IAAF World Youth Championships 2011

Jacob Burcham, a senior distance standout at Cabell Midland High School in Ona, WV, has made a commitment to run cross-country / track & field at the University of Oklahoma. Burcham will join fellow West Virginians, Brandon Doughty (class of 2011) and Eric Graff (class of 2012) of Jefferson High School / Shenandoah Junction, WV as Sooner teammates!  

 Jul-Aug: Youth Girls spark UAG 800|Medals @ Pan-Am|Futch, Firestone, Broadwater Champs-Futch PA AT

  When it comes to girls’ track and field, the Harvard-Westlake School (photos above by Jeff Sides) is one of those teams that can often get lost in the shuffle.  The small independent college preparatory school, located in Los Angeles, has an enrollment (grades 7-12) of roughly 1,600 with slightly more than half that total comprising its high school student body.

Granted a shot at redemption, St. Thomas Aquinas’ 400-meter star Arman Hall came up golden at the the IAAF World Youth Track and Field Championships in Lille, France on Friday. (via The Miami Herald)

(Photo by Lance McDaniel) Jacob Burcham has done it again!  At the IAAF World Youth Championships in Lille, France Burcham represented this great state and country in phenomenal fashion.  He placed an amazing 7th among the international competitors in the 1500 with a smoking time of 3:46.55!  That's equivalent to a 4:04 mile!  That's crazy fast...especially for an upcoming high school junior.  Simply amazing!  My congratulations to Jacob and his coach!  I can't wait for cross country season!

  North Shore junior Brianna Nerud broke the New York State record while finishing seventh in the 2,000 steeplechase Saturday at the World Youth Championships in Lille, France. PHOTOS BY PHOTORUN.NET

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY, BAHAMAS!  A day after Shaunae Miller won the first-ever Bahamaian World Youth gold medal, Latario Collie-Minns added a second. And soon thereafter his twin brother Lathone secured the bronze leaving no doubt that this most successful Bahamian youth team in history.  The twin effort vaulted the country into eighth position on the medal rankings.

In case you missed it live, race video of the girls 400 in France of Shaunae Miller winning gold for the Bahamas was posted on YouTube, embedded this this article.  (via YouTube)

Arman Hall proved today he is not just the best 400 meter runner in Florida, not just the best in the USA... he is the best youth quarter-miler in the world! The St. Thomas Aquinas rising senior won gold at the IAAF World Youth Championships in France this afternoon with a 46.01 performance. Robin Reynolds contended strong for the win herself, but hit the wall and faded to fourth in a season best 52.72.

Shaunae Miller took gold today at the IAAF World Youth Championships in France. Her time of 51.84 got her the victory in the 400 over the world's finest youth one-lappers. It is the second medal ever won by Team Bahamas at World Youth, Nivea Smith won bronze in 2007, and the first gold medal for the country. Congrats to Shaunae and The Bahamas!

North Shore’s Brianna Nerud advanced to the final in the 2,000 steeplechase Friday morning at the World Youth Championships in Lille, France.

Green-Sea Floyd alumni Matthew Elliot, now running for Brooks and GU Energy, shares his experience after competing at Hayward Field in the U.S.A. Championships.

Jonathan Russell of Broad Run High School just missed making the finals of the 400 meter hurdles at the World Youth Championships in Thursday's semi-finals round. Russell, a rising senior, finished third in his heat with a time of 52.06 which the performance found himself on the outside looking in as the odd man out (9th place, 8 advance) for the 400 meter hurdles finals. Making the U.S. team and representing the country at an international level was certainly a big step for the Group AA state 300 hurdles and 200 dash state champion.

Shaunae Miller has another big day with a 52.92 that easily got her the win out of heat two!  She will be the #2 seed in the finals behind Chrisann Gordon of Jamaica.  Kirk Lewis will advances to semis in the 110 Hurdles; Charlton, Davis, Outten miss cut for finals in 100 Dash.

  Tretez Kinnaird (Butler) is a three-time Kentucky State Champion in track and earned All-American honors in the 800m Run for the 2011 Outdoor Season.  He was the winner of the 800m at the World Youth Qualifier Meet in South Carolina earning the right to represent his country in Lille, France for the IAAF World Championship.   He advanced through the 1st Round today with a 4th place finish in his heat.  He runs again tomorrow at 12:15 Eastern Time.  He answered questions for KYtrackXC.com via Facebook on July 6th in France.  

Live Feed Courtsey of http://linkupvideos.com

Day One is now complete in Lille, France and The Bahamas faired pretty well. Shaunae Miller won her heat of the 400 meter prelims easily with a 54.39 that was over three seconds better than the next competitor. Delano Davis and Tommey Outten had to fight a bit harder for their spot in the semis. Davis just won his heat over Russian Bradley Britz 10.95 to 10.96.  Outten tucked in and secured a second place with an 11.00 finish. Ashley Riley and Andre Timothy Colebrook had solid performances but did not advance, Riley hitting a 1:57.40 and Colebrook a 1:55.38 in their respective heats of the 800.

Arman Hall was the only athlete in the round to break 47-seconds in the 400. He ran a 46.76 to win heat five and advance to the semis. “I am relieved. When I came in, I was a nervous wreck, and I’m so glad I made it to finals. I want to prove to myself that I’m the best 400m runner in the world," Arman said.  Defending Youth Olympics champion Robin Reynolds was able to take it easy in the fourth heat, cruising to a 54.59 to advance to the semi-final round.  She had this to say: “I didn’t want to come into the first round and exert too much energy. I was glad that I could coast to the finish and advance.”

North Shore coach Neal Levy said that his star steeplechaser might have been overwhelmed by the moment at the World Youth Trials last week. Now she’ll have a chance to shine on an even bigger stage.

Photo by Victah Sailer of PhotoRun.net   Broad Run rising senior Jonathan Russell came out strong in his opening round of the 400 meter hurdles at the World Youth Championships in France today. The Group AA outdoor 300 meter hurdles state champion placed second in his preliminary heat with a personal best time of 51.94, which is the second fastest among all qualifiers moving onto the semi-finals behind his heat's winner Yahya Ibrahim Barnawi of Saudi Arabia (51.93). Virginia's own Russell and fastest qualifier Barnawi may be battling for gold later in the meet if both make it through the semi-finals. 

Jacob Blankenship, who will be a senior next year at Gahanna Lincoln, has been selected as part of Team USA for IAAF World Youth Championship in Lille, France.

Tretez Kinnaird placed fourth with a 1:52.81 in his heat to advance to the Semi's tomorrow.

MYRTLE BEACH -- Forty athletes will represent the United States at the IAAF World Youth Championships from July 6-10 in Lille, France, USATF announced today.   Photo: Scrunners.com