GCTC Athletes Advance to Junior Olympics

As Posted in The Greene County Record, July 16, 2009:
Two members of the William Monroe Middle School track team have advanced out of the Regional Championships held July 9-12 in Landover, Md. and will compete against the nation’s top youth in the USA Track and Field Junior Olympics. Camron Hatchett, 13, placed third in the triple jump and Ryan Thomas, 12, placed second in the 1500 meter run, against athletes from Georgia, South Carolina, Virginia and Maryland. The top three places in each event advance to the nationals championships.
The 43rd USATF National Junior Olympic Track & Field Championships will be held at NC A&T University in Greensboro, NC. The USATF National Junior Olympic Track & Field Championships is the most visible youth athletic development program in the world. Many of today’s Olympic stars began their track and field careers competing in the Junior Olympic program. Up to 7,000 athletes are expected to participate this year in Greensboro. Entry for this championship is based on advancement at preliminary, state and regional levels. Competition takes place in two-year age divisions, from age 8 to 18.
At the State Championships held in Hampton, VA. June 13-14, Camron placed 8th in the 400 meters, second in the 200 meter hurdles and second in the triple jump. Ryan placed seventh in the 400 meters, fourth in the 800 meters, first in the 1500 meter, and third in the triple jump. Yesaya Iman, also on the WMMS track team, placed seventh at the state championships in the 80 meter hurdles. Kiana Hatchett, a rising first grader at Ruckersville Elementary School, placed sixth in the long jump at the state meet, and advanced to the regional meet.
Independent of the Junior Olympic program, USATF also hosts a National Outdoor Track & Field Championship. This year, the national track meet was held in Ypsilanti, Michigan over the July 4th weekend. Entry in this prestigious event is based solely upon performance standards, and both Ryan and Camron qualified in multiple events. Camron placed third in the nation in the triple jump, and Ryan placed eighth both in the triple jump and the 1500 meters.