JULY 30, 2009 ISSUE
Tailwind Track Club Athletes Qualify for 2009 AAU Junior Olympics
Eight members of Tailwind Track Club participated in the Area 5 AAU Junior Olympics National Qualifier Regional Track and Field Meet in Knoxville, Tenn., held July 9 to 12. All eight qualified to go on to the Junior Olympic Nationals in at least one event because the top four finishers in each event at the Regional meet go on to the August 2009 AAU Junior Olympics at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa.
Tailwind Track Club is a chapter of the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) and has three primary objectives—to learn and improve new skills, including motor development, to help kids get excited about fitness and track and field and, most importantly, to have fun. There are currently about 75 members, ages 6 to 18, in the Tailwind Track Club. Coach Don Wood, assistant coach for Watauga High School’s track team, coaches Tailwind Track Club. He has been involved with Tailwind Track Club (formerly Striders Track Club) for 10 of the club’s 16 years, becoming head coach in 2005. Coach “Mac” Randy McDonough from Hardin Park School, as well as other local track and field athletes, have donated their time in assisting Coach Wood with Tailwind Track Club.
“The commitment from the athletes and their parents has been great,” Wood said. “That makes the coach’s job much easier!”
The track and field athletes’ year of birth determines the age division in which he or she competes. The divisions are Pee Wee (2003 and later), Primary (2001 to 2002), Sub-Bantam (2000), Bantam (1999), Sub-Midget (1998), Midget (1997), Sub-Youth (1996), Youth (1995), Intermediate (1993 to 1994) and Young (1991 to 1992).
The Results of Tailwind Track Club Athletes from the Area 5 Junior Olympics National Qualifier Regional Track and Field Meet were as follows:
Boys
Corey West, Bantam Division
1,500m Run, 5:47.54, 1st place
400m Dash, 1:13.60, 4th place
Kory Phillips, Sub-Youth Division
Triple Jump, 8.53m, 1st place
Discus, 16.35m, 3rd place
High Jump, 1.27m, 5th place
Shot put, 6.10m, 7th place
Ian Boyd, Young Men Division
Decathlon, 5,220 points, 4th place
Girls
Grace Hayes, Primary Division
Shot Put, 3.14m, 2nd place
Long Jump, 2.05m, 7th place
Maddy Phillips, Primary Division
Shot Put, 3.69m, 1st place
100m Dash, 18.88 sec, 8th place
Long Jump, 1.94m, 8th place
Taylor Phillips, Sub-Bantam Division
Shot Put, 5.06m, 1st place
Long Jump, 2.07m, 10th place
Madison Casey, Sub-Youth Division
Triple Jump, 7.80m, 4th place
Long Jump, 3.42m, 4th place
High Jump, 1.27m, 6th place
Rebecca Hayes, Sub-Youth Division
Discus, 13.91m, 2nd place
Triple Jump, 8.31m, 3rd place
Long Jump, 3.63m, 3rd place
High Jump, 1.27m, 5th place
Each athlete had to qualify for the regional meet in Tennessee by finishing in the top six in his or her event at the N.C. State AAU Meet held in Charlotte in June.
The eight local athletes and their families from Tailwind Track Club will travel to Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, from Saturday to Saturday, August 1 to 8, to compete in the 2009 AAU Junior Olympic Games. The club is currently seeking sponsors to assist in travel expenses and accommodations for them.
For more information or for those interested in sponsoring members of the Tailwind Track Club, call Coach Wood at 828-773-3428 or email wood@skybest.com.
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