Bantam Girls 400m Go to Girl
August 10, 2009
The season has come to an end and so has the chance to break one of the most enduring and elusive records in Youth Track and Field the Bantam Girl 400m race. USATF 59.81 AAU 1:01.82
There isn’t a 10 year old girl or her parents that don’t know just how fast their baby girl would have to run to break this super speedy record. I was no different. This year as Lauren’s times began to fall I thought maybe, just maybe Lauren could break this seemly impossible time.
I knew it was not to be broken with out the race having the fast as lightening middle distance phenom Daesha Rodgers and as it turns out her mom and dad believed the very same thing and were excited at the prospect of the great race between So Cal and Miami Beach.
The race would take place at Drake Stadium at the AAU National Junior Olympic Games. Lauren, leading up to the meet in the final days before the JO’s was running very well and PR’ed one last time with a 1:01.31 and Daesha was running well, breaking the 800m and 1500m records at the Youth Nationals. The one race that she didn’t break a record was the 400m.
It was almost like the race was waiting for both to be present. As fate and a long season would have it Lauren got injured and Daesha went on without Lauren and won the 400m in the last of her string of Junior Olympic gold medals 6 in total with multiple National Records. Lauren earned 2 Golds at USATF and a questionable Silver in the Long Jump. (Update lauren has been awarded the Gold after many months of petitoning)There will be another chance next season and hopefully seaons to come, but it was sure a disapointment not to see this great match up.
The day Lauren had to pull out of her races for the week we got a surprise call from Michael Bruckner the Chair of AAU Region 18 asking about Lauren and how she was. He’s is a great supporter of the athletes from our region and a really nice guy. He had a surprise for Lauren too, Monique Henderson was on the phone waiting to give Lauren a little encouragement in her difficult time of not qualifying and unable to continue her pursuit of a National Record and 3 gold medals.
I spoke to her first and she was so friendly and open I felt like I had known her for a long time not just talking for a few moments. I then turned the phone over to Lauren and her face lit up Monique Henderson taked to Lauren for about 10 minute and Lauren was so much better after her pep talk from Monique. Time and time again I am impressed with the kindness and awarness the elite athletes have for our youth athletes. Rarely turning away a moment to sign an autograph or say a simple Hi. Thanks to Monique for making my baby feel a little special and alot better after a hard week of track and field.
Related posts:
- So Cal’s 2010 Youth Sprint Development Clinic 1.31.10
- The Bantam Girl Long Jump Update
- The 2009 Bantam Girls Long Jump USATF Responds
- Lauren Williams 2009 Bantam Girl Long Jump Champion
- Bantam Girl Long Jump ..A Confusing Finish
Its a bummer that Lauren was not able to run the 400, I think she could have broke the record. Also I would have loved to see the race go down!
EVERYONE WHOM FOLLOWS THE BANTAM GIRLS DIVISION HAD BEEN ANTICIPATING THE SHOWDOWN BETWEEN LAUREN AND DAESHA FOR WEEKS, ATLEAST IN THE SOUTH FLORIDA COMMUNITY. I CAN’T REMEMBER A MORE EAGERLY ANTICIPATED RACE AT THE YOUNGER DIVISION. ESPECIALLY ONE INVOLVING TWO OF THE MOST ACCOMPLISHED AND HIGHLY DECORATED RUNNERS OF THIS DECADE. FURTHERMORE, NEITHER OF THEM EVER SEEM TO DISAPPOINT, AND THEY LIVE UP TO THE HYPE AND EXPECTATIONS. SO, WE ARE ALL PULLING FOR LAUREN TO FULLY RECOVER, AND HOPEFULLY THE “SHOWDOWN” WILL HAPPEN NEXT YEAR.
I’m the parent of the only bottom year bantam girl to make the 400 final.(Taylor Finley) This year was an eye opening experience to where she put her self in the lane 1 hole for the final and well her time was the slowest of the year 1:07. She’s been watching Daesha and Lauren all year out of respect. (me too) We was hoping to see that showdown in Iowa but anyway much props to Lauren and Daesha and I will say this watch Taylor Finley next year, she has a close outside chance at the Bantam 400m record in USATF and AAU. She had an official 1:04.8 official clocking in the USA prelims so she has much to look forward to. Hey someone has to represent TEXAS….lol! Geat site and again great job to your daughter.