meter Relay Bantam Girls Finals
1, Valley United TC 'A' 56.05. 2, Los Angeles Jets 'A' 56.92. 3, Quiet Fire
'A' 58.18.
4x400 Meter Relay Bantam Girls
1, Los Angeles Jets 'B' 4:35.38. 2, Starlet Track Club 'A' 4:45.78. 3,
Transy
East Track Club 'A' 4:51.40.
100 Meter Dash Midget Girls
(w: -1.7) 1, Erika Woods, Valley Unite, 13.03. 2, Monica Phipps, New
Horizon,
13.11. 3, Lorrena Dejernette, Riv CO Swift, 13.13.
400 Meter Dash Midget Girls
1, Turquoise Thompson, Riv CO Swift, 56.40. 2, Nzingha Crusoe, Unattached,
58.45. 3, Asja Goode, Supersonics, 58.68.
1500 Meter Run Midget Girls
1, Kathleen Thompson, Unattached, 4:53.90. 2, Kevyn Tracy, Gazelle TC,
5:02.59. 3, Andrea Oaxaca, Unattached, 5:02.65.
80 Meter Hurdles Midget Girls Finals
(w: -2.0) 1, Samantha Collins, Phoenix Bobcats, 13.35. 2, Nicole Cummings,
Westchester, 13.52. 3, Aichatou Kamate, New York Novas, 13.80.
4x100 Meter Relay Midget Girls
1, Valley United TC 'A' 50.18. 2, Supersonics TC 'A' 52.19. 3, New York
Novas
'A' 52.55.
4x400 Meter Relay Midget Girls
1, Riv CO Swift Performance 'A' 4:05.64. 2, Valley United TC 'A' 4:08.30.
3,
Mt. Airy Track Club 'A' 4:18.87.
100 Meter Dash Youth Girls Finals
(w: -2.9) 1, Terra Evans, Arizona Cheetahs, 12.35. 2, Taylor Evans, Arizona
Cheetahs, 12.48. 3, Sharay Hale, Detroit Jets, 12.80.
400 Meter Dash Youth Girls
1, Ebony Collins, Quiet Fire, 54.43. 2, Erica Alexander, Texas Storm Trac,
54.64. 3, Symone O'Connor, Supersonics, 55.41.
1500 Meter Run Youth Girls
1, Stancia Baker, LA Jets, 4:44.69. 2, Ashley Higginson, Unattached,
4:49.06.
3, Emily Reese, Northside Re, 4:49.33.
100 Meter Hurdles Youth Girls
(w: -1.8) 1, Chia Hudson, New York Sta, 14.71. 2, Saleena Rashed, Metro
Eagles, 15.10. 3, Patience Coleman, Durham Strid, 15.48.
200 Meter Hurdles Youth Girls
(w: -0.5) 1, Ebony Collins, Quiet Fire, 27.82. 2, Ashley White, LA Jets,
27.90. 3, Saleena Rashed, Metro Eagles, 28.25.
4x100 Meter Relay Youth Girls
1, Visions 'A' 48.72. 2, Valley United TC 'A' 48.86. 3, Mt. Airy Track Club
'A' 49.42.
4x400 Meter Relay Youth Girls
1, Quiet Fire 'A' 3:47.25. 2, Visions 'A' 3:50.10. 3, Visions 'B' 3:55.46.
100 Meter Dash Intermediate Girls
(w: -3.1) 1, Alexandria Anderson, Firestarters, 12.01. 2, Krystin Lacy,
Unattached, 12.03. 3, Elizabeth Olear, West Valley Eagl, 12.20.
400 Meter Dash Intermediate Girls
1, Brandi Cross, Visions, 54.49. 2, Ciara Willis, Gazelle TC, 56.25. 3,
Janean
Morris, Atoms, 56.87.
1500 Meter Run Intermediate Girls
1, Kelly Sampson, Detroit Cheetah, 4:42.19. 2, Merideth Snow, Cornhusker F,
4:43.92. 3, Allie Abdouch, Cornhusker F, 4:45.62.
100 Meter Hurdles Intermediate Girls
(w: -0.2) 1, Domenique Manning, West Valley Eagl, 14.01. 2, Marrissa
Harris,
Memphis Hurdlers, 14.42. 3, DeAna Carson, Team World TC, 14.60.
400 Meter Hurdles Intermediate Girls
1, Nicole Leach, Klub Keystone, 1:00.18. 2, Marrissa Harris, Memphis
Hurdlers,
1:02.13. 3, Shana Woods, Long Beach Sprin, 1:02.67.
4x100 Meter Relay Intermediate Girls
1, West Valley Eagles 'A' 46.74. 2, Cambria Youth Association 'B' 47.04. 3,
Maximum Output TC 'A' 49.02.
4x400 Meter Relay Intermediate Girls
1, West Valley Eagles 'A' 3:44.54. 2, Cambria Youth Association 'A'
3:51.47.
3, Gazelle TC 'A' 3:57.82.
100 Meter Dash Young Women
(w: -2.6) 1, Courtney Champion, New Horizon GA, 11.80. 2, Jessica
Onyepunuka,
Unattached, 12.00. 3, Carol Rodriguez, West Valley Eagl, 12.16.
400 Meter Dash Young Women
1, Natasha Hastings, Speedlimit T, 53.98. 2, Natalie Knight, New Horizon
GA,
55.83. 3, Kiana Stringfield, Maximum Outp, 56.25.
1500 Meter Run Young Women
1, Kym Bennett, Cornhusker F, 4:45.80. 2, Lashun Dix, Jaguar Georgia,
4:47.67.
3, McKale Davis, Jenks Americ, 4:48.23.
100 Meter Hurdles Young Women Finals
(w: -0.6) 1, Ronetta Alexander, Wny Jets, 13.60. 2, Tenisha Griggs, Maximum
Outp, 14.38. 3, Sierra Hill, Quicksilver, 14.79.
400 Meter Hurdles Young Women
1, Mackenzie Hill, West Valley Eagl, 1:01.04. 2, Dianna Gooden, West Valley
Eagl, 1:01.71. 3, Sierra Hill, Quicksilver, 1:01.75.
4x100 Meter Relay Young Women
1, New Horizon Track Club GA 'A' 44.79. 2, West Valley Eagles 'A' 45.75. 3,
Maximum Output TC 'A' 46.98.
4x400 Meter Relay Young Women
1, West Valley Eagles 'A' 3:38.83. 2, New Horizon Track Club GA 'A'
3:48.33.
3, Maximum Output TC 'A' 3:48.92.
100 Meter Dash Bantam Boys Finals
(w: -3.7) 1, Laijon White, Rising Stars, 13.69. 2, Jared Baker, So Cal Run
Coug, 14.01. 3, DeAnthony Dupree, Team World TC, 14.14.
400 Meter Dash Bantam Boys
1, Myles Andrews, Long Beach Sprin, 1:03.42. 2, Gregory Veals, LA Jets,
1:04.92. 3, Myer Krah, Durham Strid, 1:04.99.
1500 Meter Run Bantam Boys
1, Ryan Mitsos, Wandering Tucan, 5:00.45. 2, Andres Gonzalez, Gazelle TC,
5:00.69. 3, Dominick Balsino, Unattached, 5:01.07.
4x100 Meter Relay Bantam Boys Finals
1, Valley United TC 'A' 54.69. 2, Rising Stars TC 'A' 55.93. 3, Durham
Striders 'A' 56.23.
4x400 Meter Relay Bantam Boys
1, Los Angeles Jets 'A' 4:29.38. 2, Long Beach Sprinters 'A' 4:30.47. 3,
Southern California R Cougars 'A' 4:37.66.
100 Meter Dash Midget Boys Finals
(w: -1.4) 1, Dareem David, Mt. Airy Track C, 12.23. 2, Kevin Ally, LA Jets,
12.66. 3, Ahmad Robinson, Mlk Blasters, 12.95.
400 Meter Dash Midget Boys
1, Dareem David, Mt. Airy Track C, 54.65. 2, Shawn David, Mt. Airy Track C,
56.01. 3, Sadiki White, Supersonics, 57.55.
1500 Meter Run Midget Boys
1, Connor Revord, Unattached, 4:39.07. 2, Ramses Dukes, M C Track Club,
4:39.34. 3, Austin Arguello, Cyo Track Cl, 4:46.43.
80 Meter Hurdles Midget Boys Finals
(w: 2.3) 1, Dale Morgan, Jr., Valley Unite, 12.38. 2, Mikio Island, Valley
Unite, 12.46. 3, Joel Kindred, Durham Strid, 12.89.
4x100 Meter Relay Midget Boys
1, United San Diego Athletics 'A' 50.68. 2, Riv CO Swift Performance 'A'
51.50. 3, Buffalo Panthers 'A' 55.74.
4x400 Meter Relay Midget Boys Finals
1, Los Angeles Jets 'A' 4:01.28. 2, Gazelle TC 'A' 4:02.48. 3, Mlk Blasters
'A' 4:05.33.
100 Meter Dash Youth Boys
(w: -1.9) 1, Isaiah Green, So Cal Run Coug, 11.41. 2, Ramon Judkins, So Cal
Run Coug, 12.23. 3, Don Danns, Mlk Blasters, 12.28.
400 Meter Dash Youth Boys
1, Bryshon Nellum, So Cal Run Coug, 51.02. 2, Jonathan Jean-Louis,
Cambridge
Jets, 53.02. 3, Tojsh Kennedy, Quiet Fire, 53.38.
1500 Meter Run Youth Boys
1, Jason Apwah, Green Streak, 4:20.30. 2, Marcelis Lynch, Distance Hea,
4:25.20. 3, Elliott Rhodes, Mt. Airy Track C, 4:27.00.
100 Meter Hurdles Youth Boys
(w: 3.3) 1, Qahhar Davis, Dixmoor Pal, 14.60. 2, Miles Leonard, New World
TC,
14.70. 3, Lance Roller, Jr., New York Sta, 14.76.
200 Meter Hurdles Youth Boys
(w: -1.4) 1, Anonthy Wright, Imani, 27.13. 2, Qahhar Davis, Dixmoor Pal,
27.45. 3, Miles Leonard, New World TC, 28.03.
4x100 Meter Relay Youth Boys
1, Southern California R Cougars 'A' 44.80. 2, Cambridge Jets 'A' 46.83. 3,
Jaguar TC (Nj) 'A' 48.46.
4x400 Meter Relay Youth Boys
1, Southern California R Cougars 'A' 3:37.96. 2, Gazelle TC 'A' 3:47.64. 3,
Steel City Express 'A' 3:52.09.
100 Meter Dash Intermediate Boys Finals
(w: -2.1) 1, Eddie Rush, New Horizon GA, 10.99. 2, Dax Danns, Mlk Blasters,
11.21. 3, Mark Duncan, Firebirds AC, 11.28.
400 Meter Dash Intermediate Boys
1, Courtney Williams, LA Jets, 49.51. 2, Emanuel Killebrew, M C Track Club,
50.58. 3, Terrence Townsend, Durham Strid, 50.97.
1500 Meter Run Intermediate Boys
1, Jordan McDougal, Runner X, 4:03.88. 2, Travis Bradford, LA Jets,
4:08.77.
3, Blake Figgins, M C Track Club, 4:08.79.
110 Meter Hurdles Intermediate Boys
(w: -3.1) 1, Kevin Craddock, Alex Van Dyk, 14.15. 2, Michael Wray, PhatBack
Ath, 15.02. 3, Gary Sumpter, Riv CO Swift, 15.45.
400 Meter Hurdles Intermediate Boys
1, Terrence Townsend, Durham Strid, 56.16. 2, Lacy Flintall, Durham Strid,
56.44. 3, Gary Sumpter, Riv CO Swift, 56.51.
4x100 Meter Relay Intermediate Boys
1, Firebirds Athletic Club 'A' 43.33. 2, Los Angeles Jets 'A' 44.08. 3,
PhatBack Athletics 'A' 44.21.
4x400 Meter Relay Intermediate Boys
1, Metro Eagles 'A' 3:23.27. 2, Los Angeles Jets 'A' 3:25.46. 3, Motor City
Track Club 'A' 3:26.77.
100 Meter Dash Young Men Finals
(w: -2.4) 1, Michael Grant, New Horizon GA, 10.63. 2, Demi Omole, Milwaukee
St, 10.69. 3, Antonio Freeman, Milwaukee St, 10.79.
400 Meter Dash Young Men
1, Cedric Goodman, New Horizon GA, 46.81. 2, Reginald Witherspoon, New
Horizon
GA, 47.06. 3, Phillip Turner, Columbus Jag, 47.56.
1500 Meter Run Young Men
1, Galen Rupp, Unattached, 3:53.57. 2, Joshua McDougal, Runner X, 3:55.38.
3,
Michael Haddan, Unattached, 3:58.08.
110 Meter Hurdles Young Men
(w: -3.7) 1, Jason Richardson, Unattached, 13.89. 2, Verrol Jackson,
Schenectady, 14.21. 3, Aries Merritt, New Horizon GA, 14.21.
400 Meter Hurdles Young Men
1, Jason Richardson, Unattached, 50.72. 2, Jamal Charles, Unattached,
52.67.
3, Aries Merritt, New Horizon GA, 52.91.
4x100 Meter Relay Young Men
1, New Horizon Track Club GA 'A' 40.82. 2, West Valley Eagles 'A' 41.37. 3,
Firebirds Athletic Club 'A' 41.78.
4x400 Meter Relay Young Men
1, New Horizon Track Club GA 'A' 3:13.70. 2, West Valley Eagles 'A'
3:14.03.
3, Trenton Track Club 'A' 3:14.69.
2003 USATF Youth Athletics National Champs. - 7/2/2003 to 7/6/2003
University of Buffalo - Buffalo, NY
Long Jump Intermediate Girls
1, Shana Woods, Long Beach Sprin, 5.86m, w:NWI (19-02.75). 2, Camillia
Mormon,
Durham Strid, 5.80m, w:NWI (19-00.50). 3, DeAna Carson, Team World TC,
5.55m,
w:NWI (18-02.50).
Long Jump Young Women
1, Gayle Hunter, West Valley Eagl, 6.10m, w:2.2 (20-00.25). 2, Erica
McLain,
Texas Expres, 5.83m, w:2.1 (19-01.50). 3, Candice Mills, Cornhusker F,
5.62m,
w:2.0 (18-05.25).
Discus Throw 1kg Young Women
1, Misti Barber, Unattached, 43.03m, (141-02). 2, Amara McKell, Nashville
Il,
37.10m, (121-09). 3, Kalyn Wille, Unattached, 36.53m, (119-10).
Discus Throw 1kg Youth Boys
1, Blake Eaton, Chautauqua Strid, 44.18m, (144-11). 2, Jim Theologes,
Unattached, 42.49m, (139-05). 3, Walter Henning, Unattached, 41.97m,
(137-08).
Triple Jump Intermediate Boys
1, Frankie Gatson, River Cities, 14.44m, w:NWI (47-04.50). 2, Joseph
Kindred,
Durham Strid, 13.53m, w:2.1 (44-04.75). 3, James Massar, Unattached,
13.08m,
w:NWI (42-11).
Pole Vault Young Men
1, Andrew Rademacher, Unattached, 4.90m, (16-00.75). 2, Andrew Park,
Unattached, 4.60m, (15-01). 3, Mitch Greeley, Unattached, 4.45m,
(14-07.25).
Triple Jump Young Men
1, Lazaris Evans, Quicksilver, 14.70m, w:NWI (48-02.75). 2, Akeem Hardnett,
Quicksilver, 14.67m, w:NWI (48-01.75). 3, Angelo Jeffery, 3M Track Club,
14.07m, w:NWI (46-02).
