Update and Catch Up From The UAGTCA Invitational

Where do I begin???  So much has happened over the past 72 hours I almost have to write a list just to make sure I get it all in. Here goes….  Saturday quick recap You know my mantra is TRACK is FUN..All of it, not just the running but, meeting new people and exploring new area’s of the country along the way.

After Lauren’s 100m qualifying race we left the track and ventured to downtown Philly. We saw the Liberty Bell( a little dream of mine since childhood) . She honestly was okay with the experience,not blown away but I think as she gets older it will mean so much more. I, on the other hand was very moved by what the bell stood for and continues to stand for in our lives as Americans, all Americans Black , White and all the other Colors of the rainbow here in America.

The exhibit provided many great tie-in’s to the journey of American Liberty.Our forefathers intended Liberty for all and even though our historic near past, just a very short 232 in total have been working out the details.It hasn’t always perfect but nothing is therefore, the work in progress has moved us closer to the dream of Liberty and Freedom for all.  Ask any immigrant to our great country, I believe, they will best  able to share what Liberty and “The American Dream” really are. Yes it is still alive.

From there we took a city wide tour that gave us a great over view of just how much fun you can have in the “City of Brotherly Love”. Lauren really enjoyed this leg of our site seeing the best and had lots to say on our drive home from our day of exploring Philly. Next time she wants to run up the “Rocky Stairs” We both never have seen the movie ,but Dad filled us in  on the the significance of  the stairs,they looked like a lot of fun.

 I filled up the gas tank, only $4.05 (home $4.65 when I left),upon arrival close to our hotel  we got a bite to eat at  Dave’s Barbeque. Not really what I wanted but it was close and didn’t want to look any further seeing as Lauren needed to get in bed on time before the finals on Sunday. So Dave’s it was, and it was pretty good .We ate Chicken,these great string beans that were cooked very nice ,not mushy and some mashed garlic potatos and a corn muffin. We split a plate and there was enough chicken  left over for the Sunday trip back to Maryland.  

 Sunday Final Day

Sunday morning we got up in plenty of time. Lauren was nervous, I could tell and she wanted to do her first part of the  warm up on the bike in the hotel.So she did and that really calmed her down a bit then she was okay . We finished the packing and checked out.Next we heading for breakfast and the track.Once at the track a little before 8 am I got very lucky and scored a great close parking space.

This helped alot since I had to carry our water and other essentials. Once we got our seats she ran around the track in another warm up,drills etc. and then we went to the long jump pit to get her marks and a few quick run thoughs. Long jump started at 9am. 

Once finished, Lauren did something I  had never really seen before, she was actively watching the first race of the day 800m, timing and talking to me about good performances, times, strategy  and finishing kick…. Who knew  she had an interest ??? So after they were finished she still hadn’t started to jump yet so we walked around and talked to a few people then about 11:45 (I think) she went to the Long Jump pit. I was full of anticipation for this event because this is the least practiced of all the things she does in track and field. (She never jumped nor practiced during the season,jumping for the very first time in competition on June the 13th at the  AAU PacificSouthwest Championships(qualifying meet for AAU Nationals)  She won,but her jump was less that exciting at 11’07″. We figured we had a little time to get her in the jumping groove before we go to Detroit In Late July.)

Her initial jumps as I could tell looked okay, I was happy with no fouls and she had a big smile on her face.

When I saw she had made it to the finals I was overjoyed and she was happy to. In the end she won her first medal of the meet with a winning gold medal jump of 4.04m (13.5 feet) not to bad for the second meet of the season and she looked very good .

Long Jump Finals

1   978 Williams, Lauren       Quiet Fire   3.65m      4.04m   
2   165 Thomas, Destinee       Delco Stallions        4.12m      3.83m      
3     437 Coleman, Amira           Mt. Airy T. C.         3.40m      3.72m       
4      707 Smith, Shaina              Sudden Impact     3.00m      3.69m   
  5   164 Smith, Jada                   Delco Stallions        3.47m      3.63m      
  6   936 McKoy, Teasha              Willingboro            3.28m      3.36m       
7   252              Carter                      Ivy Hill                           2.98m   

  8             255 McClendon, Dominiq     Ivy Hill                 2.93m   NWI   1  

 But as we know jumping takes a lot out of your legs and the gold was great but,I think it was a little to much for her to recover from for the 100m with the tough competition she was about to face .Immediately after her last jump (which was her winning one) she had to run over to the 100m check in.It’s now after 1pm.

 As the girls lined up the announcer gave each athlete a great introduction,similar to that of a National meet. Great Touch.. Lauren was in lane 3, Victoria Powell was in lane 4 and  Kiera Lester lane 5   

Lauren got out good and the race was very close with Victoria Powell just a step ahead of the pack until the 70 meter point were Victoria began to pull away, Lauren persisting in the race until the 80 meter mark where clearly you could see the top three finishers. Kiara  proved stronger than Lauren and maintained her 3nd place finsh. The girls had a very persistant head wind of-3.7 and this was evident in all of their times ,Lauren hasn’t run a 14 sec 100m in months. You just never know what will happen. Conditions,attitude weather it all counts.

100m  Final Results

  1   860 Powell, Victoria       Unattached            13.89      13.72  -3.7      
 2   773 Lester, Kiara          TNT Express            14.09      14.07  -3.7    8   
3   978 Williams, Lauren     Quiet Fire               14.20      14.46  -3.7    6   
4   480 Wright, Gabrielle      Mt. Airy T. C.         14.83      14.72  -3.7    5   
5  1038 Clark, Rebekah        Unattached           14.38      14.79  -3.7     4   
6   165 Thomas, Destinee    Delco Stallions      14.94      15.32  -3.7    3   
7  290    Hayes, Jalissa          Jersey Heat           15.07      15.33  -3.7   2   
8    745 Osley, Desiree A.      Supersonics         15.38      15.67  -3.7   1   

 Okay that was over now to get ready for the 200m. This part of final day events is always hard no matter what  place she has taken in the previous races. She just begins to fatigue and want to go home. Not whining verbally but her body language speaks, SCREAMS I am done…. This happened at the  Association and Regionals but she some how  she pulls it together for one more great race. Both of which were her premier races of the season thus far.

The 400 meters

Lauren wasn’t in this race but clearly this was the race not to miss.There was so much anticpation in the air everyone was standing before it even began. Lauren ran down to the fence and said “Mom” here it comes…The big one.Even she recognized the signifigance of this race.

Victoria Powell’s previous best effort according to Ellite Youth was 1: 01 .82, Tia Livingston was a 1:04.97  and Brooklyn Broadwater a  1:05.06 .But the crowd knew, just as I reported a day earlier this going to be a very fast race and no ones previous marks would dictate the out come of this race was. From the start it was about even  with the three girls to the 200 when Victoria began to move away from the pack and then  for the next 30-40 meters a first place race between Victoria and the “Pint Size Dynamo” Brooklyn Broadwater with Livingston 10 meters or so behind. By the last 50 meters Victoria clearly own the gold medal, although at least a foot shorter  Broklynn  “No Pint Size Heart” here Broadwater  gave it her all to the finish and ran a  personal best of 1:02.99 . Victoria, on this day was the triuiphant “Queen” winning both 100m and 400m  in just under her personal best at 1:01.85. Tia followed in a outstanding 3rd place finish. 

400m Finals
  1   860 Powell, Victoria       Unattached           1:06.76     1:01.85%      
  2   251 Broadwater, Brookl     Ivy Hill             1:05.07       1:02.99%      
  3   738 Livingston, Tia  N     Supersonics          1:05.55    1:05.69%      
  4   934 McCray-Ross, Jorda     Willingboro        1:09.27    1:10.62       
  5   745 Osley, Desiree A.      Supersonics          1:10.83    1:11.79       
  6   330 Dendy, Micaiah         Lightning Fast       1:09.69    1:12.43      
  7   440 Dallas, Taylar         Mt. Airy T. C.            1:12.48    1:13.77       
  8   164 Smith, Jada            Delco Stallions          1:13.74    1:21.38      

(The percentage % represents the previous record time broken )

The 200 Meters

Lauren rallied it together and began warming up for the 200m after she had a little water and a small snack. At the starting line the race appeared to be between Kiara, Lauren and Tia. Tia had just finished the 400 and her mom had to really help her get over and get quick rest. 

At the gun Lauren got out okay,but didn’t run the turn as good as normal, at the 300m mark Kiara was in the lead looking great and confident with Tia in 2nd  and,Lauren a close 3rd  by the last 30 meters the second place race was between Tia and Lauren. Lauren ultimately pulled it out by inches to win silver. Once again the wind was very strong and played a factor in the final times.

200m Finals

  1   773 Lester, Kiara          TNT Express                28.94      29.37  -3.4  10  
  2   978 Williams, Lauren       Quiet Fire                 28.52      29.61  -3.4   8  
  3   738 Livingston, Tia  N     Supersonics              29.43      29.68  -3.4   6  
  4   920 Chung, Jade            Willingboro                  29.88      30.55  -3.4   5  
  5   656 Alston, Chrishyana     Second Chance        30.50      30.90  -3.4   4  
  6   165 Thomas, Destinee       Delco Stallions        30.71      31.44  -3.4   3  
  7   745 Osley, Desiree A.      Supersonics               30.71      31.62  -3.4   2  
  8   934 McCray-Ross, Jorda     Willingboro            30.29      32.23  -3.4   1   

 Sunday after the meet was over I immediately had to hit the road to get back to Marland in time to turn my car back in and have dinner with friends and a very quick with them visit them then prepare for a 6 am flight out of Dulles Airport. Once I got on the 95 south I was doing great,traffic was light and Lauren was passed out almost before we left Philly. She really was full of excitment and before falling asleep was requesting a soft pretezel, which in the rush of leaving couldn’t find one..Next time I told her her we will know all the places to get the favorite foods of the region. More on that later.

 Final Thoughs

People in the stands were treated to a last of the season one time only great Bantam Girl event “Extravaganza”. The competive talent of  Victoria Powell, Tia Livingston, Lauren Williams, Brooklyn Broadwater and Kiara Lester was a rare collective showing, because this field won’t be running against each other this season again. 

Victoria  will be traveling to USATF JO’s, Lauren and Victoria will meet again in the 200.  Lauren will travel also to Detroit and and will run in her 99′ divison which none of these  young ladies are in (all being top Bantams 98′).  Brooklyn,Kiara and Tia are traveling to AAU National Junior Olympics so possibly they will meet again depending on chosen events for the meet. Much sucess to all of these talented athletes,I am sure collectively they will bring home many medal some of them gold.

 There were so many stand out moments for me personally as well as the meet performances. That I want to share with you so that maybe next year you might just want to make the trip to the  the UAGTCA  Invitational as a great pre-Junior Olympic experience.Tomorrow more on the Meet.

Until Next Time