FLAGSTAFF, AZ - The Junior Olympic Indoor Championships has hosts some of the biggest performances of the Youth indoor season and this year certainly was no exception! The LSI camp got off to a great start and prove to be in good shape coming into this season.
Much anticipation surrounded Sunday's first Short Sprint event of the afternoon. The youth girls 60m race brought together a strong contingent of talent, including Taisyn Crutchfield (Cal Rising Stars), Sierra Peterson(Quiet Fire), and Audriana Holloway(Murrieta Mavericks)
Despite so much talent, perhaps the most favored athlete in the field was LSI's own Alexandra Diaz. Alex has time and again over the past two years shown that she is one of the top runners in the Youth USATF and she had her shot to prove it. Showing explosive speed out of the blocks Alexandra Crossed the line in 7.86 with the top qualifying time and leading mark in the country at 60m for her age group. Despite a few problems with oxygen deprivation, Alex opt to take her lane in the finals. It all came down to the last 20 meters where Alex powered past the field and crossed the line in 7.90 to take the Gold as th crowd cheered for a Super Field of performers.
After finishing Third in the 200 meters at the 2008 Youth National Outdoor Championships last year, Alexandra is also in the drivers seat to make her case for dominating the half oval. LSI's Alexandra Diaz heads into 2009 with a 25.06 performance from last season and is poised to write a new chapter. But early season openers maean anything can happen. As the gun smoked Alexandra took the field quickly into an early lead. But it would be Sierra Peterson of Quiet fire who would sneak up on Alex in lane one to take the tape by 0.03 seconds .. a race almost to close to call. But a season opener of 25.91 indoors proves to have Alexandra in good shape leading into the season.
updated 3:03 p.m., Mon Feb 17, 2009
