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Taylor Makes Good On Her Goals

trackmom — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 17:30:05 +0000

Good as Gold For Taylor Finley

Taylor Finley, is an ambitious out going honor roll student From Huston Texas that loves to run fast. She runs with the Wings Track Club in Missouri City, Texas, a suburb of Houston. Her mom recalls” As soon as she could walk, she was running all over the house and now she’s all over the track running very fast times”.

She has a deep respect for all track athletes and, her understanding that track is a demanding sport that requires alot of courage and determination keeps her focused and humble.She set her goal high after the 8th place 400m finish in USATF JO’s and the 2nd place 200m finish in AAU in 2009 (she was the silver medalist to the very talented Tia Jones of Georgia). She wanted to win at the Junior Olympics in her open event. She was prepared for the 400m because that’s what she ran most during this season and even had a 1:01 time, but she chose the 200m, a race she only ran once this year.

Taylor knew this would be a challenge but she felt she could win it all if she put her mind to it and she did!She won with a time of 27.28 She had earned her Gold Medal. She also ran explosive legs on her 4×100 and 4×400 teams which finished a respectable 3rd and 4th.

She is an awesome sight standing at a lean muscular 5″4″. She is a blessed child ,as all of the competing Junior Olympians are, says her mom.Taylor believes her love track and her speed is a gift from God that she will not waste. To give you a peak at her character and love for track, she chose to run the relays instead of running all open events in which she could have contended for Gold times three.

She knows she will have tough challenges ahead in the midget division but she will be at her best. So don’t forget the name Taylor Finely when you check the rooster on EliteYouth.com next season I am certain you will see her name among the fastest as she continues to work hard and stay focused.

Taylor is ranked on Elite Youth as a Top Bantam #4 in the 200m

Thanks to the Finley family for contibuting to this article.

So That’s The Secret ?????

trackmom — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 04:18:28 +0000

Getting back in the swing of things today I was reading some sites I frequent and I

ran (no pun intended) across this very cute story from Carribean Track Life On Line. Everyone wants to know what’s the secret to the fast Jamaicans, well this high school track athlete says she has figured it out.. Here I thought it was the Jerk Chicken,peas and rice , escovitch, The Pork Pit Resturant in Montego Bay and all that darn sand and warm water… Well I guess I was wrong : - )

Check out the article below

Young Athlete Finds Secret to Jamaica’s Sprinting Success

by Anthony Gayle,

A young female student athlete and member of a dominant New York City high school track and field team is vacationing in Jamaica , the land of her birth. A family member with whom she’s staying arranged for her to continue her track training there, by signing her up with one of the premier track clubs in the island.

At the end of her first day of training the teen called me quite excited and almost out of breath as if she had just run a sub-60 for the 400m. After I was able to coax her to relative calmness, she exclaimed: “Coach, guess what? I have found out the secret why Jamaicans are such great sprinters!”

“Really,” I said. “That would be great, because as far as I know, that’s a question that has been perplexing many people, including some very great sports minds.” I continued to tell her that if she truly had that answer, she would also be fulfilling the scripture, when it says in part, “That which was hidden from the wise and prudent, is now revealed to the babe and suckling.”

But the young athlete hit back: “Coach I am not joking I am very serious, and guess what? I have met several gold medal winners and other athletes who have represented Jamaica . I am even training with some of them; how cool is that?” Read the rest of the story here

TrackMom JO Diaries Part 2

trackmom — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 17:33:08 +0000

Dr.Bill Booker of Capitol Rehab and Lauren visiting DC before we head home to California

Well the last post I wrote was a catch up about the USATF Junior Olympics and now this is the wrap up of the second week in Norfolk Virgina for the AAU Junior Olympic Games picking up were I left off …….

Tuesday August 3rd

Lauren runs the 200m and then later in the day the 400m .My hope is that she PR’s this week and maybe even brings home two Gold medals. The weather was MUCH different in California.California was hot but not very uncomfortable under a canopy or umbrella. Norfolk was humid and HOT,It’s not like I was unaware it would be like this, one just can’t really prepare when humidity just isn’t a factor where you live. On Tuesday I was probably a little grumpy due to the fact of the weather transition and my nerves were a little amped. After the 200m I began to feel a little more relaxed.In between races I meet a few people that have visited Trackmom.com and that was great.They shared there excitement about the 400m race and congratulations on the great performances in California. Everyone was so kind ,I really had no problem connecting at all with these perfect strangers. Once the remaining 20 minutes before the race time commenced My phone started ringing my family wanted to know what was going on..Did she run yet..give details.Of course I had none to share yet but that was about to change.

Lauren’s seed time was not very good compared to her Then PR of 59.73 we thought she would get into lane 1 or 3 but it ended up being lane 7 and then my next thought was oh boy she will be by herself for a moment not really knowing where she stands. i also thought I have on a few ocassions seen Lauren run the 200m in a qualifying round and she just stayed in the fron the entire time. so I was hoping that would be the case.

As soon as the gun went off I said in my head Go Lauren.My voice very hoarse,(and not much left after Sacramento) I decided to go back to my quiet mom routine. at the top of the curve I just kept saying to myself “okay Lauren your still in the lead good job you look good” and 57.93 seconds later I saw her cross the line first and then hug Daesha and the other athletes.

I was so happy for her. I felt the weight of the track lift. Finally this race was over and now we could move on. Lauren may have won the 400m sub Midget girls but that in no way diminished Daesha’s high level of performance and great competitive spirit. After all, a few hours before she broke a National Record in the 1500m . All and All it was a good day. Lauren looked very happy on the podium and everyone was so kind with many congratulations. when that was all over and back to the hotel I went shopping at Costco with Michele Cunliffe .I was so excited to finally get some real food in my midst. ALL IS WELL.

Wednesday August 4th,2010

Henry is taking the girls shopping today we slept in until 9:30 that was real nice…He’s off with the girls and I am doing a little bit of everything while they are gone…..This is nice, peaceful,quiet and cool indoors.

My house keeping staff is less than stellar.I ask for towels they say we are still washing them ..Oh brother. I tell them I will clean the room today they don’t even take dirty towels out. I could go on but I have to say there has been good customer service on the part of the manager and front desk staff. And one nice lady named Angie did a great job.

Thursday August 5th,2010

Today’s only race was the 200m semi-finals, because Lauren remaining race is the 200m it makes it very nice to come and go much easier.We did want to see a few races run besides Lauren’s 200m.The Youth girls had a great line up with Aleia Hobbs,Hannah Cunliffe,Deanna Hill the Intermediate girls had just as hot a line up with Laquisha Jackson, Kendall Baisden , Aaliyah Brown, Regine Williams.

Lauren ran well and even PR’ed .These have been the best performances in a JO she has ever had.She has been more consistent and more focused than ever.I guess that is what a year older will do. I am very happy about all the PR’s this 200m was 25.68 last years was 27.04 I think?? So a great improvement ,she is also about 2 3/4 inches taller. So it is all working together for a faster sprinter.

After all the 200m’s were over we left for the day and looked forwards to another day off. I think this was great for Lauren having these days in between off, especially after run already 4 days in Sacramento at such a high level.

Thursday August 6th,2010

Went to the track briefly,then just relaxed at the hotel,later in the evening we went to see Dr.Bob the acupuncturist,I adjusted Lauren ate some dinner and everyone was in bed excited for the next day, FINALS DAY!

August 7th,2010

The last day of the season for Lauren the last race.She told her dad when I cross the line I am on full vacation until 2011 season….LOL she was right no more running for a while. As much as I love Track and Field I am ready to get back home and start working on the web site with more time to give and my practice and other things that get placed on the shelf February through August.

The finals were great.It is so exciting to watch all the amazing talent in one place heat after heat. The wind wasn’t in favor of fast times but a win is a win all the same.It was a bit cooler and over all a more comfortable day.

Stand outs for me were the Bantam girls Tia Jones from GA, she looked so composed and on the podium her smile lit up the room winning both 100m and 200m

Youth Girls was exciting and hearing all the buzz about Hannah was amazing.Hannah dominated the field winning the 100m and the 200m from an impressive field and she too was happy for her wins .

Finals
1 Hannah Cunliffe 11.86N (New National Record)
2 Aleia Hobbs        12.32
3 Deanna Hill         12.50

The Intermediate girls had a packed field with the top three being

  1 Aaliyah Brown        11.80
2 MyasiaJacobs       11.84 (on Wednesday she broke the National record with a time of 11.51)
3 Laquisha Jackson  11.88

All I can say about the 100m 200m it’s the wild west and on any given day any of the top sprinters just might win.

The 200m was more of the same

1 Laquisha Jackson     24.06
2 Kendall Baisden        24.11 (broke the National record on 8.5.10)
3 Aaliyah Brown          24.12

Lauren wins the Sub-midget girls and she was happy to win, happy to see the season end on a happy note.

Later that evening we went to celebrate with a nice pool side party with the Seattle Speed Team and a few others.Nice to finally be so relaxed and I was looking forward to the next few days of a little vacation like time before we headed home to California.

August 8th,2010

We are leaving on the 10th and so my goals are to see Jamestown and Virginia Beach the kids goals are the beach and Henry’s is what every we wanted(smart man). Well once again just relaxed at the hotel Henry took the girls for a little more shopping, I am doing a little pre- packing to make it easier later on.

August 9th,2010

Today was beach day the kids won…Well I wanted to go to the beach too, just not enough time for everything. It was closer than I thought and after just a few short minutes of looking for parking and finding quarters,renting a cabana and noticing that unlike the beaches at home it was really hot and humid. We all get in and it was great.So much warmer than California’s pacific coast waters. We were there for six plus hours it felt like two.The time just flew by. That was nice icing on the cake of two weeks of JO’s. When we got back to the hotel it was time to pack for real.

August 10th,2010 our last day in Virginia

We were taking a trip to DC the next day to visit a colleague and friend Dr.Bill Brooker of Capitol Rehab for some lunch,treatment and to shoot a little bit of video footage for an up coming exercise training video for TrackMom.com We had a great time enjoyed the drive up and the beautiful trees everywhere…Just don’t see that in L.A. much .We had lunch at nice Asian restaurant and then we headed for the airport.

And so The 2010 Track and Field season is officially over….

I want to say thanks for all the encouragement I recievedfrom coaches , Track Moms,Dads and even the athletes.This season something very special happened athletes wanted to meet me and tell be about their races and medals and great efforts even without a medal.That was truly along withLauren’s performances the highlight of my JO experience. I find that no two JO experienced are ever alike and 4 years in although not a seasoned Vet yet I am in the mix and have a much better understanding of just what it takes to get to the Jo’s and to help it be as rewarding as possible with what you can control(not much but a little)

My personal mishaps are to numerous to name but between broken computers broken phones,missing luggage, GPS meltdowns I am ready for another vacation in Palms Springs next week just to fully decompress from my own personal travel dramas : - )

So Until Next Time ,

Proud TrackMom of Lauren Williams

2010 USATF

Midget Girl 100m Silver Medalist 4×100m Silver Medalist

Midget Girl Gold medalist and National Junior Olympic and National Record 4×400m R

National AAU Junior Olympic Games Sub-Midget Girl Gold Medalist 200m,400m

Back to Work..

I’m BACKKKKK… TrackMom Diaries MY “JO” Review Part 1

trackmom — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 03:27:42 +0000

TrackMom Diaries lets catch up now

With all my ups anddowns the past couple of weeks during this Junior Olympic “tour” I decided to write a bit in a journal-like form so when I got back it would be a kind of catch up of sorts. I didn’t write daily but I did write a few things over the fifteen days. This Junior Olympic Season has been one of the most rewarding to date for Henry and I, as we watched Lauren earn some great times and spectacular efforts to win Gold and Silver alike. Performance wise couldn’t really ask for much more. So here is a brief peak at the TrackMom perspectives of the 2010 USATF Junior Olympics and AAU Junior Olympic Games.

There are no pictures because although, I had my husband’s computer, I don’t have my camera to upload any pictures. This season will be recorded in my mind as the season that more than a few things that could go wrong had gone wrong in some form or fashion.

Monday 8.2.10

Greetings from Norfolk, Virginia. We have arrived in Virginia this morning August 2^nd. We had decided (weeks ago, Lauren wouldn’t be running the 100m so it is straight to the car rental then the hotel and registration for Tuesday morning . After just about a week of no computer, I finally have wireless in hotel room computer service again andI can catch up with TrackMom (I think) the remaining few days of our 2010 season. We are staying in a full kitchen suite this week and I am soooo excited I get to cook and shop for food and NOT eat out unless we want to, not HAVE to. I have come to realize that half of my stress during Championships is due to trying to figure out what we are going to eat next.

My appetite is very light so most of the time eating isn’t very high on my list but always very high on my families. Once the girls(Lauren and Miah my niece) settled in to their room and I settle into the suite as a whole, unpack in Henry and my room, I am ready to make a plan for food shopping and getting ready for tomorrow the big Race day..200m QF and 400m Fight to Final races.

This 400m race has been much anticipated for a long time and now the day is almost here. Daesha Rodgers Miami Florida Vs. Lauren Williams Los Angeles, California. Well, Right now I just need a little rest and I will be ready to roll….

Tuesday August 3.2010

So here is my quick Quiet Fire(QF) Midget Girl catch up while I get set in my mind for the races today 8.3.10 and the rest of the week.

Thursday July 29th,2010 Quiet Fire midget 4×400 relay advances to the final with the second fastest time. Kayla Richardson also advances to the finals in the 200m.

Friday Julyt 30^th, 2010

Today was another nerve racking day of relay rounds 100m and the 4×100m relays for Lauren. The 4×100m relay can be so hard to watch those darn zones, the baton .Oh…..I almost hold my breath all the way around . All turned out well Lauren qualified for both finals and now I feel a little better, a little calmer.

Saturday ,Julyt 31st 2010

Finals of the 4×100m brings home a silver for the Midget girls the race was very close but in the end 3M prevailed with a exciting finish line clincher closing in on 4^th leg Lauren to win . The 200m Kayla brings her home a 5^th place finish. We were very proud of her.

I rarely go to the finish line after a race , I knew the 4×100 loss was going to be a tough loss for the girls because they had worked so hard all season and really had only ran the 4-some 2 times but really wanted to win. Although Lauren generally not overly emotional I knew the water works were coming. Dad handles that team moment very well so I just sit in the stands until a little later.

By podium time, the girls were happy and although a little disappointed they were proud of themselves and their effort. They began thinking ahead to the next races. I meet Saravaughn’s mom sitting just in front of me and as soon as I saw her without her sunglasses I knew who she was. She was very pleasant andvery kind in her words about the girls. I think if sportsmanship could be give points ,she would, as would the entire team get the high marks. It is very nice to celebrate a great performance no matter which medal your (in this case my child) is wearing. A true fan can’t help but be happy for the winner.

For us after, the medals have been awarded, it’s time to go back to zero and even in a loss which, everyone will experience, there are great lessons to be learned and character to be built. Loss is the greatest teacher of how to be a good winner and loser too! Although it may feel nice to see your child win all the time it will make for tough times when the loss that will eventually come does. I am thankful for Laurens great competitors and that Lauren can have the privilege to compete against them. Win andLose she will experience both.

We always expect the best from 3M they are always tough competitors, this season has been the most challenging yet with Lauren and Saravaughn going back and forth for first place. First, in Phoenix 100m Saravaughn 1^st Lauren 2nd, 4X100m relay 3M 1^st QF DQ, and a dropped baton, LA Jets 100m Lauren 1^st,Saravaughn 3^rd, 4×100m QF 1^st,4×400m 1^st 3M 2^nd in both. Now there were two more races left this season then back to zero square one.

Sunday August 1^st 2010

9am starts the meet for us starts off with the 100m Lauren looks a little nervous, I feel WAY more than that. I stand close to the finish line and when she comes across the line I can’t tell who has won 2^ndand 3rd place. Then the announcer say Lynna Irby 1^st, Lauren Williams 2^nd, Saravaughn King 3^rd my stress was relieved one hundred fold, and I enjoyed the following races waiting on the final race of the day 4×400m Relays.

As the MG 4×400m Relay was lining up I began to think about just how determined the finalist were all going to be how far the QF girls had come to get to get to the point, just how much they wanted to not only win but break a junior Olympic record to go along with their National record broken back in May.

With the gun set I began biting my tongue and squinting my eye to get a closer look at our first leg, it goes off and QF gets a good start, at the 300m mark 3m begins to pull away but QF stays close and according to Coach Henry. QF gets the baton about 3^rd or 4^th the second leg (Lauren) darts out. I began to stand up then has she begun to close in and past the athletes in front of her I knew she could catch the leader if she really pushed it. Well she did and somehow made it look so easy I was now screaming with what was left of my voice from the 3 days before. Now you know I don’t like to scream but I just couldn’t help it, and so I screamed and screamed until the next QF girl took the baton. She ran very well and we continued to keep us in the first place slot. The last leg on QF, I like to call her the possum runner. She has this amazing ability to look like she is barely putting an effort in but she gets around the track very fast. She slightly slows her pace on the back stretch and the second place athlete gains a little ground but I knew she was just playing possum and as soon as she hit the final curve she began to leave the second place athlete finishing the relay in a new junior Olympic record of 3.56.88 the second place finisher also finished in a very fast sub four minute time of 3.59.83. Congratulations to 3M and all the finalist . California had 4 medalist in this race that was great to see…..Yes I am bias..just a little I guess. : - )

4×400m MG Relay Finals

1 15 Quiet Fire TC ‘A’ 4:07.57 3:56.86 J

1) Williams, Lauren 99 2) Paul, Jeanette 98

3) Richardson, Kayla 98 4) Richardson, Kyla 98

2 16 3M TC ‘A’ 4:04.58 3:59.83

1) Hill, Jowhari 98 2) Jones, Nyela 98

3) King, Sarahvaughn 99 4) Robinson, Dejah 99

3 12 Track Houston ‘A’ 4:11.03 4:07.64

1) Davis, Morgan 98 2) Gandy, Sydney 98

3) Hollier, Kennedae 98 4) Thomas, Charity 98

4 03 Team Voices ‘A’ 4:11.85 4:12.19

1) Douglas, Serenity 98 2) Fuller, Alexandria 98

3) Goode, Ansley 98 4) Jordan, Mikayla 99

5 15 California Comets ‘A’ 4:16.23 4:16.39

1) Rice, Elani 99 2) Huchinson, Maya 98

3) Jones, Aspen 99 4) Pate, Bailey 99

6 15 Los Angeles Jets TC ‘A’ 4:14.46 4:16.42

1) Wright, Autumn 99 2) Halley, Alexandrea 99

3) Milligan, Nina 98 4) Ned, Sydney 99

7 03 Ruff Riders TC ‘A’ 4:17.13 4:22.67

1) Butler, Jalah 99 2) Chatman, Kayla 99

3) Jones, Yoera 99 4) Price, Tralen 99

8 12 Tru Speed TC ‘A’ 4:20.43 4:25.75

1) Brown, Kaylen 99 2) Cooper, Teja 98

3) Grant, Miracle 99 4) Williams, Alexxus 98

And then…..Lauren’s 2010 Track and Field season was “almost” over, finishing as we had hoped, Medaled in every event they were entered in, finishing top 2 and even broke the Junior Olympic record showing that it wasn’t a fluke the QF Girls could run to a record that had stood for 14 years.. I am off to the meet this morning more on th 400m finals later….. Read part 2 here

Traveling , Arriving And Now There Is No Computer In Sacramento

trackmom — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 18:22:40 +0000

Greetings from TrackMom,

I am having a horrible trip so far..I just accidentally erased 600 words from this post and i just don’t have the time to rewrite it all : - (

Here’s the quick low down drive was beautiful, weather is perfect here,hotel is fine and my mother board crashedon my lap top so I have to use this public computer.. I am devastated, and trying to look on the bright side.. Which I see not a ray of light at this moment. I am not prepared nor did I plan to purchase a new computer this year…..Guess i will be Mac-ing it next time around. More learning curve.. I have a headache thinking about it all. Bottom line unless i get a lap top to use in the next 2 weeks I won’t be able to post much….

It is hard to get to a computer because kids are busy looking at inapproriate things, hogging the computer.I grabbed this one and now people are looking at me like i am the computer hog….OH Well and now I have got to leave… so there yo have it So Far NO Good.. Hope things look up soon.

Happy 11th Birthday Lauren Now it Time To Run…

trackmom — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 16:39:29 +0000

As we prepare for the 2010 USATF and AAU Junior Olympics the most pressing thought on Lauren’s mind for the past week or so was her birthday. Happy she doesn’t have to run on her actual birthday, all she could talk about was her party,going to the beach and all the friends that would be there.

On Thursday,the 22nd we began the celebration of her “special day” with an all day Sun n’ Fun party.The weather couldn’t have been more beautiful and looking out over the water it was hard to believe we were just a few miles from downtown Los Angeles. The kids ate alot, swam a lot and laughed and smiled even more. We parents found ourselves wishing we were back at 11years old again and reminded us of our own family vacations as children. The total party had more than 20 children and the same amount of adults.

Ice-ie’s For All!!

Lauren’s biggest Fan Her “Popy” My Dad : - )

Yearly, at least the past three years it is always a tricky thing for me to plan birthdays and 2 weeks of vacation and Championships. As much as Lauren is enjoying Track and Field I have learned that during the last week or so before Jo’s,it is important to focus on the birthday and the final summer activities before we begin travel. It seems to give her a big amount of mental let down before she has to gear up for the most important races of her season.

The actual day of her birth July 25th was a more quiet day of celebration with much of the day preparing for the trip ahead and topping off the day with her choice of the resturant Pei Wei, an Asian Diner.

Now on to Sacramento,CA.

Today we continue the final details on the road to the Junior Olympics. As of this writing We have just short of 21 hours before our official Junior Oylmpic Journey begins the end of 2010 Track and Field.

This is always an interesting time because in some ways,many ways, I can’t wait for it to be over , I stress over how we will eat,sleep prepare and have fun. All at the same time. I am incredibly grateful to my family,sisters,mom dad and close friends that share with us in our journey by frequent flyer miles, uniform purchases just to name a few things.

We are very excited it is in California,but based on the numbers I have seen many of you are not chosing not to travel to the (Best) West Coast. I sooooo get that. Because we Californians almost always have to travel by air. I understand the financial undertaking to take a family for over a week (in some cases),not to mention food ,gas,and all the rest that goes with a Championship bid. All that said I wouldn’t change much but a fairy track mother to fund the experience for all..

Henry has taken Lauren to the last massage therpy appointment.I will later today see my last youth track patient before he runs at the AAU Junior Olympic Games and I will run my final errands(seems like I have been doing that for 4 days now) and wonder just why I can’t bring two bags on the air plane any more..Oh yeah cost to to much…

Until Next Time

Did You Know??

trackmom — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 00:33:55 +0000

Quiet Fire’s Happy 2009 Midget Girls 4×800m Relay Silver Medalist

Even though the USATF 2010 Junior Olympics has not commenced yet, many of you are already planning for next year and wondering JUST WHERE WILL THE NATIONAL MEETS BE HELD?…..

Well here is the brief but helpful low down for those of you that just have to plan 12 months in advance.

: - ) and a few other nice to knows for 2011.

The USATF Youth Nationals and USATF Cross Country Nationals will be held 2011 in Myrtle Beach,South Carolina . I love The Carolina’s and this may just be our families first Youth National Meet…Only time can tell
USATF Junior Olympics will be in Wichita, Kansas home of well not sure but I get back with you on that….
Starting THIS YEAR 2010 All Intermediates and above will be subject to the one and done false start rule,yes it will be in full effect. Youth Divison and below will still have 2 false starts the first being charged to the field next the athlete is out.
As you may know last year was the first year youth athletes were tested for drug use. Everything went extremely well. No one was excluded from competition in 2009 due to unauthorized drug usage. PARENTS check out what drugs are on the prohibited list go to www.globaldro.comor call 800 233 0393 M-F from 8am - 4pm Mountain Tme (drug reference line) or www.usada.com. 877 601 2632 or 877 playclean (877 752 9253). Have all your athletes use the following website for reference purposes. www.thatsdope.org. Athletes must contact their doctor if a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) is needed. Exemptions are handled on a case by case basis. the banned substances list which is updated on a regular basis. There are substances that are banned and all coaches and parents should check to see what appears on the list on a regular basis.
Next year our fastest Subbies will enter the USATF National arena competing for the first time at the USATF Junior Olympics.

The count down is on less than 2 weeks until the fastest kids in the country compete for the Gold… Best of Success to all.

Watch Chyna Soar

trackmom — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 06:31:40 +0000

Chyna Ries…Mission “The Podium Times 3″

As a young child Chyna Ries was hospitalized multiple times with asthma including her most serve case on 9-11-01,in the emergency room of Childrens Hospital on oxygen to help her stabilize her breathing.

Initially her parents thought sports would not be a option for her, but as time went on they found out that wasn’t the case. At 8 years old Chyna was a litttle taller than most of the girls her age and pretty muscular. A friend of her families had a boy’s soccer team and he needed another player and he asked if she could play. He placed her at fullback postion and she responded by continually dribbling the ball from one end of the field to the other while out running everyone on the field.

People observed almost immediately how fast she was and began saying “Wow she’s fast”. The next game she was put at forward and continued to out run everyone on the field. Another friend observed her performance on the soccer field and asked if Chyna had ever ran track and that was the beginning of her journey.

At first, track was the secondary sporting activity that she did once basketball and soccer were over, she would routinely show up for Colorado State Championships and just run with limited or no training. Chyna’s times were fairly competitive on National level so in 2007 we decided to go to the AAU Nationals in Knoxville Tennessee. She ended up 20th in the 100m and 17th in the 200m. Confusion on the schedule and inexperience on the National Level led to us showing up late for the long jump (LJ) and Chyna was unable to compete in her best event there.

In Knoxville Chyna’s Dad befriended the Cunliffe’s out of Seattle and this is where there friendship began,Their family growth and understanding of the sport of track really was ignited. The Cunliffe’s have been great friends and Coach Mike has been a great source of knowledge and advice that has helped Chyna mature in her pursuit.

Late In the summer of 2008 we joined the Legendary Coach Tony Well’s Colorado Flyers, Chyna was still juggling basketball and soccer and fitting track in when we could. This was perhaps the greatest opportunity of Chyna’s track career. Coach Tony’s skill building and training has been instrumental to her success on the track. In Omaha at the 2009 USATF Junior Olympics National Championships Chyna made the podium in 3 events placing 7th in the long jump and 8th in the 100m and 200m. Her nerves clearly got the best of her and her dad reports she did not perform even close to her personal records (PRs) in any event. This is the moment when Chyna decided that she wanted to be more than just not good in track, but great and wanted to dedicate more time to the sport.

The Ries family have become essentially fully immersed track family with Chyna’s sisters Raja and Maya both competiting and having their own successes. Maya for the first time made it to nationals and will compete in Sacramento in the 80mh.

It truly was tumultuous season for Chyna in 2009, First a groin strain sidelined her for much of the Indoor season and put her behind in training. The weather in Colorado, is commonly extremely poor and erratic for much of the summer and this really put a hamper on our season. The 2009 the USATF Nationals were in Greensborough NC and for the first time Chyna performed close to her PR level and actually matched it with a jump of 17′11″ in the LJ to take 4th and another stand on the Podium.

In 2010 Chyna showed a great determined dedication and really attacked the workouts. Her first Long Jump of the indoor season was 18′9.75″ the top indoor mark for a Youth girl in the US. During this time Chyna also was averaging over 22 points a game and was named Denver Prep Sports all star for basketball. As an 8th grader her indoor season took her to some premier high school meets, Simplot Games where she finished 4th, and to Boston for the Nike Indoor Nationals where she placed 9th against the top high school girls in the nation. The summer track season started off with the Ries family making thier first trip to the Phoenix Invitational, Chyna placed 4th in the 100m and broke a 35 year old Phoenix Invitation record in the long jump winning it with a jump of 18′6.5″. At the State Junior Olympic’s on June 19th Chyna reached a goal she had set or herself and became a 19 foot long jumper by going 19′2″ to win state, she also won the 100 and 200 for Colorado.

Chyna enters the Sub-12 Club

Regional’s were next and she stayed on a roll winning the Long Jump with a 18′3.25 and the she dropped the current fastest time in the Nation for Youth girls by opening up with a 11.95.She ran to a silver finish 2nd in the region a 12.24 into a -2.8 and gained valuable experience of running in a big race with a formidable competior and learned a lesson all track athletes need to learn run your race. In a hugely anticipated 200 Chyna matched up with her Arizona rival and a multiple time national champion from Colorado in the 200. She bested her Arizona rival but ended up taking 2nd once to her Colorado counterpart, once again she gained valuable experience and was taught another lesson about running your race.

Her current PR’s in the 100m (11.95), 200m (24.67) & Long Jump (19′2″) have her in line to once again make the podium this summer in Sunny Califonia with hopes of moving up to the top of the podium becoming a National Champion in these three events.

Here is a Video of her 11.95 PR

Chyna truly enjoys spending time with her family and friends and enjoys texting other athletes across the nation that she has befriended through competing with them. A pretty typical teenager — she likes facebooking, texting, listening to her ipod, playing her Wii, watching iCarly and Victorious with her little sister Maya. She was on the Honor Roll as and 8th grader and took part in a leadership program called STARS. She will move into the AVID program at Denver’s George Washington High School next year.

There is no true formula for success all though some ingredients arguably could be perseverance, determination, confidence, attitude and hard work. With these attributes Chyna has evolved to become one of the top youth girl track and field athletes in the nation. Her favorite saying is “Hard Work Beats Talent when Talent doesn’t work hard.”

Best wishes to Chyna and her family as she runs toward her dream later this month.

Thanks to *Doug Ries for contributing to the content of this article.

Until Next Time

TrackMom

(*For those of you that don’t know, Doug was a very big part of helping me last summer fight to have the Bantam Girl long jump even though not really knowing him personally,taking his own time and energy to find the pictures that would prove what we knew to be true.He was in North Carolina and felt compelled to help.)

Outside In…… All Wrong

trackmom — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 15:57:14 +0000

Quiet Fire’s Jeanette Paul(1st), Lauren Williams(2nd) Phoenix Invitational

I often wonder as I watch kids run around the track,jump into sand, throw very heavy medal objects into the wind and throw what amounts to is a long spear, just how they are manging the process of competition. Do they enjoy the journey as much as the prize. I always ask them did you have fun?

When Lauren won the 2009 Bantam Girl Long Jump I beieve it was her one of her most meaningful wins to date, Championship or season comepetition. The reason I know this is because she declared a year previous if I got her the help she would do her best and get Gold. She started out rough with 2 scratches and one remaining jump to continue inthe competition talk about your back against the wall… This is a big declaration from such a little kid of 9 at the time. I knew that the challenge of doing something no one expected her to do was as great as the oportunity to do it. That moment was a completely inside out moment.

She wanted to do it for herself for the challenge,for the Gold. I see many kids quit sports to soon when they are unable to beat their top rival of the moment. Falsely believing that if they are not winning they are losers…..How far from the truth and reality of sports that is. No one wins all the time nor would you want to. Winning can become just as monotonous when the proper motivation isn’t cultivated in sports.

External rewards like medals trophies and popularity are nice in thier place, but internal gratification is the only sustaining motive to continue the hard work that it takes to be an active part of sports on going. It’s the live to fight another day.

The out side In mentality in sports and life never works well long term. At some point the meaning is lost and so is the drive to continue the pace to satisfaction, for hard work for hard works sake. Striving from the inside causes one to reach for mastery not medals,realizing and appreciating what real winning is about,welcoming the best competition on that day to bring all they have head to head no excuses no regrets.

I recall in the 2008 Olympics in the 200m dash an American one won the bronze medal due to a lane violation. Within a day he gave the medal to the original winner because he knew he didn’t earn it that day. A true athlete feels his best when he has won on a completely even playing field. It wasn’t the medal that motivated him it wa the abilty to win on a equal playing field. Inside Out Motivation.

These inside motivators are more likely to sustain youth athletes over time and this allows them to grow and enjoy sports for a life time .

What this means forand me you as sports parents,is that we want our kids to be motivated for the right reasons and stay in sports for as long as possible, We need to identify ways to cultivate this desire and plan long term for sucess in this area . Here are a few how to’s to get you started

We must think internal rewards-not external.
Don’t offer to pay them for winning medals all the time.
Don’t focus only on garnering scholarships opportunities.
Never suggest that they only do well if they win.
Help them feel motivated from within my focusing on small goals–such as understanding where they are at and making personal goals for themselves in time or distance
Being a good team mate, encouraging other team mates and competitiors on the journey.
Do the same thing after every game–win or lose. That might mean
taking kids out for ice cream–win or lose.
Help them understand why they like track. For example, they
might like talking with friends, feeling challenged by the older competitor,
or learning new skills.
Focus on these positive feelings. help remind them how much fun they had at previous Championships or seasonal meets.
Remind them of the journey they have had each season the fun on and off the track
Encourage them to what lies ahead

Yesterday, when I took Lauren to practice she beat me to the car saying “Come on Mom the twins will be there before us”. When she got there they were laughing and ready to work. That moment was priceless.She came home smiling and saying we had so much fun Mom . Now that was an inside out moment to put in the bank of memories for the future. Our Journey to the Jo’s continue….

Success

trackmom — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 16:12:56 +0000

The sterner the Discipline, the greater the Devotion, the greater the reward

The difference between failure and success is doing a thing nearly right and doing it Exactly right.