Early in the track season Miami Jackson star Robin Reynolds traveled to Texas to compete at the U.S. Area Youth Olympic Selection Trials. Perhaps I'm living under a rock but I had no idea what that meant and didn't hear anyone else making noise about it either. Apparently it means she's traveling to Singapore to represent Team USA next month in the Inaugural teen-aged version of the Olympics!
Though it has not received an exceptional amount of attention, the IOC (International Olympic Committee) voted in 2007 to create an Olympic Games for 14-18 year olds. The Games occur every four years like the adult games with both summer and winter versions, opposite two-year intervals from the Olympic Games themselves.
Based on Robin's 53.48 win at the Trials in April, held at the University of Texas at Arlington, she will be representing the USA in the 400 meter dash. The Games will take place between August 16th and August 21 at Bishan Stadium in Singapore. The Games will be broadcast online and on television on Universal Sports.
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Release from USATF
INDIANAPOLIS - Twenty of America's finest young athletes will represent Team USA at the inaugural Youth Olympic Games, USA Track & Field announced on Tuesday. The multi-sport event will take place on August 14-26 in Singapore, with track and field events held August 17-23. The Youth Olympic Games are a sporting event for young people ages 16 and 17, balancing sport, education and culture. These Games work as a catalyst to promote these three themes throughout the Olympic Movement. Team USA will compete as part of the Americas Team which includes North America, South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. 3,600 young athletes from 205 nations are expected to compete. Team USA Youth Olympic Games Roster Boys 200m - Brandon Sanders (Columbia, S.C.) 400m - Najee Glass (Woodbridge, N.J.) 10,000m RW - Tyler Sorensen (Lafayette, Calif.) 400m hurdles - Gregory Coleman (San Antonio, Texas) 2,000m steeplechase - Daniel Wong (Tucson, Ariz.) High Jump - Gunnar Nixon (Edmond, Okla.) Pole Vault - Reese Watson (Spring, Texas) Javelin - Devin Bogert (Tomball, Texas) Girls 100m - Myasia Jacobs (Paterson, N.J.) 200m - Olivia Ekpone (Germantown, Md.) 400m - Robin Reynolds (Miami, Fla.) 1,000m - Claudia Francis (Laurelton, N.Y.) 100m hurdles - Trinity Wilson (Oakland, Calif.) 400m hurdles - Amber Bryant-Brock (Powder Springs, Ga.) Pole Vault - Hadley Reed Hancock (Leesburg, Ga.) Long Jump - Le'Tristan Pledger (Kansas City, Kan.) Shot Put - Sarah Howard (Dublin, Ga.) Discus Throw - Sarah Tolson (Pawhuska, Okla.) Hammer Throw - Shelby Ashe (Stone Mountain, Ga.) Javelin Throw - Hannah Carson (Mesa, Ariz.)
