2009 USATF JO’s Is History and What a Story It is!!!

 

 In a previous post I said that “Youth Track and Field is Pure Excitement” and this year the athletes didn’t disappoint. There was excitement and a little drama I am back . We are now in Des Moines Iowa  at the 2009 AAU National Junior Olympic games and even though I am a little tired I really needed to update you “Trackmom Style” on all the goings on. About now I wish I had my own reality show cause things I have heard and seen over the last 3 days more parents should experience.I wouldn’t have believed  some of them unless I had not seen it with my own eyes.

First the wrap-up of the meet over the past 3 days from USATF.Org

Let The Games Begin

 Carl Lewis was  joined by Dan O’Brien, the 1996 decathlon champion and American record holder, and Joanna Hayes, the 2004 100-meter hurdles champ, at the ceremonies, which celebrated the 43rd edition of the national meet.

7.28.09 McCollough smashes hammer record

7.29.09  Relay and Multi events headline day 2 

7.30.09  Brewers Triple jump record highlights day 3

7.31.09 Love wows locals with national youth 400 record on day four of Junior Olympics

8.1.09 Three National records fall on Penultimate Day Of The Junmior Olympics!

 The Final Day of Competition

Love leads record rush on final day of Junior Olympics 08-02-2009

GREENSBORO, N.C. — Neither rain, nor wind, nor any other force of nature could stop the Carolina Elite’s Bryce Love Sunday as he won his third individual gold in record-setting fashion, stunning the crowd with a 50.75 in the midget boys’ 400 on the final day of the USA Track & Field Junior Olympic National Championships at North Carolina A&T State’s Irwin Belk Track.Love, who set a pair of national youth records in the 200, started his day with a win in the 100 at 11.79 into a stiff wind, and then made the best of terrible weather conditions to rip his own 400 record to shreds, slicing more than a second off the time he turned in Friday in the prelims.Miami Northwestern’s Robin Reynolds also notched her third individual gold of the meet, taking the intermediate girls’ 400 in a near-national-record 52.15, missing the mark by only .04. Kristyn Williams of Dallas Gold also turned in a lifetime best in second with a 52.59. Reynolds earlier raced to bronze in the 100, after previously winning the long jump and 200.Another South Florida athlete, Aaron Hanna of Miami Dade TC, shettered the national record in the midget boys’ shot put, throwing the six-pound ball 15.77 meters/51-9. Silver medalist Malik McMorris also topped the previous record with his 15.27m/50-1.25 effort. Jasmyne Graham of Cal Rising Stars chopped more than three-tenths off the midget girls’ 80 hurdles record, winning in 11.94.Meet records fell in the youth boys’ discus, where Grant Hill of Huntsville won with a toss of 57.63m/189-1, and in the bantam girls’ 1500, with Daesha Rogers knocking almost 10 seconds off the previous best with her 4:51.62. She returned just over an hour later to win the 400 in 61.78. In the young women’s javelin, World Youth team member Ashley Aldredge of Peak Performance set a meet record with a throw of 45.27m/148-6.

That’s it 2009 is a  part of history. This meet had it all Rain,Humidity,Heat.Hot heads…Fast times, CRAZY Fast times by a select few,tears upsets,near upsets,Smiles and High hopes and Better Luck next times and oh yeah poor sportsmanship too.

My absolute favorite thing after the great performances and effort was meeting all the great parents. Track Parents Rock!! I have heard such exciting, moving stories from parents  and coaches from around the  country I know for sure I am not alone in bring my child to an event that will enhance her athletic experience and expand her world with new and interesting people from all over the country.

I met mom’s Like Bryce Loves mom who was humble and so proud of her son no word needed to be said her smile and grace say the whole thing.Daesha Rodgers mom who smiles and never says much about Daesha ,I have to drag it out of her but she is always glowing, Symone Masons dad who was just so happy to be there and support his child  and wish all the competitors well, her coach La Tonya she was my kindered spirit as we talked about about love for youth track and how we want to give back to the kids and improve the sport for all kids. 

 If I went on it would be a long ,long list of amazing parents and coaches that have made my trip so much fun. More to com this week. I hope to meet many many more parents and hear more stories as the week progress and when you get home over the next few  month as we plan for the 2010 season. Many of you will travel to my home state California and expereince the Golden State and it Speed machine. : - )

Don’t forget to send me you stories and pictures about your favorite athletes. I take then all year long.

HAVE TO GET READY TO GO TO THE TRACK NOW . I WILL TALK MORE ABOUT BOTH MEETS LATER,STAY TUNED MORE ON THE LONG JUMP CONTROVERSY,800M GIRLS SPIKING . BROKEN HAND AT THE FINISH LINE…  AS PAUL HARVEY SAYS “THE REST OF THE STORY’

Related posts:

1. Inspiration Friday Track History….Black History Too
2. A Fast Day 3 At USATF Junior Olympics 2009
3. Do Youth Athletes Know Their Track History? 1968
4. USATF Region 15 18th Annual Awards Banquet
5. Special Athlete Update …. Youth National Results