They are all just so cute here..
I recently saw this picture and times of all the boys in the above picture. They are Bantams at the 2007 the USATF Junior Olympics.This picture was, I beleive before the final race. It is simply amazing how kids grow and change right before our eyes. All the top 4 were about the same height around a simlar weight it appeared ..but two years later and blistering National Records in the 200m and 400m a taller, faster Bryce has separated himself from the pack in a big way.
2007 USATF Junior Olympic Bantam Boy 400m Final
Paul Lucas 59.33 1st Elite Youth #1
Bryce Love 59.42 2nd Elite Youth #2
Brenden Scott 101.66 3rd Elite Youth #5
Chris Wilcox 1:03.31 6th Elite Youth # 3 1:00.64
Bryce and Mom
2009 USATF JO Midget Boys
Bryce Love 50.75 1st place Elite Youth #1
Paul Lucas 55.93 3rd place Elite Youth #7
Chris Wilcox 56.91 6th place Elite Youth #8 56.20
Brenden Scott 57.50 stated PB 2009 Elite Youth #24 57.75
This is the excitement of youth track there are no shoe in’s no for sure winners, only ”I think and I hopes” as each year ticks down to the next. Bryce Loves’ extraordinary 100m 200m and 400m gold medal victories this year at the USATF JO’s were nothing short of jaw dropping amazing . While the USA Relay teams in Berlin were dropping the baton and touching the baton before the zone started, we youth parents had a few good moments to reminisce on some really exciting,fast track and field.
Have you ever done a little home work as to where and what has been happening in the land of fast kid times and medals? I have and most of the information comes from Elite Youth and Junior Olympic Results as the source of statics. (EY Love them or hate them). I think most don’t hate( I certainly don’t) many just don’t like some of their more obvious early season oversights. I think most are corrected as more viable times come in and are verified.
At any rate, the pictures of the kids at younger ages are cute and now I will make sure to get plenty of podium shots from this time forward because they really do tell an interesting part of the journey many of these young athletes take. Some grow taller,some fatter,some seem not to change for a while then Bam!! 5 inches. Girls have even more to contend with with natural fat that goes along with size and height, which is the reason so many people won’t even comment on girls potential to after 13-14 as a rule..probably a good rule.
The good news in all of this is that no one is counted in exclusively nor out at these young ages. Yes there will always be a winner a number one top of the group BUT…there is never a sure fire athlete you can say for certain until way after the fact…He or she was that something extra special.Sure we can recognize an early gift but will it remain to become a “present” for the athlete is any ones guess.
Numbers and rankings change.There are some early consistent players, which I love to watch over time because consistency is so important to our sport. Not always winning,but consistency. These athletes are the ones you can ,to some degree bet they will be around and surprise a few at the top one day. It is just not the top 50 we should be looking at either many a new athlete whether a subbie or a midget may just have what it takes to have a nice high school experience may be not the top but a great competitor all the same.
I hope that all the parents that have hard working dedicated track athletes don’t give up nor allow their athletes to give up because they have not yet made a top 8 final or a regional final. Conversely,the top 8 final parents that find their athletes not running the times they might have run earlier count them out. Track and Field is about speed, timing and sometimes a little seredipidty too.
Imagine how elated the parents of Payton Russell were when there baby ran across the line first in the 100m and 200m and 4th in the 400m at the AAU Junior Olympic games.You never know just what will happen…On paper it doesn’t matter just who crosses the line first and work from there. We sat next to her family on the airplane over from USATF In NC so it was even more special to have a face and personality to the winner.
Personally, I am really glad one year doesn’t equal another.Lauren has improved over the past 3 years and I am hoping the trend will continue. 2008 USATF 100m 7th ,this year first. 2008 AAU JO long jump 7th this year USATF Long Jump 1st (kinda) but most important her jump was the best legal jump in the nation this year so there was improvement not just a win. The USA has some very bright and shining athletes waiting to grow and mature to college hopefuls and beyond. Patience and Perserverance are our families two favorite words related to track and field and life. No one can win all the time but you can sure try all the time to . You can walk on the track knowing that only you can beat yourself…that’s a good start to any race.
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