USATF Indoor Championship

Congratulation to fellow hurdlers Lolo Jones and South Carolina Alumni Terrance Trammell for their Indoor Championship Titles and their Visa Championship Series wins.

Jones is the first female back to back winner in the history of the series. She won by winning the 60m hurdles final with a time of 7.84 which was worth 1202 points for the win.

Already the Visa points leader with 1226 entering the USA Championships, Trammell led from start to finish Sunday afternoon, winning in 7.37 seconds to break Reggie Torian's 10-year-old meet record of 7.38. The time was just .01 off the American record, was a 2009 world leader, and gave him 1259 points in the Visa standings. This is Trammell's 2nd Visa Championship win; he won his first in 2006.

Both athletes receive a bonus Visa check in the amount of $25,000.00

Booker's Gamecock Indoor Season - SEC Championship

The first event up was the 60m hurdles as Richardson, sophomore Johnny Dutch and freshman Booker Nunley again set the pace with a 1-6-7 finish. With Richardson earning Carolina's first individual indoor title since 2002, Nunley and Dutch both ran 7.92's to take sixth and seventh, respectively, bringing Carolina's total in the event to 15 points. Congrulations to Jason Richardson and the Women's 4x400 team for the SEC Championship titles that they earned this weekend! Way to go Gamecocks!

Booker's Gamecock Indoor Season - Gamecock Invitational

Booker won his first collegiate meet Saturday at the Gamecock Invitational in the 55m hurdles. With a personal record of 7.39 and just missing NCAA Provisional time by .01 Booker steadily improved his times in the Prelims, Semis and Finals.

Men's 55m Hurdles Prelims

3. Booker Nunley - 7.59

Men's 55m Hurdles Semis

T2. Booker Nunley - 7.

Men's 55m Hurdles Finals

1. Booker Nunley - 7.39

Booker will be competing next week in the SEC Championship in Kentucky.

Booker's Gamecock Indoor Season - Tyson Invitational

This week Booker ran at the Tyson Invitational. After a disappointing false start last week at the New Balance Meet in New York, he claimed some self vindication with two personal best in the 60m hurdles. On Friday, Frye said "Booker Nunley and Johnny Dutch run tomorrow in the finals of the hurdles. It's a breakthrough for Booker." Booker Nunley qualified for Saturday's final in the 60m hurdles after running a season best 7.97 to place eighth. For the 14th-ranked men, Booker Nunley and Johnny Dutch finished 6-7 in the 60m hurdles final. Nunley ran a season best 7.93 while Dutch followed at 8.03.

Southeast takes title by half point

CHAPEL HILL -- You'd be hard-pressed to find a half-point as valuable as the one Steven Bell of Southeast Raleigh scored at Saturday's state 4-A indoor track and field championships. Bell finished tied for fourth in the high jump, netting his Bulldogs squad 4.5 team points.

Of course, it took a clutch run from a quartet of Bell's teammates to wrap up an unforgettable day for Southeast. The Bulldogs held off New Bern in the team point tally, taking the team championship 62.5-62.

A fourth-place finish in the meet-closing 4x400 relay -- exactly the position Southeast had to earn to hold its lead until the end of the meet -- brought the title home.

"This was all team effort," Bulldogs coach Eddie Hardin said. "Everybody wants to talk about our superstars like Wayne Davis, but when you look at winning a state meet, it's all about a team effort. We gave a team effort today, and our 4x400 team was a perfect example of that."

Although New Bern -- carried by superstar brothers Andrew and Anthony Hendrix -- rolled to a meet record win in 3:21.79, the Bulldogs' Malcom Nunley made up a 10-stride deficit for fourth place on the anchor leg of the race.

"Malcom is one of our hardest workers, but he's always been a bit of a practice star," Hardin said. "We've challenged him to turn into a meet star and stop being a practice star. He did exactly that today."

Paris Reddick-Simmons, injury substitute Kevin Howell and Davis kept the Bulldogs in the race long enough for Nunley to get the spot the Bulldogs needed.

The top-six finish was one of 11 on the day for Southeast.

Davis broke his own national record in winning the 55-meter hurdles with a time of 7.05 seconds. Nunley was fifth in the same event and also sixth in the 500.

Bell added a third-place finish in the triple jump and a fourth in the long jump to go along with fourth in the high jump.

Jalen Holt was third in the high jump (6-0) and sixth in the triple jump. Reddick-Simmons was second in the 1000.

Garner's Ashton Anglin-Stone picked up the shot put state championship with a throw of 50-7, while Torrance Hunt of Durham Jordan came home with a new moniker -- the fastest man in the state, indoors. Hunt won the 55-meter dash in 6.25 seconds.

Green Hope finished a distant third (with 31 points) behind Southeast and New Bern. The Falcons did their scoring in the distance events.

Green Hope's Zak Roshdy led a Wake County 1-2-3 in the 1,600, winning in 4:20.71. Southeast Raleigh's Kurt Zehnder was second (4:25.16), while Cary's Mohammed Abushouk finished third.

Abushouk took the win in the 3,200 meters later in the meet. He was just short of his goal time of 9:30, winning in 9:31.01. A pair of Falcons joined him on the medal stand. Doug Black was second, while teammate Brian Spreitzer finished third.

Knightdale's Steven Merritt picked up the bronze medal in the 1,000. Wakefield joined Southeast Raleigh and New Bern on the medal stand in the 4x400 relay. The Wolverines were third at 3:27.74.

D. Clay Best - Correspondent
http://www.newsobserver.com/sports/story/1406459.html

New Bern Sets New National 4x400 Record!

This past weekend, New Bern High School traveled to the Amory for the New Balance Collegiate Invitational. New Bern was on a mission, and the only thing in their way was national records. After running 3:13.24 at the KTC Invitational on an oversized track, they wanted to prove they could do it on a legal size track. In the process, New Bern posted a 3:13.06 a new PR, with splits from Anthony Hendrix (47.6), Fuquawn Greene (48.7), Miles Sparks (49.0) and Andrew Hendrix (47.5) set their own national record by winning the junior boys 4x400 in 3:13.06, eclipsing Muir High’s 1996 record of 3:13.34.

The Twins, Anthony and Andrew Hendrix competed in the 600 meter run. Anthony took the gold in a time of 1:18.36 while Andrew came in third with a 1:18.89. New Bern also competed in the 4x200 meter relay. New Bern won the 4x200 with a 1:27.06 setting a new personal record.

Word of the Week!

Perseverance:Steady persistence in adhering to a course of action, a belief, or a purpose; steadfastness.

“Permanence, perseverance and persistence in spite of all obstacles, discouragement, and impossibilities: It is this, that in all things distinguishes the strong soul from the weak”

-Thomas Carlyle

Track Eastern Carolina Runs 3:13.24!!!!

Friday:

Friday was the start of KTC Indoor Track Classic. Track Eastern had some athletes in the first day of competition. In the high school girls triple jump, Kayla Jackson took first with a jump of 37-08.00 feet and teammate Johniqua Fonville took fifth place with a jump of 35-06.00 feet. Track Eastern had two people to compete in the 200 meter dash prelims. Tiffany Downing and the US#1 200 meter runner Fuquawn Greene. Tiffany posted a time off 25.98 in the prelims. Fuquawn ran a 21.56 in the prelims qualifying #1 for the finals.

The story for Friday was the 3:13.24 in the 4x400 meter relay posted by Track Eastern Carolina!

The New Bern boys from North Carolina continue to impress with an incredible indoor season of amazing relay performances topped most recently tonight at the KTC Indoor Track Classic in Tennessee as their 4x400 meter relay ran the #2 time ever in high school history on all sized tracks with a 3:13.24 performance on the oversized track at East Tennessee State. Their time was actually faster than the listed "national record" in the high school boys indoor 4x400 meter relay set by Muir High School in 1996 at 3:13.34, but Muir High School will keep their national record (for now) as they ran their time on a 200 meter indoor track which is the standard for all high school national record performances in the circular running events. The fastest oversized track performance belongs to Dallas Lincoln at 3:11.7, which puts the performance by the New Bern boys in perspective since they just ran the fastest high school 4x400 indoor time since the 1970 performance from the Dallas Lincoln squad.

WHAT A DAY!

Saturday

Track East kicked off day two of competition with the high school girls 800 meter run. Ryhanna Henderson of TEC competed in the 800 meter run taking second with a time of 2:22.82. For the boys, Banks Barnes and Steven Harpe competed in the second section of the 800 meter run. Barnes posted a 2:03.85 while Harpe came in with a 2:06.90. The 60 meter hurdle prelims were contested next. Miles Sparks and Malcolm Nunley represented TEC in the hurdle prelims. In heat six Miles Sparks posted a 8.81, While his teammate Malcolm Nunley ran a time of 8.44 qaulifying for the finals. Malcolm Nunley would go on to run a 8.39 in the finals to take third place. In the 400, Track Eastern had three athletes to compete and all three were in the top eight overall. Anthony Hendrix took first in a time of 48.23, Andrew took second with a 48.64 and Malcolm Nunley was seventh overall with a 50.95. The 60 meter dash gave Fuquawn a chance to showcase his speed once again. In the prelims, Fuquawn ran a 6.95 and would go on to the finals and post a 6.80 to capture the gold.

To finish up the day, Fuquawn Greene competed in the 200 meter dash finals. Although Fuquawn qualified with the fastest time, he was given lane one. That didn't stop Fuquawn from blowing the competition off the track with a 21.55. Great Race! TEC ended the day with a girl's mile run by Ryhanna Henderson, she posted a 5:30.48 to take the silver medal.

Interview of the Week: Anthony Hendrix

This week I had chance to have a brief chat with the national high school track & field phenom Anthony Hendrix. I asked him just a few questions. Straight out of New Bern High (Track Eastern Track Club), Anthony Hendrix is truly one of the Nation's premiere athletes in track & field. Compiling numerous State and National Championships, Anthony Hendrix has made his mark on high school track & field forever!

Malcolm: When did you and your brother start running track?

Anthony: I started running in the 7th grade.

Malcolm: What events would you say are your best?

Anthony:400 Meter Dash - 47.73
800 Meter Run - 1:51.55
400 Meter Hurdles - 54.21
300 Meter Dash - 35.84
500 Meter Dash - 1:004.64

Malcolm: Now as this being your senior year, what are the goals that you have set?

Anthony: Our goals for this year is to break four records as a team indoor and four outdoor. The 4x200m (1:23.31 Wyatt, Ft. Worth, Texas Winter Park, Florida 5/30/98). The 4x400m (4 x 400 3:07.40 Hawthorne, California Austin, Texas 4/06/85). The 4x800m (4 x 800 7:32.89 Auburn, Washington Raleigh, North Carolina 6/14/02). Also the SMR (Sprint Medley 3:21.15 Hawthorne, California Los Angeles, California 3/16/85).
My goals for this year is to break the 400m (44.69 Darrell Robinson (Wilson, Tacoma, Washington) Indianapolis, Indiana 7/24/82 ) the 500m (1.02) and also the 800m (1:46.45 Michael Granville (Bell Gardens, California) Norwalk, California 5/31/96 ).


Malcolm: Anthony, you run for the Track Eastern track Club, how would you say that Track Eastern has helped you in all your success in track and field so far?

Anthony: Track eastern has helped us a lot because it keeps us in shape and busy and its just been the best team and the only team we have ran for.

Malcolm: How has Coach Dave Simpson and Coach Nicholas Sparks helped you in your career?

Anthony: I think Coach Dave Simpson and Coach Nicholas Sparks have also helped us so much in not just track&field but also in life because without them two I really do not know were I would be at or what I would be doing.

Malcolm: What are your plans after high-school?

Anthony: Right now I have signed with the army but I don't think I will go into the army right away because of all the different schools that are calling.

Booker Nunley: A Hurdler with a Heart

Every now and then real life gets in the way of track and field. All the aspirations dreams and goals get put on hold for a while as we’re reminded that death is an integral, inescapable part of life. And we realize, quite ironically, that awareness of death is what gives life its depth and meaningfulness, and that it motivates us to live more authentically. This past fall one of my former athletes endured a scary ordeal that served that not only threatened his promising track career, but also his life.

The summer of 2008 proved to be a stellar one for Booker. He won the Junior National Championships with a nation-leading 13.40, went on to finish second at the World Junior Championships in Poland with a 13.41, and concluded his career over the 39’s with a 13.41 victory at the US Junior Olympic Championships. Everything seemed to be going Booker’s way. In addition to all the victories and accolades, he would be heading to the University of South Carolina in the fall on a full athletic scholarship. He was on top of the world. Little did he know that that world would soon fall apart.
Gilbert Syndrome
On Tuesday October 28, 2008, according to Booker’s mom Jackie, Booker missed class and track practice due to what Booker described as flu-like symptoms. The following day, Jackie wrote in an email, “he called [home] and told us that he hadn’t left his room because he was having some stomach pains and was throwing up.”
According to Booker himself, “I hadn’t eaten for a couple days b/c my stomach was hurting. I threw up three times, dryheaving. It was killing my intestines. I also had chest pains because I was throwing up so much.”
Finally, on the morning of Friday October 31, talked to the team trainer and told her his stomach “was messed up.” The night before, he had been urinating blood. “I didn’t know what was going on,” he said. “I should’ve gone to the hospital that night. But first I just looked it up on google. I was like, Is red urine bad? When I looked it up, the site said to go to a doctor immediately.”
The following morning, the trainer took him to the local hospital in Columbia, SC. After doctors ran several tests, they diagnosed him with Gilbert (pronounced “zheel-bayr) syndrome, a mild liver disorder in which the liver doesn’t properly process a substance called bilirubin. This condition was the reason for the red urine, which probably came about because Booker hadn’t eaten for three days. This rare illness, which is not even considered a disease because of its benign nature, affects only three percent to seven percent of the US population. Symptoms rarely appear, so people may live with it without even realizing they have it. In Booker’s case, its discovery may have saved his life.
Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome
The chest pains brought on by the constant vomiting led the doctors to perform an EKG later that same day, just as a precaution. The test revealed that Booker had another condition, Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome, which is much more serious than Gilbert Syndrome.
At www.medicinenet.com, Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome is described in the following manner:Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome is a condition characterized by abnormal electrical pathways in the heart that cause a disruption of the heart's normal rhythm (arrhythmia). This extra connection can disrupt the coordinated movement of electrical signals through the heart, leading to an abnormally fast heartbeat (tachycardia) and other arrhythmias. Resulting symptoms include dizziness, a sensation of fluttering or pounding in the chest (palpitations), shortness of breath, and fainting. In rare cases, arrhythmias associated with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome can lead to cardiac arrest and sudden death. To address the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, the doctors would have to perform surgery, which they did the next day. Booker’s not-so-medical explanation of the surgery is as follows:
“They scoped out my heart by taking a tube camera and they stuck it in my groin and looked at my heart to see if there was a nerve that wasn’t supposed to be there. There was, so once they found that out, they did some type of electro-test and put an electrical charge into my heart. If the nerve that wasn’t supposed to be in there reacted, they would have to take it out. It reacted. They said that if they didn’t take it out, I’d have to stop running track or it would possibly kill me. So basically they went in there and burned the nerve out.”
Booker has had no side effects from the surgery. He was up the next day walking around, and ended up missing only four days of school. According to his doctors, there’s a 1% chance that the syndrome will come back. It’s highly unlikely, and they’ve never seen it happen.
© 2009 Steve McGill

You can read the entire story at http://hurdlesfirst.com/bnun.htm

Deepest Sympathies

Our hearts and prayers are with Coach Big Dave of Track Eastern and the rest of his family in the lost of his father earlier this week. May GOD keep you and give you comfort and peace!

Leading North Carolina Candidates

US World Youth Championships TrialsEastern Michigan,

Ypsilanti MI, June 30-July 1, 2009

IAAF World Youth Championships
Bressanone, Italy, July 8-12, 2009

NC Girls
100 METERS
Dominique Weathers (Vance, Charlotte, N.C.) 11-18-92 11.72 NON (1h2) Greensboro 6-20 +1.8
Aakiya Tyson (Jordan, Durham, N.C.) 8-4-92 11.82 State 4A (2) Greensboro 5-10 +1.0
Vashti Bandy (Butler, N.C.) 4-29-92 11.84 State 4A (4) Greensboro 5-10 +1.0
Varonica Johnson (Myers Park, Charlotte, N.C.) 1-19-93 11.93 USA Reg. III JO (1h1/15-16) Rock Hills 7-13 +0.7
Gabrielle Gray (High Point, N.C.) 12-22-93 11.96 AAU Reg. III A JO (1h2/15-16) Knoxville 7-12 +1.9
La’Creasha Gore (East Gaston, Mt. Holly, N.C.) 4-7-92 12.01 State 4A (6) Greensboro 5-10 +1.0
JoAnn Blakney (Millard Creek, Charlotte, N.C.) 8-9-92 12.03 State 4A (7) Greensboro 5-10 +1.0

200 METERS
Varonica Johnson (Myers Park, Charlotte, N.C.) 1-21-93 24.07 USATF Nat. JO (1h3/15-16) 1-21-93
Dominique Weathers (Vance, Charlotte, N.C.) 11-18-92 24.14 Taco Bell (1h9) Columbia 4-11 +1.5
Zakiya Tyson (Jordan, Durham, N.C.) 8-4-92 24.22 USA Reg. III JO (1/15-16) Rock Hill 7-14 -2.6
La’Creasha Gore (East Gaston, Mt. Holly, N.C.) 4-7-92 24.57 State 4A (2h2) Greensboro 5-10 +1.9
Vashti Bandy (Butler, Charlotte, N.C.) 4-29-92 24.55 nwi State 4A West Reg. (2) Charlotte 5-3

400 HURDLES
Miata Morlu (Providence Day, Charlotte, N.C.) 6-10-92 62.15 USATF Youth Nat. (3/15-16) Charlotte 6-29
HIGH JUMP
Brittany Burton (Person, Roxboro, N.C.) 5-08.00 Pac-6 Conf. Ch. (1) Durham 4-23

LONG JUMP
JoAnn Blakney (Millard Creek, Chrlotte, N.C.) 8-9-92 18-05.00 USA Youth Nat. (2/15-16) Charlotte 6-27 0.0

NC Boys
100 METERS
Kendall Kee (Shelby, N.C.) 4-23-93 10.84 AAU Reg. JO (2/15-16) Knoxville7-13 +1.5
Matthew Browning (Mallard Creek, Charlotte, N.C.) 4-12-93 10.94 AAU Reg. 3 JO (3) Knoxville 7-13 +1.5

400-METER LOW HURDLES (30”)
U.S. runs 36” hurdles
Malcolm Nunley (Garner, N.C.) 4-5-92 55.13 MileSplit Inv. (3) Richmond 6-7

LONG JUMP
Deonnonti McLean (Hoke County, Raeford, N.C.) 12-16-92 23-01.25 nwi USATF Reg. III JO (1/15-16) Rock Hill 7-13
Myer Krah (Hillside, Durham, N.C.) 4-8-93 22-05.25 USATF Youth Nat. (2/15-16) Charlotte 6-29 0.0
Leon Samuels (Vance, Charlotte, N.C.) 2-12-92 22-05.00 USATF Youth Nat. )2/15-16) Charlotte 6-29 +0.5

For qualifications and eligibility guidelines and/or to see all of the Leading US candidates per each event visit www.dyestat.com

2009 NCAA Men's Indoor Preview

60m Hurdles / '08 Champion: Drew Brunson, Florida State - 7.527 *

Talk about true senior depth. Out of the 8 athletes who made the 60m hurdles final last year in Arkansas, only one athlete returns for 2009 -- Jason Richardson of South Carolina. In fact, 8 of the top 9 times from last year were produced by seniors.
With Richardson has a heavy favorite for the title, there is still a great number of men to watch this season who should turn in some fast times. The SEC should provide plenty of performances once again behind Mikel Thomas of Kentucky and Dennis Martin of Florida.
Big Ten Champion Josh Hembrough of Purdue was the top freshman in the country last season with his best time of 7.79. Another freshman from last season, Ronnie Ash of Bethune-Cookman, surprised many with his third-place finish of 13.59 in the 110m hurdles at the NCAA Championships.
Jason Richardson will tutor a very talented freshman named Booker Nunley who enters South Carolina with personal-best times of 7.78 in the 60m hurdles and 13.40 for the 110m hurdles set last season as a high school senior.
Also look for Kevin Craddock of UCLA, Omo Osaghae of Texas Tech, Myles Bradley of Stanford and Lehann Fourie of Nebraska to step up as well.

To see previews of all the events you can visit www.trackshark.com

Eastern High School Challenge!!!!

This Saturday is the Eastern High School Challenge. Hosted by the Durham Striders at the Eddie Smith Field House on the campus of UNC, it is one of the premiere high school meets for the indoor season. This meet will play host to a lot of the top talent the east coast has to offer. From the 55 meter hurdles to the shot put, there will be plenty of competition and non-stop action all day long.

After coming off a great meet in Arkansas, I'm looking to improve in the hurdles. I had a great 400 meter race in Arkansas, running a 50.57 in the prelims, a new personal record. The prelims were right before the 60 meter hurdle prelims. I had nothing left for the hurdles. At UNC I won't have to worry about that because the 55 meter hurdles prelims and finals will be done before any of my other events.

I am feeling stronger, faster and more confident over the hurdles. I have come a long way since last year. I am aiming to run under 7.70 in the hurdles. I know what I have to do, but now I just have to let everything else go and let all my body take over. I will also be running the 500 and the 4x400 meter relay. I can't wait for the 500 either. With that PR in the 400, and running it so early in the season, makes me wonder about of all possibilities. I am shooting for a 1:08.00 or better, I'm confident that I can obtain all my goals Saturday.

Track Eastern Runs The Show In Arkansas!

Track Eastern (New Bern) flew down to Arkansas last Friday for the 2008 Arkansas Invitational. To go along with our one of a kind Nike uniforms, we blazed the track with some amazing times all day long. Track Eastern opened their season with an outstanding display of excellence in each of there events.


Track Eastern kicked of the meet with the 400 meter dash prelims. In the first heat Andrew Hendrix blazed the track in a time of 48.15. In the tenth heat Anthony Hendrix ran a US#1 of 47.73. Malcolm Nunley of Track Eastern running unattached in the heat with Anthony Hendrix, posted a time of 50.57 setting a new personal record. All three Track Eastern runners in the 400 qualified for the finals. Fuqauwn Greene and Daishawn Styron both competed in the 60 meter dash. Greene running a 6.85 and Styron in a time of 7.06, both qualified for the finals where they would take first and second place 6.85 and 6.98. Fuqauwn Greene put on a show in the 200 meter dash prelims by posting a US#1 time of 21.39.


Fuqauwn Greene pulled out the 200 meter final, Anthony and Andrew Hendrix both scratched form the 400 meter dash finals to save them selves for the 4x200 and 4x400 meter relays. Track Eastern was going for the high school 4x200 meter record, they fell short in the process by running a time of 1:27.02. Another US#1 performance for Track Eastern and that time moved them into the #3 position all-time in the 4x200 meter relay for high school. They finished the day competing in the 4x400 meter relay. Just like the 4x2, they were also going for the national record in the 4x400 meter relay. This was a race to see. Andrew started the relay off strong on the first leg. Fuqauwn ran the second leg of the 4x4 running a strong leg until he caught a cramp on the second lap. Fuqauwn hopped all the way around the track and handed off the baton in second place. Miles Sparks ran an amazing third leg to bring Track Eastern to first and Anthony Hendrix finished the job anchoring the team. through the mist of all that, Track Eastern posted another US#1 time in the 4x400 meter dash with a time of 3:19.28. Congrats to Track Eastern on all their success in Arkansas.

New Selection Process

INDIANAPOLIS - USA Track & Field on Tuesday announced that it has revamped the process for selecting its team for the IAAF World Youth Athletics Championships.For the first time, the team will be selected based on performances at a Team Trials event - World Youth Track & Field Trials - which will be conducted less than two weeks before the 2009 IAAF World Youth Championships.

Since the inception of the World Youth Championships in 1999, the U.S. team has been selected by a committee, which reviewed the performances of athletes who had competed in one of three national championship events - USA Youth, USA Junior, and USATF Junior Olympics - a full year prior to the World Championships. "Our goal is to send the best possible team to the World Championships, and having a selection meet just prior to the World Championships allows USATF to do this," said USATF Youth Division Chair Lionel Leach. "As is the case with our elite athletes and their teams, our youth athletes will be able to 'select themselves' based on how they perform at a qualifying meet."

The 2009 World Youth Track & Field Trials will be held on June 30 - July 1 in Ypsilanti, Michigan, in conjunction with the first two days of the USA Youth Outdoor Track & Field Championships. The event will serve as the qualifying event for the 8th IAAF World Youth Championships to be held July 8-12 in Bressanone, Italy. For more information on the 2009 World Youth Track & Field Trials, including qualifying standards to enter the Trials and team selection criteria, please visit http://www.usatf.org/events/2009/WorldYouthAthleticsTrials.

Arkansas Invitational

I'm getting my first real test of the season in January, at the Arkansas Invitational. Hosted at the University of Arkansas, this is one of the premiere high school indoor meets. A lot of great competition will be there competing in the hurdles. I'm feeling real good about this season. With all the work I have done in the off-season, its time to see it in actions. Working with Coach Mcgill, I know I'm on track to do some big things indoors and just bust out this outdoor season. Last year at the meet, Booker Nunley and Wayne Davis of Track Eastern Carolina took 1st and 2nd. Its my turn this year. I have already posted a 7.5 in the 55 meter hurdles, although it was hand time, it was still a fast time. This will be my first 60 meter hurdles race. I'm going there to win!

-Malcolm Nunley

Great Start!

I kicked off the indoor season with three personal records. Last Wednesday at West Johnston High School, I competed in my first meet of the season. I ran in the 55 meter hurdles, 300 meter dash, and the 4x400 meter relay. It was a great meet. I posted a 7.5 in the hurdles, which was better than my time of 8.1 of last year. In the 300 meter dash, I smashed my previous best of 37.75 with a time 35.8. I qualified for the state meet in the hurdles, and missed it in the 300 by .5 seconds. My 300 meter race was promising yet disappointing at the same time because I had great race but still missed the qualification mark. The very next day we had a meet at Wakefield High School. There I competed in the 500 meter dash. I was not to thrilled to run the 500, but the competitive nature in me took over and i just ran it. I forgot to check in, so they made me start on the out side. At the shot of the gun I didn't take out at all. During the race I wanted to quit so bad because I was beginning to feel the the effects of my lunch. I was in the back of the pack getting boxed in, but once I got to the 200 mark it was over. I sucked it up and hoped in lane 3 and kicked all to the finish line. I sucked up everyone in the race to win the 500. I ran the 500 in a time of 1:08.4, a new personal record and yet again falling short of the qualification standards by .4 seconds. I'm feeling real good about this season!

-Malcolm Nunley

The Man Behind The Plan

Johnny Dutch:2008 Olympic trials 400 hurdles Finalist(48.52) ... Placed 2nd at the 12th IAAF World Junior Championships(49.25) ... Named All-American all four years of high school for indoor and outdoor hurdle events ... Won 2006 Nike Outdoor Nationals in 110 meter hurdles junior year (13.54) ... won 2007 Nike Indoor Nationals senior year (7.71) ... won 2007 Pan American Juniors in 400 meter hurdles (50.87) and 110 meter hurdles (13.47) ... placed second with the USA's 4x400m team (3:06) ... placed second at 2007 Junior Nationals in 400 meter hurdles (50.07) and 110 meter hurdles (13.39) ... won 2007 Simplot Games 60 meter hurdles in Idaho ... broke national record in 55 meter hurdles at an indoor meet with a time of 7.07 ... All- American all four years in high school and a nine time state champion in both hurdle events.

Booker Nunley: 2008 IAAF World Junior 110h Silver Medalist ... 2008 Junior National 110h Gold Medalist 2008 ... Junior Olympic 110h Gold Medalist ... 2008 Youth National 110h Gold Medalist ... 2008 NIN 60h Bronze Medalist ... 13.40 - US#1 Outdoor 110h & World #2 Outdoor 110h ... 7.78 - US#5 Indoor 60h ... 13.91(42"hurdles) 10th Fastest Time for High Schooler over Professional and Collegiate Height Hurdles in US History.

Wayne Davis: US #1 all time 55mH - 7.06 ... 60mH 7.62 7.83 ... soph record 60mH ... 7.32 soph 55mH record ... 13.65 110mH soph record ...13.18 World Youth record ... 7.06 55mH Jr record ...7.62 60mH Jr record ... 7.11 NCSAA 55mH record.

After looking at these athletes' accomplishments above, most of you are pretty amazed at what they have done. There is one thing that you may not know just by reading their accolades. Johnny, Booker and Wayne all have one thing in common, they have been taught by the same coach. Coach Steven Mcgill has been the driving force of the hurdling success of North Carolina
for the past five years. In the past couple of years having the Nations top hurdlers coming out of the Raleigh, NC area is a special honor in the sport of track and field. The strong depth in the hurdles, has helped North Carolina display their dominance in track & field to the rest of the country. North Carolina is in competition with the states like Florida, Texas, California, and Maryland to see who reigns supreme in the sport of track & field.



Coach Steven Mcgill Over the years has studied, learned and practiced the art of hurdling. He is now in the process of mastering the "PROPER TECHNIQUE" of hurdling. He has dedicated his life to the hurdles and by doing so, he has shared his knowledge to all athletes wanting to get better. Those who have taken his teachings and applied them to their race have gone on to do great things in the hurdles so far. Coach Mcgill has helped the likes of Johnny Dutch (Univ. South Carolina), Booker Nunley (Univ. South Carolina), Wayne Davis (Southeast Raleigh High), Malcolm Nunley (Southeast Raleigh High), David Coe, Gabby Mayo (Texas Tech.), James Robinson (NC State), Keare Smith (VA Tech.), Anthony Hendrix (New Bern High), Allison Johnson (Athens Drive High) and many more high school athletes. Steven Mcgill has also published his own website dedicated to hurdles. The site Hurdles first.com, has everything you need to know about the hurdles, training tips, workouts, personal stories and more. This website has helped many people trying to improve their skills and get faster. Coach Mcgill has often been contacted via his website, from athletes who are in need of his teachings. Through his website, Mcgill has worked with many post-collegiate athletes like Byron Gibson (Univ. of Alabama Grad.), Hector Cotto (ECU Grad. and Beijing Olympian), Kevin Watson (UNC Grad.) and many others. Coach Mcgill has plans to coach many more athletes this year and anticipates those who will come back and train after college.



I wrote this article because I wanted people to see just what this man has done in the sport of track & field. I'm not alone when I say that Steven Mcgill is the most under-rated coach there is. He has been credited very little for the success of his athletes. Booker Nunley, 2008 US#1 hurdler (13.40), has given credit to most of his high school success to Coach Mcgill. When Booker was declared ineligible for high school track, Coach Mcgill stepped in and turned up Booker"s training. In three years, Mcgill took Booker from an average hurdler to US#1. Mcgill has produced three US#1 hurdlers in the past five years. Even with all this knowledge in this event, Mcgill is constantly learning something new every practice, in pursuit to master the "PROPER TECHNIQUE". There has also been other speculation about Coach Mcgill. Many people along with myself have asked why Coach Mcgill hasn't had colleges come and offer him a spot on their coaching staff. Especially with local schools around here like NC State, Duke, UNC, these schools would really benefit by having a top-notch coach on staff. I believe he could really draw the top athletes to any school. Steve Mcgill is not only an excellent hurdles coach, he also has knowledge about many other aspects of track & field, like speed training and distance running.

IOC RE-TESTING BEIJING DOPING SAMPLES!

Every doping sample taken at Beijing 2008 will be retested by the International Olympic Committee to check for traces of the newly-discovered blood-boosting drug CERA (Continuous Erythropoiesis Receptor Activator).

The IOC conducted more than 5,000 doping tests during this year's Games, and the spokeswoman Emmanuelle Moreau confirmed today that every sample would be re-examined by the World Anti-Doping Agency's laboratory in Lausanne. The decision to test for CERA, an advanced version of the endurance-enhancing hormone EPO, was taken after the drug was detected in Tour de France samples that had previously been passed as clean.

Doping officials are still retesting samples from this year's Tour de France, and further positive results are expected. "I imagine there could be one or two more cases," suggested the race director Christian Prudhomme after officials confirmed yesterday that Germany's Stefan Schumacher and Italy's Riccardo Ricco and Leonardo Piepoli, who won five of the Tour's 21 stages between them, had tested positive for CERA.

The IOC vice-president Thomas Bach told reporters yesterday that road cycling could lose its status as an Olympic sport altogether if the recent spate of positive tests continued. Moreau was more conciliatory today, stating that: "The IOC will continue to support the International Cycling Union and any other international federation as long as it is deploying meaningful and credible means and efforts to fight against doping."

Six athletes were disqualified for doping during the Beijing Games and three more cases are pending.