The future talent in track & field is on display every summer, if you pay attention to the Youth age-group competitions.

 

 

One of the most enjoyable aspects of summer track for me is the ability to take a good look at the up-and-coming high school talent in the Youth age group.  In both AAU and USATF competition, Youth is defined as 13- and 14-year-olds, meaning it is roughly comparable to 7th and 8th grade.  When you add those summer results to the middle-school results we have from the spring, you can identify some of the likely future stars of our sport.  This year's group includes a lot of field-event talent, especially in the throws, plus a few up-and-coming distance runners.  I should also point out that this is a partial list, composed of those performances that really jumped out at me, and it does not include every event-leader in our middle-school rankings.  Some of the athletes listed below may be rising 8th-graders; those listed as rising freshman are 14 years old and likely to be in 9th grade next year.

 

Please use the comments section to add information: what schools these athletes will attend, confirmation of their grade years, or even names that you think deserve recognition!  And don't forget to watch for these athletes as many of them will compete in the Russell E. Blount East Coast Invitational this weekend at Duke University's Wallace Wade Stadium (more on that meet later in the week).

 

 

Marcus Krah

(Rising Freshman, Durham Striders/Shepard Middle, competes in 15-16 age group)

48' 2.25" Triple Jump

14.90 for 110m Hurdles

22' 0.25" Long Jump

 

 

Khayla Dawson

(Rising freshman, Charlotte Flights)

45' 1.75" Shot Put (6 lb.)

111' 2" Discus Throw

 

 

Chetney Taylor

(Rising freshman, Carolina Storm)

57' 7" Shot Put (4K)

139' 10.25" Discus Throw (1K)

 

 

Alycia Springs

(Rising freshman, Carolina Storm)

126' 9" Discus Throw

45' 1" Shot Put

 

 

Ricardo Smith

(Rising freshman, Davidson Day/Carolina Storm)

155' 5.75" Discus Throw (1K)

51' 3.25" Shot Put (4K)

 

Shellbi Chapman

(Rising freshman, Hurdles 1st Track Club)

100m Hurdles (30") 14.94

200m Hurdles (30") 28.29

 

 

Nolan Cook

(Unsure of grade, Greensboro Pacesetters)

4:26.25 for 1500m (on pace for 4:45 for 1600)

9:36.71 for 3000m (on pace for 10:19 for 3200)

 

Brooke Turner

(Rising freshman, Waynesville Middle School/Fast Twitch Track Club)

4:59.44 for 1500m (on pace for 5:20 for 1600)

2:23.77 for 800m

 

Lauren White

(Rising freshman, St. David's/Carolina Elite)

18' 1.75" Long Jump

12.53 for 100m

 

Mikel Franklin

(Rising freshman, High Point Panthers)

5' 2" High Jump