 |
||||||||
 |
||||||||
|
||||||||
|
Next stop: Knoxville
By JAMAL THALJI, Times Staff Writer NEW PORT RICHEY -- Stifling hot weather? Torrential downpours? No problem. Alpha Omega cleaned up at the Amateur Athletic Union State Track and Field Championships at the University of Florida this past weekend. Eleven athletes qualified in 14 events for the AAU Junior Olympic Games. "They had some tough situations," coach Sue Vien said. "They had to overcome the rain and the wind and the rough elements. We're talking about 8- and 9-year-olds, and their (teeth) were just chattering. "They were out competing in the pouring rain, but they still competed. They ran and jumped. They even ran the hurdles in the rain and the puddles of water. There was no way to avoid it." Alpha Omega, west Pasco County's youth track and field club, earned two state championships at Gainesville: Lizzy Clum earned a state gold medal in the sub-bantam girls shot put with a toss of 14 feet, 11 inches. She also earned a silver runner-up medal in the triathlon, scoring 380 points competing in the high jump (3-1), shot put (14-1) and 200 meters (36.9 seconds). Clum was also fifth in the long jump with a leap of 9-41/2, missing fourth place and a spot in nationals by an inch. River Ridge distance star Danielle Coyle won the 3,000 meters in the young women's division, finishing in 11:55. She also took silver in the 1,500 (5:31) and was sixth in the 800. Alpha Omega also added seven silver medals and two bronzes. Other highlights: Heather Bertling was fourth in the high jump (4-6) in the young girls division. Leon Holmes took silver in the shot put (38-2) and discus (119-11) in the young boys division. Tasha Holmes was fourth in the shot put (28) in the intermediate girls division. Andrew Lang won silver in the shot put (15-71/2) in the primary boys division. Ridgewood's Michael Selfe, a state qualifier in the high jump, took bronze in the young men's division (5-10). Samantha Urgo won silver in the high jump (4-8) in the midget girls division. Ridgewood's Natricia Wade was fourth in the shot put (28-4) in the young women's division. Lea Weber earned silver in the midget girls pentathlon, scoring 1,823 in the high jump (4-1), 80-meter hurdles (16.15), long jump (13), shot put (20-1) and 800 (3:06). Kelly Wiegand took the bantam girls bronze in the triathlon, scoring 747 in the high jump (3-7), shot put (14-7) and 200 (32.0). The next stop for Alpha Omega is the 2002 AAU Junior Olympic Games in Knoxville, Tenn., on Aug. 7-10. Vien said competing in the meet was hard enough, but Alpha Omega also had to practice in rain-soaked conditions at Ridgewood High School's Ram Booster Stadium as showers pounded west Pasco County last week. "It started raining (during practice) and we decided to let them run to get a feel for it a week before we went over there," she said. "Actually, that was good that they got to run in the rain. After that, they were like, "I'm glad we had that practice in the rain.' "They were like ducks out there (in Gainesville.)" Vien said she was also proud of her fifth-place finishers, who just missed qualifying for nationals. "I was pleased with the kids who did not advance," she said. "We had many, many fifth-place finishers, which I know is tough for them to come so close but it is pretty hopeful for them for the future. "The rest of the kids are just knocking on the door, ready to come in, and I really feel they will. "If they stick with it, they will all be going next year (to nationals) at Detroit."
 © 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111 
|
From today's Pasco Times |
