Wednesday, July 4, 2001
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Wednesday, July 4, 2001 |
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Fayette Flames run some of their best times at DeKalb meet
Eight members of the Fayette Flames summer track team participated in the DeKalb Youth Games Track and Field Invitational held at Panthersville Stadium in Decatur last weekend. The meet, which was attended by over 1,000 athletes, was an ideal opportunity for the team to compete against some of the most competitive youth athletes from the US and the Bahamas. The team also had the opportunity to talk with former Olympic athletes Mel Pender (1968 Olympics), who was also the meet coordinator, Isabel Holston (1956 Olympics) and Bob Beamon (1967 Olympics). Rebecca Stokes, took second place in the 3,000 meter run with her personal best time of 12:14.07 and Vince Brown finished in third place in the high jump with a mark of 4'1". They were the only two medal winners from the Fayette Flames at the meet, but the rest of the team performed well against some stiff competition. In the Bantam Boys division, David Mathis and Najee Pace competed in the 100 meter, 200 meter and running long jump. Mathis ran the 100 in 15.63, the 200 in 33.32 and jumped 11'11" in the running long jump, while Pace ran the 100 in 16.57, the 200 in 33.74 and jumped 11'. In the youth girls division, Nicole Mathis ran the 100 meter in 15.55, the 200 meter in 33.55 and jumped 8'4" in the running long jump. In the Midget Boys division, Vince Brown ran the 100 meter in 14.78, the 200 meter in 30.68 and the 4x100 meter relay in 58.67 Jamahl Calloway, Justin Davis and James Mathis were the other members of that relay team. Calloway ran the 100 meter in 14.76, the 200 meter in 30.49 and jumped 12' in the running long jump while Davis ran the 100 meter in 14.98 and the 200 meter in 31.0 Mathis ran the 200 meter in 29.68, which was a personal best, and jumped 14' in the running long jump, which was good enough for an eighth place finish. The Fayette Flames team is coached and trained by former University of Oregon stars and All-Americans, Anthony and Brenda Austin. In addition, Sue Bozgoz, a marathon runner for the U.S. Army and a Peachtree city resident, has worked closely with Stokes to help her prepare for the USATF Youth Athletic National Championship Meet at Milikin University in Decatur, IL this weekend. Stokes will compete in the 3,000 meter, the 1,500 meter and the 800 meter events. Bozgoz will also coach the middle distance runners while former Olympian Ralph Boston and Virgil Fludd, a former track star at Davidson College, will assist as the running long jump coaches. Al Gibbs, a USATF Masters Competitor is a volunteer coach. The team practices weekly at the PTC All Comers Meets Tuesdays from 5:30-8:30 p.m. at McIntosh High School. Private practices are run Thursdays at McIntosh from 6-7 p.m. |
