The Final Wrap and Pictures Too!

There was so much to share about this meet. It has taken a few days to squeeze it all in. Here are the final thoughts of Ron Jackson and a few pictures of some of the great athletes I had the priveldge to watch over the 3 day Invitational

The United Age Group Track Coaches Association 2008 Youth Invitational Wrap-up ….

 by Ron Jackson

 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania once again became the center of the Youth Track and Field universe as The United Age Group Track Coaches Association concluded their 3rd Annual Youth Invitational meet held at the city’s Northeast High School’s Charles Martin Stadium July 11-13, 2008. The meet with entries from 65 clubs from 10 States and 4 countries was a huge success. There were outstanding performances across the board in every division and an amazing 52 new meet records were established.

The UAGI, as it has become known, was hailed as a fantastic opportunity to fine tune for the National USA Track & Field and AAU National Junior Olympic meets being held at the end of July. The meet brought together many of the prospective medalist for a preview of things to come in Detroit, Michigan (site of the AAU National Junior Olympic Championships) and Omaha, Nebraska (site of the USA Track & Field National Junior Olympic Championships). The UAGI meet now has a well earned reputation for being a well organized and talent laden event that has become a favorite stop for many US teams and now teams from Bermuda, Canada and Jamaica can be expected to participate as well.

The meet has become a reliable predictor of National success as 58 current and former participants have gone on to achieve national honors in their respective events. While it is difficult to single out any one race amongst so many stellar performances, the meet does award an outstanding athlete in each division.

The following athletes were selected as the 2008 outstanding performers in their respective divisions:

• Sub-Bantam Girls – Eliza Brooks – Wilmington Track Club – Wilmington, DE
• 1^st 100 MD 15.10
• 1^st 200 MD 31.04 *
• 1^st 400 MD 1:10.03 *

• Sub-Bantam Boys – Akeem Cooper – Morris Estate Track Club – Phila., PA
• 1^st 100 MD 15.26
• 1^st Long Jump 3.91m *

• Bantam Girls – Victoria Powell – Unattached
• 1^st 100 MD 13.72
• 1^st 400 MD 1:01.85 *
• 1^st High Jump 1.12m

• Bantam Boys – Mike Frazier – Marlton Track Club – Marlton, NJ
• 1^st 100 MD 13.85
• 1^st 200 MD 28.48 *

• Midget Girls – Maiya Dendy – Lightning Fast Track Club – Wilmington, DE
• 2^nd100 MD 13.55
• 1^st 200 MD 27.05 *

• Midget Boys – Jamaal Booker – Mt. Airy Track Club – Philadelphia, PA
• 1^st 1500 MR 4:56.85
• 1^st 3000 MR 10:38.84 *

• Youth Girls – Jessica Woodard – Marlton Track Club – Marlton, NJ
• 1^st YG Shot Put 12.25m *
• 1^st YG Discus Throw 27.98 m *

• Youth Boys – Lindon Caesar – Cambria Youth Association – Philadelphia., PA
• 1^st Long Jump 5.90m *
• 1^st Triple Jump 10.83m *

• Intermediate Girls – Dominique Booker – Unattached
• 1^st 100 MD 12.35
• 1^st 200 MD 24.84

• Intermediate Boys – Zamir Thomas- Jersey City Track Club – Jersey City, NJ
• 1^st 100 MD 11.54
• 1^st 200 MD 23.12

• Young Women – Khrystina Muhammad – Wilmington Track Club – Wilmington, DE
• 1^st Long Jump 5.97m *
• 1^st Triple Jump 12.04m *

• Young Men – Bernard Goodwin – Mt. Airy Track Club – Philadelphia, PA
• 1^st 200 MD 22.37
• 1^st 400 MD 47.42 *

* denotes New Meet Record

Team Awards:

• Overall Male Team Champions were the Morris Estate Track Club - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – Coach Bob Jackson
• Overall Female Champions were the Mt. Airy Track Club - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – Coach Teri Bizzle

Division Awards:

• Sub-Bantam Girls – Morris Estate Track Club - Phila., PA – Coach Mike Mosley
• Bantam Girls – Remington Flyers - New Rochelle, NY – Coach Walter Brown
• Midget Girls – Remington Flyers - New Rochelle, NY – Coach Walter Brown
• Youth Girls – Mt. Airy Track Club - Phila., PA – Coach Teri Bizzle
• Intermediate Girls - Mt. Airy Track Club – Phila., PA – Coach Teri Bizzle
• Young Women – A J’s Elite Track Club - Chester, PA – Coach A.J. Thompkins
• Sub-Bantam Boys - Morris Estate Track Club - Phila., PA – Coach James DeLeon
• Bantam Boys – Willingboro Track Club - Willingboro, NJ – Coach Jeff Scott
• Midget Boys – Cambria Youth Association - Philadelphia, PA - Walter Pegues
• Youth Boys – Supersonics Track Club - New Brunswick, NJ – Ron McBride
• Intermediate Boys – Trenton Track Club – Trenton, NJ – Coach Anthony Campbell
• Young Men – Sigma International - Phila., PA – Coach Stephen Chapman

 Visit our site at www.uagtca.org to view the complete meet records and the many photos from the meet.