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LOOKING FORWARD TO CROSS COUNTRY JULY - AUGUST 2020 $5.95
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THE DYNAMIC DUO OF
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ELITE MIDDLE
SCHOOL
CAMP
AUGUST 3-7, 2O20 OPEN TO BOYS & GIRLS ENTERING 6TH-8TH GRADE THIS FALL COEUR D’ALENE, IDAHO OR VIRTUAL CAMP ONLINE
LIMITED TO 100 MIDDLE SCHOOL ATHLETES SCHOLARSHIPS MAY BE AVAILABLE EMAIL CAMP@YOUTHRUNNER.COM
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YR MOMENTS LOOKING BACK TO THE 2016 USATF JO’S EIGHT RACERS JOSTLING FOR POSITION, ELBOWS AND SHOE LACES FLYING. COMPETITION AT IT’S BEST!
SMOTHERMAN IMAGES
2 | JULY/AUGUST 2020
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4 | JULY/AUGUST 2020
YR CONTENTS: JULY-AUG 2020
READY.SET.GO
Vol. 25 Issue 2
8 RUBY FORD AND DJ SEYMOUR OF THE SOLANO ELITE TRACK CLUB
8
SHEA ELMORE KYLEKYLE PETERS PETERS FEATURE
12 AIDEN OPORE 20 KEEPING UP WITH YOUTH
RUNNER ATHLETES
CHECK IT OUT
TRAINING
16-17 INSTAGRAM FAN SHOTS 18-19 SMOOTHIES WITH CAILIN 24-25 WAY TO GO 26-27
ASK A YOUTH RUNNER COACH
MORE 2-3 YRMOMENTS
GUEST 5 CONTENTS 6 THE EDITOR
LETTER FROM
7 YR BLOGGER
14-15 POSTER
28 COMING UP
YOUTHRUNNER.COM | 5
YR
EDITOR VOLUME 25 ISSUE 2 | MAY/JUNE 2020 PUBLISHER/EDITOR Dan Kesterson EDITOR AT LARGE Ian Kesterson CONTRIBUTING WRITERS, BLOGGERS, AND REPORTERS Morgan Boonshaft, Cailin Kinas, Jordynn West, Chelsea Ochoa, Taitum Schaap, Evan Gonzales, Will Benitez, Ellie Porter, Pat Tyson, Bob Williams, Matt Walsh, Aiden Garcia ART DIRECTOR Sean Kesterson
Dan Kesterson, Youth Runner Publisher / Editor
CONTRIBUTING DESIGNER Rachel Heckerman
LETTER FROM THE
ON THE COVER Ruby Ford and DJ Seymour Photographer - Kyle Peters
EDITOR
Hello Everyone, There’s one thing about being an athlete, you learn how to become flexible. I don’t mean that you can touch your toes or bend over backward, I mean that whatever gets thrown at us we’re going to adjust to it. No track meets no problem. We can still keep training, running, and competing. We’re just getting it done virtually. Athletes always seem to find the way. Going through the quarantine has connected us in different ways and given us a deeper appreciation for each other. Instead of just knowing we could hi-five each other at practice, now when we do get to hi-five and hug each other it will mean so much more. What’s amazing about youth track and cross country is that it really is a level
IAN’S NOTES
6 | JULY/AUGUST 2020
playing field. When we all step onto the track or that muddy, slippery xc course together and the adrenaline is pumping waiting for the start, it doesn’t matter who we are or where we came from. And when we reach the finish line there is a respect, and friendship, and maybe even a mutual love that we have for each other. My challenge to all of you is to take that same respect, those same friendships you’ve found on the track, and take that home to your neighbors and your school and your family. Take it as a challenge. If there is any group that can change the world, it’s all of you! See you out on the track, Dan Kesterson - Editor
THIS IS JUST THE SECOND TIME WE’VE EVER FEATURED TWO ATHLETES ON THE COVER IN THIS ISSUE, RUBY & DJ FROM THE SOLANO ELITE TC. CHECK OUT THEIR INTERVIEWS. OUR NEXT ADVENTURE IS GOING TO NORTHERN IDAHO FOR THE YOUTH RUNNER CAMP IN AUGUST.
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Smotherman Images, Kyle Peters, Klotz Images, Logan Hannigan-Downs, Sam Gehrke, Eric Ward, Dusty Smith, Eric Trice, Peter CampellThompson, Pexels, Photo Run, Dave Watt, HKRS, Dingo Images, Aiden Garcia,Reese Solowski, Fans. COVER PHOTO Kyle Peters WEBSITE-DIGITAL-VIDEO Sean Kesterson THANKS TO L’Mio Edwards and other kids out there pitching in to help others. ADVERTISING & SPONSORSHIP dank@youthrunner.com SUBSCRIPTION RATES US One Year: Print $19.95 Digital $12.95 Subscribe at www.youthrunner.com PUBLISHED BY: Youth Runner Magazine is a registered trademark of GoSportz Media LLC. Published 5 times a year by GoSportz Media, LLC Copyright 2020 all rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without permission. Editorial contributions are welcome, submit queries to editor@Youthrunner.com. Gosportz Media LLC and it’s publisher assumes no liability for the content or opinion of it’s writers or advertisers and reserves the right to reject any advertising at it’s own discretion. Youth Runner recommends that you consult with your coach and your physician on any changes with your training, fitness and health issues.
YOUTH RUNNER
BLOGGERS HUNTER’S FAVORITES
Athlete
Football
Hunter Hurl 11
Hello! My name is Hunter Hurl, and I live in McMinnville, Oregon. I am 11 years old and have been running competitively since the age of five. I love running and the opportunities it has presented me. Running has given me a reason to challenge myself, meet new people, and explore new places I would not have seen otherwise. In 2019, I Triple Crowned in the AAU West Coast National meet - finishing 1st in the 800, 1500, and 3,000m race. I also competed in the USATF National Meet in Sacramento, California, and finished 9th overall in the 3,000m race. Competing at a national level is both frightening and exciting, but with proper preparation, your hard work will pay off. My favorite event is the 3,000m run because it is a longer race that plays into my strengths of endurance and allows for me to strategize during the race. On an average week, I train five days a week and enjoy a mix of speed and distance workouts. When I have time, I love to run on trails! My favorite trail workout is a mix of
hills and speed - I like to push the pace uphill and glide on the downhills. When not on the trail, track workouts are key for endurance, speed, and form. It is important to train on the trail as well as the track to prevent injuries, mix it up and to balance out aerobic and anaerobic conditioning. Aside from running, I enjoy other sports and activities as well. We are also lucky enough to live near the Oregon coast, where I can surf, hike, and explore the beach. At home, I keep busy by playing basketball, football, and pickleball with my family and friends.
WHAT ARE HUNTER’S
FAVORITES?
Other Sport - Football Hot or cold - Hot Ocean or Mountains - Ocean Surfing Training shoe - Nike zoom pegasus 36 Stretch - Pigeon Running Movie - McFarland Pro Athlete - Pre
Hot
Surfing
Shoes
Movie
TAG PHOTOS #YOUTHRUNNER YOUTHRUNNER.COM | 7
THE DYNAMIC DUO FROM THE SOLANO ELITE TRACK CLUB
RUBY FORD & DJ SEYMOUR Q&A WITH RUBY & DJ Some clubs have shut down during the pandemic but you and your teammates have trained through as nothing has happened. How have you kept your focus and stayed motivated? Ruby: Well, since SETC is still working out as a team during Covid-19 I like to tell myself that the pandemic hasn’t stopped other teams from working out as well. So, that means my competition is getting faster too. That is what keeps me staying focused and motivated. Do you and your teammates all do the same workouts together or do you have separate drills and such that you do just for your events and goals? DJ: At the beginning of the season we did conditioning as a group and did all of our drills together. As the season progressed, we started to run different 8 | JULY/AUGUST 2020
events than each other which led to us having to do different workouts. Since we needed to do different workouts, we started to split up into groups based on the type of running event we were doing. AAU West Coast Junior Olympics in Las Vegas are next month, what are your goals for that meet? Ruby: My goals for the AAU Coast Junior Olympics in Las Vegas next are to win all three of my events, the 400, 800, and 1500. DJ: Since the end of last year, I’ve been fighting through multiple injuries. Since this meet is coming up soon I know I won’t be in peak shape but I know I will be able to put up a solid time to set some new PRs for this season. If I am in enough shape, those times will hopefully be fast enough to take gold in all of my events. Tell us about your experience last year at AAU Junior Olympic Games and the best moments. DJ: I would have to say that the best moment for me was watching my teammate, Ruby Ford, compete for
gold in her 800m run and set a new PR in that race. It was so fun to watch my teammate represent the track club while I was injured. Was there anything about one race that has stuck in your mind until now? Any competitors that you have been looking forward to meeting again? Ruby: I was 10 years old running at the 800m and my first coach, Da’Fona, was in the audience cheering me on. I ran a 2:27.5 to win the race and she was very proud of me. That’s a race that has been stuck in my mind till now. I look forward to competing against DJ in practice and prep for meets because running against him has helped me to achieve my PRs. When I competed at the AAU Junior Olympics in Detroit he came out to help me warm-up for the 400m finals which helped me achieve my PR for the season. DJ: One thing that has been sticking in the back of my mind ever since it happened was when I ran in my 200m qualifier at the USATF Junior Olympics and got injured toward the end of the run. That is something that has stuck
KYLE PETERS
YOUTHRUNNER.COM | 9
KYLE PETERS
in my mind this entire track season because I knew that if that injury had not happened, so much would have changed for me. Every time I think of that moment I wish I can just rewind to that moment and do it over again. It is in the back of mind now because I know that couldn’t happen and a small part of me wants things to stay the same. I have been looking for the top runner every season in every event I compete in at Nationals and have always been going for gold. I have always been putting up top times in the nation but I haven’t competed much in the Junior Olympics at that high of a level. Tell us about the Solano Elite TC and what it’s like to train together. What is special about it? DJ: This track club is very competitive. We have pretty fast runners in every age group so there is always someone to compete with. Since it’s so competitive, a lot of the athletes can put up PRs in just practice which is nice because it proves how fast they could go in a meet with other runners. This can also be a very fun program at times. 10 | JULY/AUGUST 2020
“MY ADVICE TO OTHER YOUNG ATHLETES IS TO STAY SAFE, PRACTICE YOUR SOCIAL DISTANCING, KEEP TRACK OF YOUR EATING HABITS, AND TO NOT LET THE PANDEMIC TO AFFECT THEIR TRACK CAREER TOO MUCH” - RUBY The workouts are hard, but if everyone gives effort and works hard enough, we will sometimes have relays at the end of practice or games in some of our drills. This makes our tough workouts fun enough to where we don’t think of how much the workout hurts as much. Who has been your greatest inspiration and encouragement throughout your running career? Ruby: My greatest inspiration would have to be my parents for setting me up for great opportunities, Coach Shawn for pushing my like crazy because he saw my potential and DJ for being a great teammate to me since we were 8yrs old. What strength/cross-training activity to do on the side of running? DJ: Activity to do on the side of running is football in the fall. I used to play running back, wide receiver, corner, and safety. Top accomplishments that you’re proud of including school and volunteer work.
Ruby: Being able to participate with SETC while packing food at the Solano County food bank on MLK Day last year and this year is something I’m very proud of. DJ: An accomplishment I am proud of is keeping good grades in school even with me being in sports. I have always had a high standard of a 4.0 GPA and have been able to come close to keeping up until now. Any advice for other young athletes? Ruby: My advice to other young athletes is to stay safe, practice your social distancing, keep track of your eating habits, and to not let the Pandemic to affect their track career too much and to stay positive. DJ: Progress is the name of the game. It feels good to win races, but there is no point in winning races if you are not getting any faster. I don’t even care about some medals sometimes because I might have not ran well in a certain race, but I still won because there were slower kids in my race. Every time I finish a run I ask what my time was instead of asking for my medal.
FAVORITES RUBY FORD PIZZA - HAWAIIAN ICE CREAM - MINT CHOCOLATE CHIP SPORT OUTSIDE OF RUNNING SWIMMING + MINIATURE GOLF PRO ATHLETE - ALLISON FELIX SCHOOL SUBJECT - WOODSHOP
DJ SEYMOUR PRE-RACE MEAL - SHRIMP PASTA NBA PLAYER - ALLEN IVERSON SCHOOL SUBJECT - MATH COLOR - GOLD SPIKES - I HAVE A PAIR OF BLACK SPIKES THAT WERE CUSTOMIZED BY MY UNCLE WHICH HAVE MY LOGO AND NAME ON IT
DJ’S + RUBY’S BEST TIMES DARIUS LAWSHEA
DJ SEYMOUR AGE 10 200M - 27.4 400M - 1:02 800M - 2:26 1500M - 5:05 AGE 11 200M - 26.3 400M - 58.3 800M - 2:15 1500M - 4:52 AGE 12 200M - 25.2 400M - 55.8 800M - 2:11 1500M- 4:44
RUBY FORD AGE 11 400M - 1:00.74 800M - 2:21.30 1500M - 5:00.49 AGE 12 400M - 58.23 800M - 2:20.91 1500M - 4:54.97 AGE 13 400M - 57.94 800M - 2:18.38 1500M - 5:00.19
AGE 13 200M- INJURED 400M- 57.7 800M- 2:21
MOVIE- AVENGERS: ENDGAME YOUTHRUNNER.COM | 11
SMOTHERMAN IMAGES
AIDEN OPORE: STORY BY: CAILIN KINAS
CHAMPION, RECORD BREAKER, STAR...WHAT’S NEXT?!
AIDEN IS A DUAL-SPORT ATHLETE AND NATIONAL RECORD HOLDER, BUT HE ALSO HAS STRONG ACADEMICS, IS INVOLVED IN COMMUNITY SERVICE, AND HAS A BIG HEART. TO SOME, AIDEN MAY SEEM LIKE JUST ANOTHER TRACK ATHLETE, BUT UNLIKE MOST, AIDEN HAS WON SIX NATIONAL TITLES AND HOLDS A NATIONAL RECORD, WHICH IS MORE THAN ANY OTHER MALE TRACKSTER IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA!
GREAT ATHLETES NOT ONLY NEED TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO SUCCEED IN SPORT, BUT THEY ALSO NEED TO HAVE DEDICATION, A POSITIVE WORK ETHIC, AND A TEAM DYNAMIC TO BECOME A TRUE CHAMPION. AIDEN OPORE, A 10-YEAR-OLD ATHLETE FROM GEORGIA, HAS BEEN ABLE TO MASTER BOTH PARTS AND, AS A RESULT, HAS BECOME A STAR ATHLETE IN BOTH THE STATE OF GEORGIA AND THE NATION AS A WHOLE. 12 | JULY/AUGUST 2020
AIDEN runs with the Jackrabbit Track Club in Suwanee, Georgia, where his main events are the 100m, 200m, and the 400m. Aiden has always loved sports from a very young age, and he was often seen running on the sidelines while his older sister had track practice. Aiden’s first large track accomplishment happened when he was seven at the Dunamis Super Meet in Cartersville, Georgia in 2018. There he won three gold medals in the 60m, 200m, and 400m dashes. Throughout the rest of 2018, Aiden went on to set seventeen more new meet records and even one national record in the 200m dash with a time of 27.32 seconds. In 2019, Aiden continued to impress as he set an additional nine new meet records while competing at the bottom age of his 9-10 age group. He was also able to land himself another national record, this time in the long jump, with a jump of 15-11.50 (4.86m). This is the longest jump by a 9-year-old ever within the nation! Due to Aiden’s extraordinary work ethic, achievements, and future potential, he was invited to attend the Dr. John W. Carlos 50th Anniversary Gala honoring Carlos’ historic run at the 1968 Olympics Games. There Aiden received an award plaque in “Recognition of Outstanding Athletics”. And not only has Aiden met a few legendary Olympians and world record holders, but he has also had the opportunity to train with them. Maurice Green, a past 100m world record holder, and Olympian have helped Aiden learn block techniques so he can be even speedier on the track. Though track and field is a huge part of Aiden’s life, even before he started competing in track he was playing football. This year will be his third season of football and he currently plays running back, wide receiver, and safety for the Peachtree Ridge 9U football team. Due to his natural athletic abilities and commitment to the sport, Aiden has helped his team remain undefeated for two years now and he has a 40+ yard per carry average. Aiden’s nickname, “Nightmare”, says it all, for he is fast, talented, and a touchdown machine on the football field! Aiden is a high achieving student receiving all A’s and B’s this past year even with online learning this past year. His favorite school subject is math, and he is a great role model in the classroom to others. Aiden loves helping others who are less fortunate than himself, and one way he is actively doing this is by assisting his neighbors and community members if they find themselves in difficult situations. He also makes a point of helping his classmates in school and being a good friend to all. When Aiden is not out running repeats on the track or going for a touchdown during a football game, he enjoys swimming, basketball, and playing games on his iPad and phone. In his future, Aiden hopes to crush more records, continue helping others, and become the best athlete he possibly can be.
This year Aiden will be at the top of his age group at age ten. He has high hopes to finally break the records he so narrowly missed last year in 2019 and he looks forward to another season of training. His positive work ethic, hard training, and ability to succeed has been a contributing factor to his great success, and it is no question that Aiden is an athlete to keep an eye on in the future! To learn more about Aiden or follow him on his athletic journey, you can follow @aiden.opore on Instagram or view his Youtube channel.
AIDEN’S ACHIEVEMENTS • WON THREE GOLD MEDALS AND STARTED HIS WINNING AND RECORDBREAKING STREAK AT HIS FIRST LARGE MEET WITH JACKRABBIT TRACK CLUB IN THE DUNAMIS SUPER MEET AT AGE 7 • HOLDER OF THE 8U NATIONAL RECORD IN THE 200M DASH WITH A TIME OF 27.32 SEC, SET AT THE 2018 USATF JUNIOR OLYMPICS • 17 NEW MEET RECORDS AND ONE NATIONAL RECORD ALL SET IN 2018 • HOLDER OF THE 9-10U NATIONAL LONG JUMP RECORD WITH A JUMP OF 15-11.50 (4.86M), SET AT THE 2019 ATLANTA GEORGIA RELAYS INTERNATIONAL MEET • 9 NEW MEET RECORDS AND ONE ADDITIONAL NATIONAL RECORD ALL SET IN 2019 • AIDEN’S FASTEST TIMES: • 100M: 13.10 SECONDS • 200M: 26.59 SECONDS • 400M: 1:05.67 SECONDS • LONG JUMP: 15-11.5 • AIDEN HAS ALSO NARROWLY MISSED TWO INDIVIDUAL AND TEAM NATIONAL RECORDS IN 2018 AND THREE INDIVIDUAL NATIONAL RECORDS IN 2019 ALL BY ONLY FRACTIONS OF A SECOND OR INCH • AWARD RECIPIENT OF THE DR. JOHN CARLOS “OUTSTANDING ATHLETICS” RECOGNITION PLAQUE • MULTISPORT ATHLETE (COMPETES AT A HIGH LEVEL IN BOTH TRACK AND FIELD AND FOOTBALL) • HIGH ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AND COMMUNITY SERVICE INVOLVEMENT
YOUTHRUNNER.COM | 13
FLORIDA YOUTH TRACK
HAPPY TO BE BACK ON THE TRACK ITS A GREAT FEELING TO BE REUNITED WITH FRIENDS AND COMPETITORS. THE B3R YOUTH INVITATIONAL WAS ONE OF THE FIRST OUTDOOR MEETS OF THE SUMMER IN FLORIDA.
IN THIS RACE MURPHY NEWBORN TOOK A SPILL AT THE FINISH AND MAE JOHNSON IN THE ORANGE, WENT BACK TO HELP HER GET UP. GREAT SPORTSMANSHIP!
REESE SOLOWSKI 14 | JULY/AUGUST 2020
YOUTHRUNNER.COM | 15
FANPAGE
KIDS RULE THE WORLD! WE JUST SHOWCASE THEM! HERE ARE SOME OF YOUR BEST SHOTS THIS SEASON! WANNA SEE YOUR OWN PHOTOS IN THESE PAGES? IT'S EASY! ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS HASHTAG #YOUTHRUNNER WHEN YOU POST TO INSTAGRAM!
16 | JULY/AUGUST 2020
YOUTHRUNNER.COM | 17
HUNGRY RUNNER EATS
Not only will a smoothie help your body cool down faster, but it can awaken your digestive tract again, leading to all those good nutrients to be absorbed more easily than solid food would. To help jump start you on the post-run smoothie train, I have two of my own favorite smoothie/drink recipes for you to try!
HEY EVERYONE! SUMMER IS FINALLY HERE! AS THE WEATHER GETS HOTTER, IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER TO STAY HYDRATED AND FUEL UP. AFTER RUNNING IN WARM CONDITIONS, YOUR BODY TEMPERATURE CAN GET VERY HIGH, LEADING YOUR BODY TO NOT BE ABLE TO DIGEST FOOD AS WELL SINCE IT IS WORKING SO HARD TO COOL YOU DOWN. THAT IS WHY DRINKING A COOL SMOOTHIE CAN BE GREAT AFTER A RUN IN THE SUN!
Both are packed with lots of nutrients, protein and healthy fats for muscle building, carbohydrates for quick energy, electrolytes for hydration, inflammation fighting ingredients to speed muscle recovery, and other ingredients that will cool that core temperature down faster than you can run a mile!
WITH CAILIN KINAS
MIGHTY STRAW-BRRR-Y MILK
CHIA NUT SMOOTHIE
• 2/3 cup milk (regular, almond, or oat milk can all be used)
• 1/2 teaspoon coconut oil • 1/4 teaspoon beet root powder
•1 banana
• 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper (add only if using turmeric)
• 3/4 teaspoon acai powder or beet powder
• 1/4 cup coconut water • 1 ¼ cup strawberries (fresh, frozen, or a mix of both) • 1 teaspoon raw honey • 1 teaspoon nutritional yeast
• 1/3 cup blueberries
• 1/2 teaspoon turmeric (optional) • 1/4 cup (packed) spinach • 1 tablespoon chia seeds
•2-4 ice cubes (optional) • 1/2 tablespoon cacao powder • 1 tablespoon walnuts
HOW TO MAKE THIS COOL DRINKS •In a high speed blender, combine all of the ingredients. If you want an extra cold drink, add your desired amount of ice cubes to the blender cup as well.
18 | JULY/AUGUST 2020
• 1 tablespoon cashews •1 tablespoon shelled sunflower s eeds • 1 teaspoon sesame seeds • 2 dates • 1 cup coconut water • 2-4 ice cubes (optional)
•Blend on high speed for about 30-60 seconds or until smooth. •Serve right away or store in a covered cup in the refrigerator until ready to drink.
DR. FEDORENKO
TRUE ORGANIC PRODUCTS REVIEW BY CAILIN KINAS
FINDING QUALITY, NATURAL SKIN CARE PRODUCTS CAN BE A DIFFICULT TASK THAT MAY END UP VICTORIOUS OR IN A COMPLETE DISASTER. FOR ME PERSONALLY, I DESPISE THE FAKE SMELLING, CHEMICAL CLOGGED LOTIONS, SUN SCREENS, AND BUG SPRAYS THAT LEAVE YOUR SKIN OILY AND STINKY. I RECENTLY GOT THE CHANCE TO TRY DR. FEDORENKO TRUE ORGANIC SKIN CARE PRODUCTS, AND I THINK YOU WILL LOVE THEM JUST AS MUCH AS I DO!
smells slightly like oats, so keep that in mind if you dislike scented lotions or love the smell of oatmeal! One drawback I found with the sticks is that they can be harder to apply than if you were using pumps or spray nozzles. Another was that you have to use a thick coating to have the products work well, and since the containers are smaller, you could easily use them up after a few uses. You also want to make sure to store the sticks in a cooler place otherwise the contents can get a bit drippy, so it’s probably not best to store in a car or leave outside in the summer. Despite these few difficulties, I think it is definitely worth the investment and I would easily choose these products over other skin care brands!
To begin, it is worthy to note that Dr Fedorenko sells some of the best hand sanitizer I have ever smelled! It comes in an easy-to use spray bottle and has an alcohol percentage of 70%, making it very effective. Since it comes in a smaller bottle, I would definitely get at least two right away, especially if you are an avid hand sanitizer user, and since everyone around you will want some once they discover how great it smells! Dr Fedorenko True Organic Sun, Bug, and Skin sticks are a great way to protect yourself from nature’s elements. I love my Sun Stick because the sunscreen is thicker and it doesn’t have a funky smell like many other sunscreen brands do. I was able to test it out on my recent biking trip and day at the beach and it worked great! This sunscreen has an SPF of 30, so you may need to apply more often than you would while using sunscreen with a higher SPF. Wisconsin is a place that is known for its great outdoors, but along with that comes a great deal of bugs! Although I always get bit up by mosquitoes, I never put on bug spray simply because I cannot stand the smell and chemicals in most of them. But, Dr Fedorenko’s Bug Stick is a bug repellent I will gladly use since it is scented with a blend of woodsy essential oils that smells amazing. My entire family and I used it while on a trip to the northern tip of Wisconsin, and we found that as soon as we put it on the bugs instantly went away. Using the stick under your clothes also helps prevent bugs from biting through your clothing. I have found that the Skin Stick works both as a great hand and body lotion. It is very helpful when dealing with really dry skin and, best of all, it does not leave your skin feeling oil coated. Although the stick is fragrance free, I find that it YOUTHRUNNER.COM | 19
SAM GEHRKE
20 | JULY/AUGUST 2020
KEEPING UP WITH
MICAH WILLIAMS OREGON BOYS TRACK & FIELD PLAYER OF THE YEAR Even though there was no spring track and field season Micah received another award on the way to University of Oregon.
GATORADE NAMED MICAH WILLIAMS OF BENSON POLYTECHNIC HIGH SCHOOL AS ITS 2019-20 GATORADE OREGON BOYS TRACK & FIELD ATHLETE OF THE YEAR. WILLIAMS IS THE THIRD GATORADE OREGON BOYS TRACK & FIELD ATHLETE OF THE YEAR TO BE CHOSEN FROM BENSON POLYTECHNIC HIGH SCHOOL. The award, which recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the field, distinguishes Williams as Oregon’s best high school boys track & field athlete. Now a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade National Boys Track & Field Athlete of the Year, Williams joins an elite alumni association of state award-winners in 12 sports, including Lolo Jones (1997-98, Roosevelt High School, Iowa), Allyson Felix (2002-03, Los Angeles Baptist High School, Calif.), Robert Griffin III (2006-07, Copperas Cove High School, Texas), Grant Fisher (2013-14 & 201415, Grand Blanc High School, Mich.) and Candace Hill (2014-15, Rockdale County High School, Ga.). The 5-foot-9, 180-pound senior ran the 60-meter dash in 6.68 seconds this past winter, which ranked as the nation’s No. 1 clocking among prep competitors during the 2020 indoor season. The state’s returning Gatorade Boys Track and Field Athlete of the Year, Williams set state records in both the 100 and the 200 during the 2019 outdoor season.
Williams has volunteered locally on behalf of youth sports programs and Friends of Trees. “Without question, Micah is one of the most impressive young men I have ever had the privilege of working with,” said Benson Polytechnic High School coach Leon McKenzie. “His most redeeming qualities are his insatiable work ethic, dedication to the sport and his great belief in himself.” Williams has maintained a 4.0 GPA in the classroom. He has signed a National Letter of Intent to compete in track and field on scholarship at the University of Oregon.
SAM GEHRKE
YOUTHRUNNER.COM | 21
Running
For Good
BY AIDEN GARCIA
HAVE YOU AND YOUR FAMILY GONE WITHOUT FOOD? WELL, SOME PEOPLE DON’T HAVE ENOUGH TO EAT FOR THEMSELVES OR THEIR WHOLE FAMILY DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. MANY PEOPLE HAVE TO GO TO FOOD BANKS JUST TO GET BY THE WEEK. BUT I THINK WE CAN CHANGE THAT.
First of all, people are not getting enough quality and quantity of food. In some cases, they don’t get any food at all for many days. Due to this virus, many families lose their jobs and don’t have enough money to buy food. In some cases, many of these families don’t eat at all for a day because of the lack of a job. But If we can help these families, this will help their future. To help the cause, please donate to the 5Kaday4food created by a youth athlete named L’Mio Edwards from Diamond Bar, California. Other fellow runners have joined her to meet her goal such as Cisco Álvarez from Walnut, California and Maya Garcia from Valinda, California.
22 | JULY/AUGUST 2020
Her goal is to raise funds for New Earth for their acts of kindness by delivering weekly groceries to families that do not have food at all. There are a few things you can do. You can donate to the go fund me page and run a 5k (or do what you can run) for 30 days to help the cause. I invite you to go to the go fund me page and make a difference!
IT’S GREAT TO COME HOME WITH A MEDAL OR KNOW YOU HAVE JUST RAN YOUR BEST TIME EVER. IT’S EVEN BETTER WHEN YOU CAN HELP OTHERS. L’MIO STEPPED UP TO SUPPORT THIS FUNDRAISER.
AIDEN GARCIA
YOUTHRUNNER.COM | 23
WAY TO
GO
MOLLY ROBINSON MOLLY ROBINSON IS A RISING SENIOR AT SHERANDO HIGH SCHOOL IN STEPHENS CITY, VIRGINIA. SHE RUNS CROSS COUNTRY AND TRACK FOR HER SCHOOL, AND SHE HAS BIG PLANS FOR HER FUTURE AS SHE BEGINS THE COLLEGE RECRUITING PROCESS! Molly’s advice for runners who are struggling with illnesses, injuries, and other issues is, “to keep a positive mental attitude and [remember] that illnesses and injuries happen to everyone. The only thing that will get you through a time like that is mental toughness!” She also encourages everyone to surround themselves with positive teammates, coaches, and friends who will help you get through the rough patches and be there to support you when you need them. This past winter in 2019, Molly competed at the AAU Indoor Nationals in Prince George County, Maryland and earned a second place finish in the 3000m and 3rd in the 1500m! She also has been team captain for cross country the past two years and indoor track team captain this past winter. She says that being a team captain has been a wonderful experience for her since she has become more positive as she tries to be a good role model for her teammates.
Molly was first introduced to running when she was nine years old. Her gym teacher noticed her potential and entered her into a one-mile FCA race. Looking back at it now, Molly remembers how she “just thought it would be something fun to do. I did not even ask my parents if I could go until the night before!” She had so much fun that her mom signed her up for rec track in the summer! She then went on to compete through her club team, NOVA AC, from fifth through eighth grade. 24 | JULY/AUGUST 2020
Though Molly started off high school strong, qualifying for Virginia 4A State in cross country as an individual her sophomore year, she began to feel sick and weak on her runs throughout her summer going into her Junior year. It was later discovered, after she battled this fatigue for about 5-6 months, that she had Mono. Molly recalls how difficult it was to stay positive since she was not racing as well as she wanted to, but she still had a few good races that she is really proud of considering how sick she was at that time.
Although COVID-19 has cancelled the outdoor track season this spring, she hopes for a chance to show her improvement this fall in cross country. Outside of running, Molly likes to hike and go on adventures with her friends. Her last bit of advice is that, “We all have bad training days, bad races and sometimes tough seasons, but as long as you still love it then keep going because the good days, races, and seasons are totally worth it!
ZAMARI “SHAKA”PURIFOY Zamari decided to give track and field a try in 2018 and became a member of the Golden Elite Track Club in Pensacola, Florida. As with most first time athletes, Shaka learned the ups and downs of that you experience with track and field. When the 2018 season had ended, SHAKA not only had become a better athlete, but also a better son and brother. The season for 2018 ended with a 28th National rankings in the 100m and the 200m. The 2019 season brought a new vision for track, along with a very personal goal. During the offseason, it meant a new level of commitment and self-discipline. Zamari’s personal goal was to become the National Champion at the 2019 AAU Junior Olympic Games. This would be no easy task though. Going into the 2019 National Championship, he was ranked 23rd in the 400m, and 21st in the 200m. Zamari became the AAU National Champion in the 10-year-old boys 400m with a time of 59.18 and placing 8th in the 200. Zamari is also an academic scholar-athlete. Way to Go Zamari!
YOUTH RUNNER TOP DOG OF THE MONTH LONG JUMPER
200 METER CHAMPION
Hannah Pellant, 13 Manhattan, KS.
Kayla Wattell, 12 Houston, TX.
Hanna recently became a national champ in the long jump with a whopping distance of 16-03.25 at the AAU 14 & Under Indoor National Championship in Ypsilanti, Michigan in early March!
After tripping on her shoelaces in the 2018 nationals, Kayla came back a year later with a purpose and won the 200m at the 2019 AAU Nationals.
Ron-niah Wright, 14 Cobb Pal, GA. She overcame a broken wrist, learned how to manage panic, and became the 2019 13-year old 100 meter girls record holder, and she’s a top student. Great job!
GET RECOGNIZED Go to youthrunner. com Hit the SUBMIT button Fill out the athletes form. youthrunner. com/events/ athlete/submit
READ MORE ABOUT THESE ATHLETES AT YOUTHRUNNER.COM YOUTHRUNNER.COM | 25
ASK A
COACH
Coach Bob Williams
WHAT’S AFTER VIRTUAL TRACK? THESE ARE ALL EXCERPTS FROM THE MONDAY LIVE STREAM COACHING Q&A WITH COACH BOB WILLIAMS. ANYONE IS WELCOME TO COME ON AND ASK THEIR OWN PERSONAL TRAINING QUESTIONS. SO FAR THIS SPRING WE’VE HAD SESSIONS ON SPRING TRAINING THROUGH THE COVID, PREPARING FOR SUMMER RUNNING. GUEST HOSTS HAVE INCLUDED SPORTS NUTRITIONIST - DIETICIAN REBECCAA MCCONVILLE, YOUTH ATHLETE JESSICA ABBOTT, HIGH SCHOOL COACHES ROBYN MCGILLIS AND MARIE DAVIS MARKHAM. FOR SIGN UP INFO CHECK YOUTHRUNNER.COM. IT’S FREE TO JOIN IN. 26 | JULY/AUGUST 2020
rhythm to it of finding the right day? Find the day that feels the best for you. Make sure you warm-up for at least 10-12 minutes, get your strides and dynamic stretching in, get those 3x200’s at perceived 3k rhythm. That will set up the transfer of oxygen throughout your system and prepare it for competition or a hard workout or a time trial. With a minute or so between them and then you walk around a little bit for 5-10 minutes, then do your time trial.
MY VIRTUAL TRACK SEASON IS COMING TO AN END IN MID-JULY. DO I TAKE A BREAK BEFORE STARTING XC THE THIRD WEEK OF AUGUST OR CAN I JUST KEEP RUNNING? My question to you is, at the end of the virtual track season, do you want to take some time off? That’s the question you have to ask yourself. If you feel you need that break go ahead and take it. There are a lot of coaches that feel strongly about taking a week off between seasons. If it were me, I’d keep running three days a week, every other day. See how it feels. If you’re feeling tired then take some time off.
WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO IMPROVE YOUR MILE TIME? RUN SHORTER DISTANCES (200/400/800) AT A FASTER PACE THAN WHAT YOUR MILE TIME GOAL IS? OR DO MORE TEMPO TYPE RUNS AT A PACE SLOWER THAN YOUR MILE GOAL BUT FOR A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME (LIKE A 15-20 MINUTE TEMPO RUN)? I think adding some speed work is important to do one on a year ‘round basis. So you can do perceived speed work where you think you’re doing some 200’s at what you think you might be able to run an 800 meter at. Then you can do some 150’s at 400m speed at what you think the rhythm of a 400m speed should be, make sure you get full recovery Then do 100-meter accelerations at 200m speed or what you think you may be able to run.
WE HAVE BEEN DOING VIRTUAL TRACK SINCE THE BEGINNING OF MAY AND IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS WE HAVE STARTED DOING SOME TIME TRIALS (100 UP TO 1600). I AM 10-YEARS OLD. HOW OFTEN SHOULD WE DO A TIME TRIAL AND IS THERE A PARTICULAR ORDER. SAY, 1600 THE FIRST WEEK THEN 400 & 200?
It’s best to experiment with a variety of distances, but I would talk with your parents or your coach and come up with a plan where you do a time trial once a week. First Friday you do a mile, second Friday you do a 200, third week you do a 400, last one you do an 800. Mix it up, have fun with it. There’s no particular order but you just don’t want to do more than one time trial on the same day. So, is there a
You don’t have to time them necessarily it’s all about practicing rhythms that would feel right to you. Doing that once a week would probably be a good idea. As far as tempo runs as long as you’re running 15-20 minutes at a rhythm that’s a little bit slower than your 5k cross-country speed, that’s probably the best, and you take a couple of minutes between them that will really help you a lot and then again you have roll-on recoveries if you want to do that.
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COMING UP! FOR UPDATES ON CANCELATIONS CHECK YOUTHRUNNER.COM.
OUTDOOR TRACK AND FIELD
SMOTHERMAN IMAGES
Cancelations
JULY 9-11 JULY
AUGUST
10-12
4-8
AAU WEST COAST JUNIOR OLYMPIC GAMES LAS VEGAS, NV. Info at aautrackandfield.org Registration at CoachO.com
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AAU JUNIOR OLYMPIC GAMES MOVED TO SATELLITE BEACH, FLORIDA Details at aautrackandfield.org
AAU PRIMARY NATIONALS
JULY 10-12
AAU CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS
JULY 16-19
NEW BALANCE NATIONALS OUTDOOR
VIRTUAL MEETS AND CHALLENGES
“VIRTUAL CAMP” Find more virtual meets on the AthleticAPP
JULY
10-30
USATF VIRTUAL SUMMER CHALLENGE You don’t have to be a USATF member to participate in the Summer Challenge. Go to athletic.net to signup.
THERE ARE VIRTUAL RACES POPPING UP “VIRTUALLY” EVERYWHERE. CHECK OUT THE ATHLETIC APP FOR A LIST OF THEIR MEETS OR TO CREATE YOUR OWN VIRTUAL MEETS. OTHER SITES TO SEARCH FOR VIRTUAL EVENTS IN YOUR AREA: ACTIVE.COM ATHLETIC.NET RUNNINGUSA.ORG
YOUTH RUNNER WILL BE POSTING SOME “VIRTUAL CHALLENGES” SO KEEP A WATCH.
FOR MORE TRACK & FIELD, 5K RUNS, TRIATHLONS AND XC EVENTS COME ON OVER TO YOUTHRUNNER.COM AND DISCOVER THE ONE THAT’S RIGHT FOR YOU.
UNABLE TO TRAVEL OR MAKE IT OUT FOR THE SCHEDULED OVERNIGHT CAMP AUGUST 3-7TH? NO PROBLEM, WE’RE HOSTING A “VIRTUAL CAMP” AT THE SAME TIME. NOT JUST ANOTHER ZOOM MEETING. Includes a coaching consultation right after you sign up, camp workbook, challenges, swag, join in on the coaching talks and athlete sessions. Fun! GO TO WWW.YOUTHRUNNERCAMP.COM FOR THE DETAILS YOUTHRUNNER.COM | 29
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