A Great Weekend Of Track And Field
June 30, 2008
This was a great weekend of Track and Field. Eugene to Jamaica and all parts in between.The Elite and Youth Elite were on a mission. Here are the highlights of this weekend in Track and Field.
* The best in the world.The Womens 100m finalist and the Mens100m finalist
* Tyson Gay 9.77 New American record His time of 9.68 seconds at the U.S. Olympic trials Sunday doesn’t count as a world record, because it was run with the help of a too-strong tailwind. Here’s what does matter: Gay qualified for his first Summer Games team and served notice he’s certainly someone to watch in Beijing.
Tyson Gay put on a sprinting clinic during the quarterfinal heats. He set a new (9.77) American Record in the quarterfinal round heat. I’ve never seen a round of 100 heats
Gays Runs Even Faster, Dix Emerges On the Scene!
It was utter pandemonium when the stadium clock displayed 9.68, after Tyson Gay crossed the line. Track Town, USA was completely rocking for the next thirty minutes.
* Olympic champion Veronica Campbell-Brown won the women’s 200 meters in a world-leading 21.94 seconds
*Bolt, the world 100 record-holder at 9.72 seconds, had no problem in taking the men’s event in 19.97 seconds
* In a shocking development, reigning 100-meter World Champion Veronica Campbell-Brown 10.88 did not earn an automatic bid to the Olympic Games.
Links to more Track and Field Resources
Check Out the U.S.Track Gear
After much anticipation and speculation, the Olympic Team uniforms have been presented for the world to see. How does the ‘08 gear compare to previous team uniforms?
By Jay Hicks.
Photo courtesy Image of Sport.
Special Athlete Update …. Youth National Results
June 29, 2008
Thanks to USATF Tiffany Kovacevich Intern for a quick rap up of the 2008 Youth National Championships. For the entire final results ***Youth National Results*** . Region 15 was well represented and I couldn’t be more proud of Lauren’s friend Laura Panteau for her TRIPLE GOLD. I have watch her all season and this is a great ending to her hard work. and stand out season. Read the entire article
CHARLOTTE , NC
USATF Communications Intern Tiffany Kovacevich
tiffany.kovacevich@usatf.org
317-261-0500
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Picture taken by Kirby Lee/ Press Telegram Long Beach
Akawkaw Ndipagbor (TOGETHER Youth Elite Track & Field Team) captured two individual titles on the day in the intermediate girls 400m and 100m, clocking 53.76 and 12.05 respectively. On Saturday Ndipagbor took third in the 200m in 24.22. Ndipagbor’s wins reflected her performances at the 2007 competition, where she took first in the youth girls 100m and 400m.
Robin Reynolds (Miami Northwest Express Track Club) collected her third and fourth individual titles at the 2008 USA Youth Track & Field Championships, after winning the youth girls 100 and 400 meters on the final day of competition.
Reynolds darted down the 100m straightaway in a wind aided 11.98 seconds to claim her third win of the championships. Later in the day, Reynolds led the pack in the 400m, crossing the line with a first place time of 53.84, securing her fourth individual title. Reynolds collected her first two wins on Saturday after winning the 200m (22.83) and the 800m (2:16.28).
Laura Panteau (Focos) (Region 15 So Cal) continued her success from Saturday, accruing her third individual title by winning the bantam girls 400m in 1:03.15. Panteau’s first two wins came Saturday in the 800m (2:28.69) and the long jump (4.28m/14-0.5).”It felt really good to get first place in three events, because it’s hard to get this far, plus the 400 is a really hard race.”
Midget girls 400m two athletes finished the race with a sub-60 time, champion Darielle Oliver (Titans Track Club, Inc.) in 58.82 and runner-up Patrice Jones (Illinois Elite Youth Track Club) in 58.91. Congratulations to both young ladies!!
Bantam boys division the relay team of Kevin Atkins, Tariq Thompson, Jaylin White, Daquirae Irby (Mercury San Diego Track & Field - A) captured the title after combining for a time of 4:31.24. Atkins, Thompson, White, and Irby also combined together for a fourth place finish in the 4×100m on Saturday, with a time of 57.95.
Track and Field Sports Parent Code of Conduct
June 27, 2008
You would think as adults, yes adults and parents we wouldn’t need a remedial lesson on how to conduct ourselves at Track and Field events…..
Parent and Coach Misconduct, 10 Ways To Be A Great Track Parent
I was writing this post last night when this comment came in:
Hello Track Mom,
“I just wanted to report something that I experienced this past weekend at the meet that our track team hosted. After my daughter ran the 400M race a parent commented “the girl with the ribbons (my daughter) is sweet.” One of the other mothers said, “she isn’t all that… we’ve got something for her at the State Championship.”
Another parent from my team overheard this and asked what she meant. The mother appeared shocked and embarrased and asked if she was her mother. She went on to try to explain that she did not mean it as a threat or anything, and that my friend took it the wrong way.
Why and when did parents get nasty like this? I love my daughter beyond measure, and encourage her, cheer her on, and think that she is nothing less than the best but when she loses a race, we commend her as well as whoever beat her and tell them that they did great! I can’t even begin to describe the sick feeling that I have within me since this past weekend. It is hard to think about the hate that is in the world today that my daghter may have to face when she grows up, but at 8 going on 9 years old, are you serious!?!
I understand that the kids have other runners that they compare themselves with and strive to beat them, and their parents may even tell them, “hey, you can beat her.” But it shocks me that two grown parents were talking like this loudly near the finish line so that others could hear. I am in prayer about this and I ask that you and your viewers please pray for not only me and my daughter, but all of the parents and children participating in track and field, including those with these negative feelings towards innocent children just doing what they enjoy doing. As much as I love and enjoy watching track and field and cheering my daughter on, I almost feel like it will not be the same this weekend at the State Championships.”
So you see I am not the only one out there with material to write on .Every time I am at a meet I find more material from some parents in the stands…Here we go AGAIN
Track Parents Code of Conduct
At the Meet.
It’s really hard not to get excited and yell when you’re watching your child run ,jump or throw. Just remember that you are a guest at your child’s athletic event. Unless you are adding something positive, keep your mouth shut.
Listen to your athlete.
Also, listen to your child. If she is telling you she isn’t having fun, listen. Do not force your child to participate.
This isn’t about you.
Remember that children participate to have fun and that participation in track is for your youth athlete, not adults. If you want to yell to go Faster…Get your knees up! Go participate in a Master’s Meet and see just how hard it really is. I never yell get your knees up after I ran in a meet and couldn’t : ) It was eye opening to say the least.
Know the rules.
Learn the rules of the event and the policies of the meet. Be a positive role model for your child and encourage sportsmanship by showing respect and courtesy, and by demonstrating positive support for all athletes, other parents, coaches, officials and spectators at every meet and practice.
Set a good example.
Never engage in any kind of unsportsmanlike conduct with any official, coach, player, or parent such as booing and taunting; refusing to shake hands; or using profane language or gestures. Watch your language..PLEASE. Last week a parent was cursing worse that a sailor in front of my daughter and didn’t even realize he was doing it.
Demand good sportsmanship from your child.
Teach your child to play by the rules and to resolve conflicts without resorting to hostility or violence. Demand that your child treat other players, coaches, officials and spectators with respect regardless of race, creed, color, sex or ability. Teach your child that doing one’s best is more important than winning, so that your child will never feel defeated by the outcome of a race or his/her over all performance.
Show respect.
Respect the officials and their authority during games and never question, discuss, or confront coaches at the game field. Take time to speak with coaches at an agreed upon time and place. Communicate and show respect to your fellow parents. I admit, I and several others were guilty of this in regard to a relay order.It wasn’t just me but it might as well have been .I learned my lesson and I will keep my thoughts to myself : ) my opinion is just that, mine.Coaches have lots to figure out I only have Lauren.
Provide adequte refreshment for “Your Athlete”
I am very sure that you fully realize that the meets start at about 8am and finished after 3 or so most times.Your child will need food and water over the 6-10 hours of participation. Plan ahead.Don’t expect your fellow parents to feed and hydrate your athlete just because others Always bring food. This by far is the most rude, irritating observation I see weekly and I get more track moms reporting this than any other. I love sharing and love when other share with me, BUT I hate being taken advantage of. I have recieved reports of parents sending smaller children to them asking for food while the parents sit from afar and watch.
Men, Give a helping hand to the Track Moms
Yes it’s true.There are many men out there that will watch women put up canopies and carry ice chest into the stands and not ever offer to help.WHAT THE HECK???? Has the male population of the world gone mad?
This is 100% true story.Last weekend in Escondido,CA at the Region 15 Championships Henry and I actually witnessed a father helping his girl child lift an ice chest then he put it down befor the stairs and had her carry it up the stairs into the stands yep..it was crazy. Men, just be men and help when you see women and children needing help.
Help out the announcer
When the announcer asks you to move your illegally parked car MOVE IT… Please ,when he or she asks you to move your body off the rails, just move. We could all see if we would all go to the seats in the stands.
Clean up your mess
For those of you and there are MANY ,this is not your house or some other dirty, filthy place. Clean your area before you leave the stadium.Who wants to share their expensive stadium( house) with a bunch of nasty,thoughtless people? Didn’t any one ever tell these parents and athletes never leave your guests stadium(home) with out cleaning up? I try to clean my entire area before it get out of control but sometimes it’s just ridiculous how lazy people are when they know or see you doing their job.
One time during the season a team that left a little earlier than us left so much trash I had to get a broom to clean it just so no one would think it was my filthy trash.Okay,clean up after yourselves..Please.
Until Next Time
Guided Imagery May Improve Athlectic Performance
June 25, 2008
By Elizabeth Quinn, About.com
Visualization has also been called guided imagery, mental rehearsal, mediation, and a variety of other things — no matter the term, the basic techniques and concepts are the same. Generally speaking, visualization is the process of creating a mental image or intention of what you want to happen or feel.
An athlete can use this technique to ‘intend’ an outcome of a race or training session, or simply to rest in a relaxed feeling of calm and well-being. By imagining a scene, complete with images of a previous best performance or a future desired outcome, the athlete is instructed to simply ’step into’ that feeling. While imagining these scenarios, the athlete should try to imagine the detail and the way it feels to perform in the desired way.
These scenarios can include any of the senses. They can be visual (images and pictures), kinesthetic (how the body feels), or auditory (the roar of the crowd). Using the mind, an athlete can call up these images over and over, enhancing the skill through repetition or rehearsal, similar to physical practice.
With mental rehearsal, minds and bodies become trained to actually perform the skill imagined.
Research is finding that both physical and psychological reactions in certain situations can be improved with visualization. Such repeated imagery can build both experience and confidence in an athlete’s ability to perform certain skills under pressure, or in a variety of possible situations. The most effective visualization techniques result in a very vivid sport experience in which the athlete has complete control over a successful performance and a belief in this new ’self.’
Guided imagery, visualization, mental rehearsal or other such techniques can maximize the efficiency and effectiveness of your training. In a world where sports performance and success is measured in seconds, most athletes will use every possible training technique at hand. Visualization might be one way to gain that very slim margin.
Sources
Brouziyne M, Molinaro C. “Mental imagery combined with physical practice of approach shots for golf beginners.” Perceptual and Motor Skills. 2005 Aug;101(1):203-11.
Isaac, A. R. (1992). “Mental Practice- Does it Work in the Field?” The Sport Psychologist, 6, 192-198.
Martin, K.A., Hall, C. R. (1995). “Using Mental Imagery to Enhance Intrinsic Motivation.” Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 17(1), 54-69.
It’s Never To Early To Write Down A Life Time Goal
June 24, 2008
Here are a few great points I picked up over at Speedendurance.com that may give your special youth athlete a positve perspective and a simple how to start points, on future goals and dreams.
It doesn’t matter if you are a Blogger, Master Chef, or a YouthTrack athlete; when you can apply the core values of Passion, Honesty and the Pursuit of Excellence, you can succeed in anything! Share these simple points with your youth athlete today and see what just might happen in years to come.
Passion is important because it gives you endurance in sports and elsewhere.
Honesty is important because it allows you to sleep well at night; it helps you to develop a network of friends rather than enemies; and it makes you into a true leader, i.e. a role model for your industry.
Excellence about being your personal best. Set yourself up for excellence: focus on something you are passionate about and set a new goal.
What is the biggest tip to achieving your goals? Write it down!. Just send yourself an email as “proof” and as a valid time stamp. You’ll be surprised when you revisit that email or letter next year.
According to a Harvard Business School study, written goals can translate into earnings of 10 times more than those who fail to establish goals or put their goals in writing. The study of their graduates from over 30 years or research found that only 3% who actually wrote down their goals. But those 3% were the most successful in the whole study! Of the remaining 97%, 11% had goals but had not written them down and 86% had not yet established goals.
Twenty years later, they polled the same group. The 11% group who had goals (but not written down) were making twice as much as the 86% group who had no goals. However, the 3% group who had written down their goals were making 10 times more than the average of all the other graduates… and 98% of all the wealth (sucess of all kinds) resided with that same 3%!
Get out that pen or email!
Fire Plus Together Equals World Junior Championships
June 23, 2008
(Kirby Lee/For the Press-Telegram)
The former Quite FIre and current Together Elite athlete Akawkaw Ndipagbor qualifies for the 12th IAAF World Junior Championships.
Akawkaw Ndipagbor and Shelise Williams earned a trip to the 12th IAAF World Junior Championships in the women’s 400 meters in the USA Track & Field Junior Championships at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium at Ohio State on Sunday.
Ndipagbor, a Poly High freshman, placed third in 53.62 and Williams, a Wilson graduate who attends the University of Arkansas, was fourth in 53.65.
The top two finishers earned spots on the U.S. team for the World Junior Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland, on July 8-13.
Ndipagbor’s third-place finish was the latest accolade in a stellar freshman year. Ndipagbor, the fastest middle school athlete in the 400 in the nation as an eighth grader, won the Southern Section Division I, Masters Meet and the state title in a state season-leading 53.35.
Ndipagbor ran the fifth-best qualifying time of 54.17 after a conservative start in the prelims on Friday to advance to the final. The race turned into a duel between Beard and Whittaker for the top two spots with Ndipagbor and Williams in the running for third.
Ndipagbor’s third-place finish was the latest accolade in a stellar freshman year. Ndipagbor, the fastest middle school athlete in the 400 in the nation as an eighth grader, won the Southern Section Division I, Masters Meet and the state title in a state season-leading 53.35.
Thanks to the Press Telegram,Long Beach,California. Click Here to read entire article
People Are Talking And Sending In Great Pictures
June 23, 2008
I recieve lots of responses to the posts I write almost daily and people are talking…You can get in on the conversation any time ,just go to the bottom of the post click comments and leave yout thoughts to share with the world . In addition parents are sending me great stories and pictures via e-mail trackmom1@gmail.com
Youth Drug Testing to Begin In 2009 ,The Future Is NOW
Jack Hicks writes:
“The program is a move in the right direction. Drug testing is a small part of the solution. It is a pandoras box that many hope doesn’t come to light. It’s far from a perfect science at this point. I’m not saying that testing isn’t good. It’s just that once you catch an athlete-it’s too late.
The best aspect of the USATF program is where coaches and parents talk to children about using performancing enhancing drugs. This is a proactive approach to the matter. It’s the best way to change a culture especially since early on parents and coaches have a great opportunity to shape youths attitudes on doping.”
Jay Hicks
Editor
http://www.preracejitters.com
Brooke’s mom writes:
Great news! Happy to hear that there are efforts being made to “nip it in the bud”. Win the natural way and then you will be a true winner!!
Preview Of This Week at TrackMom.com,
Ron Jackson Director UAGTCA Youth Invitational - Phiadelphia, PA writes:
I have only recently been introduced to TrackMom.com but I have been completely amazed with the content and style. While so much has changed during my many years in the sport, don’t ask how many, suffice it to say that it has been a long time, so much has remained the same. Children, no matter from where they hail love the sport of track & field. It is a sport that offers something for every child. Not just the swift but the strong and determined as well. It is a sport that you can get back exactly what you put in. Children see this and are drawn to the sprt like bees to a flower.
I won’t pretend that there is a magic potion for success but I do know that no one who has ever participated in earnest has left the sport with less than they brought in. Now from what other sport can you get that type of guarantee. In most other sports you are measured against someone else. In track & Field you are measured against yourself, the clock or tape.
The life lessons presented by track & field are countless but I feel that the most important one is PERSERVERANCE. How many of us would go out week after week, face the same people, under the same circumstances and know that this time the results will be different. They may not win but they will improve.
Keep doing what you’re doing and I wish you mich success in this endeavor.
Ron Jackson
The Other “Allison” Stokkes Of Track & Field,
Bill Carter writes:
On behalf of the male gender I would like to offer an apology to Ms. Stokke for the excess attention she received from her picture. I have seen the photo and have to say that it does tend to make one do a double take. I think that is a natural reaction from any red blooded straight male. God blessed her with an extraordinary amount of beauty.
However, it is unfortunate that the circumstances led to such phenomenal Internet traffic to cause her apprehension and embarassement.
I wish her luck in her athletic and academic endeavors and hope that this experience doesn’t prevent her from enjoying life.
Fun Pictures
I had to start with My Favorite .This one was taken by Coach Alexander Hill of LSI NoCal
“THE JUMP”
Send Yours in Soon!
Until Next Time
How To Win Gold
June 22, 2008
Congratulations Lauren Rain Williams
2008
Region 15 JO Championship
100m Champion
200M Silver Medalist
4X100 Gold Medalist
Sports And Your Children’s Feet
June 20, 2008
Children and Sports
Thanks to the American Academy of Podiatry Sports Medicine For another helpful article for our youth athletes.
All parents know that children take to sports like ducks to water. Almost as soon as they start to walk, they’re chasing balls, swinging sticks, and running races against nobody in particular.
Children’s sports used to mean baseball, basketball, or football. That’s changed. Soccer has leapt onto the youth sports scene, as have wrestling, tennis, and lacrosse with older children. The starting age for training in individual sports such as swimming, skating, track, and gymnastics grows younger every year.
Parents should encourage their children to participate in sports, but never forget that competition should be fun. Too much emphasis on winning can alienate a child from athletic competition.
Children active in sports programs will improve their cardiovascular and musculoskeletal systems, coordination, and state of mind. Participation in sports develops a sense of self discipline, teamwork, and recognition of the importance of a healthy body — good habits that last a lifetime.
Training Emphasis
Every child physically matures at his or her own rate, and has a different degree of athletic ability. No amount of training can improve a child’s natural athletic ability, but training helps improve coordination, and therefore performance.
Early training should emphasize proper technique and basic movement skills in all sports, especially in children younger than 10. Podiatric physicians, specialists in treating the lower extremities, say children who concentrate on a single sport at too young an age are more likely to develop injuries of the foot and ankle. Save specialization in sports for the late teens, they advise.
Warming up before participating in sports is more important for adults than children, but it helps loosen the muscles and prevent injuries in athletes of all ages. Light jogging and smooth stretching exercises (be sure not to bounce when stretching) are all that’s necessary for young athletes. Learning to stretch at an early age will set a good pattern for sports activities as the body develops.
Footwear
Whether parents like it or not, part of a child’s image revolves around footwear. Expensive sneakers have become fashion statements as much as athletic equipment. But for good foot health, the condition of the shoe is more important than the price tag or brand name.
Podiatric physicians agree it’s often better to buy a child two $50 pairs of shoes than a single $100 pair, so the shoes can be rotated, to avoid rapid wear deterioration. Excessive wearing of the outsole, loss of shoe counter support, or wearing out in the midsole indicate it’s time to replace the shoes.
Because a child’s feet are constantly growing, it is important to allow at least one finger’s width from the end of the longest toe when buying shoes. Remember, proper fit is very important. You can have the best shoe in the world, but if it doesn’t fit right, it doesn’t do its job.
In the shoe store, children should put on both shoes, with their athletic socks and the laces tied tight, for several minutes to properly check the shoes’ fit. Shop for shoes in the afternoon, when the feet are naturally slightly swollen.
In young children, an “all purpose” sports shoe works well for most sports. A running-specific shoe is not suitable as an all purpose shoe; moving laterally in a running shoe is more difficult and presents greater risk of injury for children. After the age of 10, sport-specific shoes can help improve performance and protect the feet. With the exception of the running shoe, a degree of crossover between sporting shoes is usually not harmful to the feet of a child athlete.
Rubber cleats are not usually necessary for children under 10, though they pose little potential harm for them. They are most useful on a soft-field sport such as soccer. Podiatric physicians recommend molded shoe rubber cleats rather than the screw-on variety. Metal baseball spikes can be dangerous and should not be used until the teenage years.
Growing Bones and Ligaments
The immature bones of children are different from those of adults. The “growth plates” in children’s bones do not finish closing until age 15-17 in boys and 13-15 in girls. When stressed, these plates are more susceptible to injury than the tendons and ligaments that support the joints. Ligaments tend to “give” before bones in adults.
Podiatric physicians warn repetitive overuse can cause inflammation of the growth plates. They advise parents to promote diverse physical activities for their children rather than one sport. This is especially important with individual sports such as running, gymnastics, and tennis, which require long hours of practice.
Statistics show children who concentrate on just one sport for long hours at a time are setting themselves up for injuries. Because of the susceptibility of bones with open growth centers to overuse injuries, sponsors of the Boston Marathon recently increased the minimum age to participate from 16 to 18.
A sports medicine podiatrist can offer a thorough examination of the entire lower extremity, and identify a leg length imbalance, weakness, or biomechanical imbalances that may need to be addressed to prevent injuries on the athletic field.
Injuries and Treatments
Many children suffer from mild “torsional” imbalances, commonly known as in-toeing and out-toeing. Most children outgrow these imbalances without medical treatment. However, if a child has obvious torsional imbalances, he or she may be more susceptible to injury. If that is the case, keep a close eye out for foot and ankle injuries associated with sports activity. Foot injuries commonly seen in very active children include:
Ankle Sprains. In older children, stretched or torn ligaments in the ankle, known as sprains, are more common than fractures. A sprain may cause extensive swelling around the ankle just like a fracture. Immediate treatment is crucial to quick healing. A podiatric physician can provide treatment as well as recommend balancing and strengthening exercises to restore coordination quickly.
Fractures. Fractures from overuse in child-athletes are commonly seen in podiatric medical offices. Growth plates are particularly susceptible to injuries, but mid-shaft fractures of the bone also occur. If a fracture is not severe, rest and immobilization may be the best treatment. More complicated injuries may require casting or surgical correction. If swelling and pain persist, see a podiatric physician.
Sever’s Disease. An inflammation of a growth plate, Sever’s Disease is often felt as pain behind the heel caused by inflammation of the apophysis, a growth center where a tendon is attached to the bone. Rest, ice, and heel lifts are usually prescribed.
Shin splints and stress fractures. Shin splints are microtears or inflammation of the anterior leg muscles, as are Achilles tendon pulls in the posterior region of the leg. Again, rest is most important in healing these injuries. If pain is persistent, see a podiatrist, who can recommend strengthening exercises, certain shoes, or, if indicated, prescribe custom-made shoe inserts known as orthoses.
A Word to Parents
All parents want to see their children do well in sports. But putting too much pressure on a child to become a star athlete may result in both physical and emotional injury to the child. A child should enjoy playing a sport, but if forced, could be turned away from all sports for a lifetime.
Especially with individual sports such as swimming, figure skating, and gymnastics that require long hours of practice every day, be certain the child’s heart is in the endeavor, not just yours. When it comes to sports, overzealous parents can potentially do their children more harm than good.
Based on a document produced in cooperation with the: American Podiatric Medical Association.
Youth Drug Testing to Begin In 2009 ,The Future Is NOW
June 19, 2008
The USATF reports on a strategy to inform youth runners and their parents of the dangers of steriod abuse as testing begins 2009.The Future Is Now…
USATF To Ramp Up Anti-Doping Education And Testing For Youth Athletes.
USA Track & Field will heighten anti-doping education initiatives at its three youth national championships in 2008 and will begin in-competition drug testing at the 2009 championship events. The programs are a partnership with the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency and are tied to USATF’s Zero Tolerance anti-doping initiative and Win With Integrity youth outreach program.
At the 2008 USA Youth Outdoor Track & Field Championships, USATF National Junior Olympic Track & Field Championships and USATF National Junior Olympic Cross Country Championships, USATF will work with USADA to distribute educational materials on drug testing, will conduct town hall meetings for parents and coaches to learn more about anti-doping efforts, and will require athletes in the Youth, Intermediate, and Young divisions to view USADA’s Doping Control Process video which highlights the processes and procedures that occur during an in-competition drug test.
USATF will also work with USADA to further promote USADA’s 100% Me, My Choices Matter campaign, which focuses on equipping young athletes with knowledge and skills to make responsible, ethical, and healthy choices.
In 2009, formal drug testing at the USATF youth championships will be conducted for athletes in the Intermediate (15-16 years old) and Young Men/Woman divisions (17-18years old). American athletes in the Intermediate and Young divisions have always been subject to drug testing when competing in the USA Junior Championships, IAAF World Youth Championships, and IAAF World Junior Championships. USATF hopes that by adding the educational programs and the drug testing at the youth events the athletes will be provided with the information and experience necessary to compete drug-free at the highest levels of competition and in life.
“We are pleased to be moving forward with new education initiatives in partnership with USADA,” said USATF President/Acting CEO Bill Roe. “Athletes at younger and younger ages are feeling the pressure to enhance their performances by any means possible, and we need to let them, their coaches, and parents know that we are here to help them stay away from unethical and potentially dangerous choices.”
“In keeping with USATF’s Zero Tolerance initiative, we felt that it is critical to send a strong message to our young athletes, their parents, and our youth club coaches that the use of drugs is wrong and will not be tolerated in our sport,” stated Lionel Leach USATF Youth Athletics Committee Chair. “We feel that a strong educational program that includes in-person education and more information distributed via e-mail and the internet would provide us with the foundation to move forward in 2009 with formal drug testing.”
For more information on USATF’s youth, Zero Tolerance and Win With Integrity programs, visit www.usatf.org
