The week that was in North Carolina Club Track & Field Part 1 (Boys Side)

As the 2010 Outdoor Track & Field approaches the midway point; The Memorial Day weekend boasted two competitive meets to help get teams ready for their state qualifiers. The Johnson Riley Challenge took place on the outskirts of Winston Salem hosted by the Tri-City Relays, and the other took place in the Bull city of Durham hosted by the Durham Striders. There were noteworthy performances in abundance at both meets. Strong showings were turned in as a team by meet champ Tri-City Relays, Drive Phase Athletics, and the Technique Track Club to name a few on the mens side.In Winston Salem you had Micah Crowell of Piedmont Athletic Club taking home 2 gold medals in the Primary 100m & 200m with times of 14.44, and 30.68. Angel Rivera won the Bantam 100m gold with an impressive 13.94. Nolan Johnson Of the High Point Panthers took home 3 gold medals in the 200m with a PR of 28.33 where he edged out a determined Calvin Stephens of the Gastonia Eagles who came in at a very close 28.42. He captured the 400m with a time of 1.03.75, and a first time ever High Jump winning attempt of 4 feet.

Zach Pollard of Drive Phase Athletics took home the gold in the Youth 100m edging out Jamaree Murray of the Carolina All Stars with a time of 11.72, and 24.22 in the the 200m where he beat Jamaree Murray once again. Zopella Barnes of Technique Track out of Hampton, VA turned in a solid performance winning both the 200m (25.07) and the 400m (57.11). Additionally Kentuan Hicks of Technique Track club ran a 13.00 to take the Midget 100m followed by teammate Marlon Carter at 13.30. Marquis McGee of Tri City Relays won both the Midget 1500m, and 3000m with times of 5.06.77 and 11:14:12. Barry Harris of the High Point Panthers took both the 200m, and 400m with times of 22.93 and 50.30. In the young men's you had Kevin Permenter, and Jeremy Williams of the High Point Heat finish 1 - 2 in the 400m with times of 49.31, and 49.49 respectively.

In Durham you had Coleman Mitchell turn in an iron man like performance with wins in the Bantam 400m, 800m, and 1500m with times of 1.06.79, 2.31.97, and 5.00.53. The midget boys heat 6 in the 100 must have been something to see with the top four finishers separated by a mere half second. This quartet was led by Dylan Peebles of the Carolina Elite who won with a 13.23 followed by Jaquan Hodge of Track Xplosion, Jaquis Torian running unattached, and Gunnar Holmberg of the Carolina Elite. Torian, was able to come back and win the 400m with a solid 59.63 followed by Peebles of Carolina Elite with a 1.01.06. The mercurial Bryce Love returned with a bang by posting a 50.66 400m in the boys youth division. Do I dare ask the question, Is Bryce Love on his way to breaking the youth record of 47.66 that has been held for 17years by Wiliam Obea Moore? After witnessing last year's performances from Love, anything is possible. Jeremy Griffs of the Durham Striders turned in another impressive performance in the youth 100m with a 11.70 where he edged out Niheim Miller running Unattached who ran a 11.74. Tevin Hester running Unattached rounded out the action with a quality showing in the 100m with a time of 10.92.

All the action resumes again this weekend on Saturday June 5th in High Point, NC at the High Point Panthers - Ken Roberts challenge where you will see a representation of both AAU, and USATF teams. The action will begin to intensify even more as more of the high schoolers return in full force as the State qualifiers approach in both AAU and USATF.

Carolina Is Home To Some Of The Most Talented 400 Runners

Bryce Love Of The Carolina Elite
Photograhy By Derek Bradley

As a parent first, and now a coach for the AAU High Point Panthers I have witnessed some of the most talented youth 400 meter runners in the country. Last year 2009 on the boys side alone, North Carolina had three USATF National Champions in the Bantam, Midget, and Youth Divisions respectively. Jaquis Torian running Unattached capped off a dominating year with his win in Greensboro, NC with a time of 1:02:05. Bryce Love Of the Carolina Elite Track Club out of Durham, NC put on a truly special performance that was well worth the price of admission. He won the Midget 400 Meter with a National Record Time of 50.75 for a twelve year old. That's right I said twelve years old. Xavier Jones of the Greensboro Champions out of Greensboro, NC; another Track & Field phenom capped this 400 domination with another National Championship with a time of 50.33 in the Youth Division.

Honorable mention goes out to these runners of North Carolina who had the second and third place finishers in the Bantam Girls Division in Victoria Porter of the Charlotte Heat who ran a 1.02.84, and Tyresha Alexander of the Charlotte Gliders who ran a 1.03.61. Jaleesa Smoot another talented young athlete from the Salisbury Speedsters finished seventh at the USATF J.O. in the midget division with a time of 1.01.14. In the Intermediate Girls division Aaliyah Faulcon of Durham Striders finished 5th with a time of 55.32. In the Young Women's division you had Sanur Eleyoreilly of the Fayettville Flyers finish 3rd with a time of 54.41, and Miata Morlu of the Charlotte Flight finish 6th with a time of 55.43, and Aiesha Goggins finish 7th with a time of 55.58.

2010 should be another strong showing Nationally for North Carolina. In addition to these good young runners who have already been crowned champions, you have a slew of young talented 400 runners who are on the precipice of competing Nationally. In the girls youth division Jocelyn Culbreath of the Piedmont Athletic Club has posted a sub 1:00 time in the early part of the year.In the Bantam Boys division you have Nolan Johnson of the High Point Panthers who is picking up where Jaquis Torian left off last season. These athletes battled weekly last season as both runners fed off of the competition and became better runners because of it. In the bantam girls you have Nellie Kone from the Greer All Stars who has shown promise at the outset of this season. Dylan Peebles of the Carolina Elite, Troy Pride of the Greer All-Stars and Roman Barnette of Asst Coach and the aforementioned Torian should provide some entertaining battles in the midget division as the State Championships approach us. Watch out for newcomer Barry Harris of the High Point Panthers who has posted a 49.95 in the Intermediate division, and Chanu Scott of the Charlotte Flight in the midget girls division. I am sure I am missing some of the promising young athletes who perform in what I call the gut check of the sprint events; surely they will be highlighted in my ongoing blog about Track & Field in North Carolina as the season progresses.