INDIANAPOLIS -- Elite youth athletes will descend on Bloomington, Indiana this week for the USATF Youth Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Thousands of youngsters from all across the country will compete in the week-long event at the Robert C. Haugh Track & Field Complex at Billy Hayes Track on the campus of Indiana University from June 24-29.

 

Pike High School’s Lynaa Irby (Indianapolis, Indiana) is one of the top local athletes to watch. The freshman is coming off a dominating performance at the Indiana state meet, where she won the 100, 200 and 400 meters. She blazed through the 100 with a 11.61, almost breaking the state record set by Olympian Maicel Malone of North Central. She ran the 400 in 54.38, the fourth best time for freshmen this year and .05 off the state freshman record. In her last race of the day, she battled through cramps to run a 24.07 in the 200, seventh best in the nation among freshmen.

 

At last year’s meet at Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville, Irby won the 15-16 girls’ 100 meter dash with a 11.75 and the 400 meters with a 55.60. 

 

Olympic long jump champion Dwight Phillips will make an appearance over the weekend, signing autographs and presenting medals to winners. Phillips won a gold medal in the long jump at the 2004 Olympics and is a four-time world champion in the event.

 

The USATF Youth Outdoor Championships is the only youth track & field competition that also awards team championships in every age division.

 

Tickets are $8 for daily admission and $40 for a week pass. Click here for more information.

 

Tyler Stevenson

Communications Intern