COACH MICK'S KIDS WIN 4x800m Old records "thrown out" at Junior Olympics From usatf.org FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 27, 2002 Photos courtesy of Giles Norton OMAHA- National record-setting performances in the throwing events were a common theme Saturday at the Junior Olympics. World Youth silver medalist (2001) Michelle Carter broke the young womenıs national record in the shot put. Carter threw 51 feet, 1.75 inches, breaking the previous record by sixteen inches and beating the competition by over six feet. "It was my goal to get the record," Carter said. "I always try to enjoy myself and have fun." Jenny Svoboda of Howells, Neb. broke the youth girlsı Junior Olympic shot put record with a launch of 15.86/52-0.5. Svoboda won the Junior Olympic competition by over six feet and missed the youth girls' national record by only 0.75 inches. Christopher Woods of Covington, Ga. broke the intermediate boys' 800m national record with a time of 1:52.78. Woods battled Michael Haddan of Irvine, Calif. the entire way, fighting off Haddan on the home stretch and dashing his hopes of a 1500m/800m double win. Haddan, who finished in 1:52.90, will run the 1500m Sunday. Last year's intermediate 4x800m champions moved up to the young men's division this year, yet still placed first. The Lynx Elite Athletics team of Michael Grant, Russell Brown, William Seidel and Harry Norton won with a time of 7:49.82. After winning the discus on Friday, Abby Emsick of Council Bluffs, Iowa returned to competition Saturday, winning the young women's javelin throw with a toss of 39.47m/129-6. "At first I wasnıt throwing well," Emsick said. "I thought first place was out of my reach. But my last throw was my PR. It's nice to finish at home," Emsick said about her last competition as a Junior Olympian, across the Missouri River from her hometown. Emsick also placed third in the shot put Saturday. High School 400mH record holder Kenneth Ferguson of Detroit, Mich. ran 13.76 in the young men's 110m hurdles preliminaries. Ferguson's time from the fourth heat was the fastest qualifying time, barely topping 2002 Youth Athletics 400m hurdles and 110m hurdles champion Kerron Clement's 13.77 in the first heat. Ferguson and Clement will face off in the 110mH and 400mH finals on Sunday. Six teams clocked times under 41 seconds in the young men's 4x100m trials, paving the way for a potentially record-breaking final on Sunday. Track Houston TC led the qualifiers in 40.06. The national record currently stands at 39.73. For full results and live webcast of the Junior Olympics, go to the USA Track & Field website at www.usatf.org. Editor's Note: Congratulations to all the kids and coaches who participated in the Junior Olympics this year. Michael Grant is coach Mick's son. Mick coaches The Lynx Elite Athletics winning 4x800m team. Feel free to email the kid's editor at carol.kids@rodale.com with comments on this column.