CHARLOTTE, N.C.- July opened with a bang as the red carpet was rolled out for a cast of Olympic hopefuls at the 2008 USA Youth Outdoor Track & Field Championships held Irwin Belk Track and Field Center, UNC Charlotte - Charlotte, N.C. The meet Attracted over 2,000 athletes from across the country and in attendance was LSI Sprint to take part in the Competition!
First up would be Sydnie Bunel who quickly got off to a fast start in the Bantam Girls 200m where she placed 7th in her heat with a time of 33.53. It wouldn't be a personal best for sydnie but it would be the first of what we hope to be many Championships Meets. Sydnie also competed in the Bantam Girls 100m and 200m races where she would fair well against a competitive field.
Next was the Youth Girls 100 meters. Cydney leath would get things started with her 12.92 for second place finish in her heat. Teammate Alexandra Diaz would would take her heat with a time of 12.75 to qualify for the finals. Also competiting was Gianna hatchett of LSI who in her heat finished 5th just behind Franita Boudreaux of Voices of Faith.
Coming off an incredible High School season in the intermidiate Girls Division would be Katie Nelms of LSI to join the competition at 100 meters. She would use the race as a refresher placing 2nd in her heat with a qualifying time of 12.39. Katie would later opt out of the 100 meter finals to pursue her title in the hurdles at 400 meters.
Missing in the Action would be a couple LSI favorites. Tyson Hill a favorite in the 80 meter hurdles at 12.86 wasn't on hand to compete in the event. Also missing was a sprint favorite Bryant Canada who recently ran a Personal Best of 25.99 at 200 meter despite suffering knee injuries. But their friend and teammate Cameron Meszaros would do them the honors of representing the Boys section. Cameron would compete at 800 meters barely missing the medal round with his time of 2:26.87. He would later compete at 400 meters and run a Personals best of 1:01.89. Perfect way to end season!
 Alexandra Diaz (Lane 1) 2008 National Youth Girls 200 Meter Bronze Medalist |
The Intermediate Girls 100 meter hurdles would see Katie Nelms placing 4th in 14.84 to cross the line. The previous day Katie was a competitor at 200 meters where she placed 7th in a very stacked field of talented girls. She ran a Personal Best of 24.47 in what is quickly becoming one of her favorite events. But Katie would not leave with total glory as she stepped to the line in the Intermediate Girls 400 meter hurdles. The spotlight was on High School rival Allison Reaser, but at the start of the gun Katie quickly took command of the race over the first hurdle. Midway through the race Katie put the nail in the coffin as she approached the finish line. She would cross the tape in seasons best 1:01.59 to become the 2008 400 Meter Hurdles Champion.
Another meet highlight would see Alexandra Diaz performed admirably in the Youth Girls 200 meter final. Drawning lane one, Alexandra would be quick out the blocks to lead the field around the curve just behind Robin Reynolds. The only Sub-level Youth to make the finals Alexandra would quickly make a statement for all next year hopefuls when she powered down the straight to take 3rd place in a personal best of 25.06. That mark would rank her 5th in the Nation at 200 meters and 3rd in the Nationals behind Aaliyah Brown (24.26) and Macahla Wesley (24.78) for Sub-Youth.
Only their 2nd season LSI insist that they are the underdogs to the powerful competitive community, but performances and times at the Youth Nationals indicated the team led by Head Coach Alexander Hill have closed the gap.
Katie Nelms 2008 Intermediate Girls 400 Meter Hurdle Youth National Champion
