As the saying goes, “Good things come to those that wait.”

That could certainly apply to the Fayette County Parks and Recreation Youth Track & Field Program. After nine years of a hiatus with no youth track and field program, earlier this year the organization embarked upon changing that record. The new program was jumpstarted after over 85 youth between the ages of 5 – 14 years old registered in February 2008.

The program was led by JP Weaver, program Coordinator and head Coach, with assistance from Ashley Dunham, Program Intern from Florida State University, and the diligence from the following Assistant Coaches: Shedia Clark, Marcus Dennard, Bob Edwards, and Steve Sattinger. The track team practiced twice a week over the past three and a half months, supported by 10 additional parent-volunteer aides. For most of the athletes, this was their first time in track and field.

After several regional meets on Saturday in places like LaGrange, Villa Rica and Jonesboro, among other venues, many of the athletes advanced to the District finals, which resulted in 21 qualifying as top performers to compete in the 2008 Georgia Recreation and Park Association (GRPA) & Hershey Track and Field State Track Championship Meet which was held in Augusta on May 9-10 (please see athletes State Meet performance details below). We would like to congratulate the Fayette County Parks & Recreation youth track and field team for a job well done! Good things definitely come to those that wait combined with dedicated practice and outstanding support from the coaches and parents.

State Qualifiers and Performance Results:
Girls 8 and Under
• Sonali Anderson (4x400, 200, 400) - 5th Place in 200 with a time of 34.37;
• Olivia Bailey (4x400, 50, 100);
• Brianna Sattinger (Standing Long Jump, 4x400) - 6th Place in the standing long jump with a jump of 5’3”;
• AnnaMarie Benson (4x400);
The 4 x400 team took third place with a time of 06:06.43

Girls 10 and Under
• Katherine Byrum (1600)
• Lyndzi Chesteen (Shot Put, 200): 7th Place with a throw of 16’ 4.5”
• Kalli Edwards (800): 8th Place in 800 with a time of 3:07.03
• Imani Hence (100)
• Kasey Toles (Shot Put): 3rd Place in Shot with throw of 21’

12 and Under
• Lindsey Bush (Shot, 4x400)
• Taj’ana Habersham (Long Jump)
• Shania Hall (Standing Long Jump, 200, 400, 4x400): 4th Place in standing long jump 7’ 1”. 6th Place in 400 with time of 1:05.06
• Chinyere Njoku (Shot Put, 4x400): 3rd Place in shot with throw of 25’ 10”
• Dasman Richards (100, 4x400)
4x400 team (Bush, Hall, Njoku, Richards) finished in 4th Place with a time of 4:52.50:

10 and Under Boys:
• Horatious Harris (Standing Long Jump, 100)
• Jalen Ridges (800): 10th Place in 800 with a time of 2:57.08
• John Singleton II (Standing Long Jump, 50): 6th Place in standing Long jump with 6’4” jump

12 Under Boys:
• Lionel Jones III (800): 10th Place in 800 with a time of 2:49.34
• Kobie Lain (800)
• MyJhan Wheeler (Softball Throw)

14 Under Boys:
• Jarius Bethel (400)

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