The 2009 Team USA Youth World Team

NewWorld Youth Championship Results

The 2009 World Youth Track & Field Trials was held on June 30 - July 1 in Ypsilanti, Michigan. The event served as the qualifying event for the 8th IAAF World Youth Championships to be held July 8-12 in Bressanone, Italy. A team was selected based on their performance after being one of the top two qualifyiers in their events.

In attendance was LSI's own Katie Nelms. Scheduled to compete in two events both the 100 Meters Hurdles and the 400 Meter hurdles. In her first event the 100 Hurdles, Katie would place 3rd to qualify for the finals in a time of 14.00q. Later that afternoon she run the 1st round qualifier of the 400 Meter hurdles in a time of 1:01.68to qualify 5th for the Finals.

In the Finals of the 100 Meter Hurdles, Katie would place 5th in a time of 13.90, just missing qualifying by 0.21. so it would be her best event and only chance to qualify when she lined up for the finals of the 400 Meter Hurdles. A the gun katie would have a fast start leading for the first 4 hurdle. Around the second turn the competiton would close the gap and approaching the home stretch she would find herself neck and neck for 2nd with Angelica Weaver.

Katie Nelms 2009 Team USA Member

As they came off the 10th hurdles angelica would pass leah nugent of Abington HS to take the lead leaving Katie in 3rd place and out of the qualifying top two positions. with a slight stumble over hurdle 10, leah nugent would find herself off balanced trying to gain control. with 20 meters left Katie would seize the moment and bullet forward to an incredible finish almost too close to call. It was when the clock read Nelms 2nd place in 1:01.16 that family and friends erupted in cheers knowing she had made the qualifying top two for the selection process.

We would learn later at the award table that Angelica Weaver the top qualifier was disqualified for a hurdle violation. Lauri Thompson "Head coach of Together Elite and Head Manager of the USA World Team" would later protest call. The decision was made with the help of an unexpected source. It would be the video tape of the race LSI recorded that would be used in the jury's decision to reinstate Angelica as the top qualifer. It was a decision that left all of us happy for an individual who along with everyone else worked very hard to get there and it would be angelica that would sealed 55th spot on 55 member team.

Later that day Katie would attend the Team USA banquet where the Team Roster would be announced. As they read the names we listened diligently and no sooner then they started they called Katie Nelms of LSI. With both Relief and exciting we all celebrated as the 55 member team was announcedand as the last name on the list was called it would be Angelica weaver that we would cheer for proudly.

So we are proud to announce Katie Nelms as a member of the 2009 USA world Youth Team.