RECAP: BNAA Track and Field National Championships
06/13/2019
AAU Track and Field competed for the first time in Devonshire, Bermuda the weekend of June 7-8. AAU members dominated the competition claiming titles in 16 of the 20 events they participated in.
Dates: June 7 – June 8
Location: Devonshire, Bermuda
Results
Devonshire, Bermuda – For the first time ever, Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Track and Field traveled across the country to participate in the Bermuda National Athletic Association (BNAA) Track and Field National Championships. The event lasted two days, Friday June 7 – Saturday, June 8.
National Chairman for AAU Track and Field, Charles Oliver, partnered with Hazel Clark, Director of Sports and Business Development for the Bermuda Tourism Association (BTA) and Dr. Freddie Evans from the Department of Youth, Sports and Recreation to pull off an athletically challenging competition for the athletes, as well as educational of the history and culture of Bermuda.
“We are happy to host such a prestigious youth sports organization in Bermuda,” said Clark. “The AAU track and field meet gives us an opportunity to showcase Bermuda’s sports hosting capabilities while providing competitive opportunities and culturally enriching experiences to all participants. We look forward to a continued partnership with the AAU as well as the development of this event.”
Coach O and several other coaches selected an all-star team of 18 athletes that participated in either the AAU Club Championships or AAU Junior Olympic Games to be a part of an elite group to travel to Bermuda. Upon arrival on Wednesday, June 5, the young athletes were welcomed them and their families in a reception by local athletes and the people of Bermuda. “I was really excited about that because we try to promote a family atmosphere,” said Coach O.
Friday and Saturday were dominated by competition rounds at the track, where the AAU Track and Field members shined bright winning 16 out of the 20 events they participated in. In several of the running events, Team AAU even stacked the podium, including going 1-2 in Girls 400m U17 with Jaellene Burgess and Christal Facey, 1-2 in Girls 800m U13 with Kennedy Hill and Damaria Green, and 1-3 in Girls 200m with Christin Facey and Brittney Jennings.
Christin Facey, the 12U 400m AAU National Champion, also took home the gold in the 13U Girls 400m with a time of 1:02.58. Other sprint gold medals were for Skylar Franklin in the Girls 13U 100m, James Rogers in the Boys U17 100m and Jaren Hamilton in the Boys 17U 400m.
The boys relay team also took first in the 17U 4x100 relay team, consisting of Peter Balldie, James Rogers, Shamar Morgan and Jaren Hamilton and clocked a 45.09. The girls 4x800 relay team took the gold with No. 1 Florida High School 800m runner, Samantha Kavanagh in the lead leg. She was followed by Kennedy Hill, Cha’iel Johnson and Damaria Green.
In the distance events, Johnson also won her individual gold medal for the 17U 800m with a time of 2:23.28. Rheinhardt Harrison finished first in the boys 17U 1500m, while teammate Elijah Price won the same event in the 20U division.
The field events were dominated by Akari Isaac in Girls 17u shot put and discus. She catapulted the shot to first place throw of 11.30m (37-1.00) and tossed a winning 35.33m (115.11) in discus. Cyrus Way also snuck away with a gold in the Boys high jump height of 1.85m (6-00.75).
“All in all, it was an awesome opportunity for us in terms of athletics and academics,” Coach O said. “We felt that our kids were able to go down and see the culture of another country, as well as the historical aspect that this was the first time we have done anything like this. We competed exceptionally well. Very well done by everyone.”
Up next for AAU Track and Field is 2019 AAU Club Championships on July 7-13 in Orlando, Florida at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. The meet is one of several qualifying events for the 2019 AAU Junior Olympic Games on July 24 through August 3 in Greensboro, North Carolina. Click here for more information on the AAU Junior Olympic Games.
All media interested in covering any future events should contact Keri Burns, AAU Marketing Communications Coordinator at kburns@aausports.org.
Location: Devonshire, Bermuda
Results
Devonshire, Bermuda – For the first time ever, Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Track and Field traveled across the country to participate in the Bermuda National Athletic Association (BNAA) Track and Field National Championships. The event lasted two days, Friday June 7 – Saturday, June 8.
National Chairman for AAU Track and Field, Charles Oliver, partnered with Hazel Clark, Director of Sports and Business Development for the Bermuda Tourism Association (BTA) and Dr. Freddie Evans from the Department of Youth, Sports and Recreation to pull off an athletically challenging competition for the athletes, as well as educational of the history and culture of Bermuda.
“We are happy to host such a prestigious youth sports organization in Bermuda,” said Clark. “The AAU track and field meet gives us an opportunity to showcase Bermuda’s sports hosting capabilities while providing competitive opportunities and culturally enriching experiences to all participants. We look forward to a continued partnership with the AAU as well as the development of this event.”
Coach O and several other coaches selected an all-star team of 18 athletes that participated in either the AAU Club Championships or AAU Junior Olympic Games to be a part of an elite group to travel to Bermuda. Upon arrival on Wednesday, June 5, the young athletes were welcomed them and their families in a reception by local athletes and the people of Bermuda. “I was really excited about that because we try to promote a family atmosphere,” said Coach O.
Friday and Saturday were dominated by competition rounds at the track, where the AAU Track and Field members shined bright winning 16 out of the 20 events they participated in. In several of the running events, Team AAU even stacked the podium, including going 1-2 in Girls 400m U17 with Jaellene Burgess and Christal Facey, 1-2 in Girls 800m U13 with Kennedy Hill and Damaria Green, and 1-3 in Girls 200m with Christin Facey and Brittney Jennings.
Christin Facey, the 12U 400m AAU National Champion, also took home the gold in the 13U Girls 400m with a time of 1:02.58. Other sprint gold medals were for Skylar Franklin in the Girls 13U 100m, James Rogers in the Boys U17 100m and Jaren Hamilton in the Boys 17U 400m.
The boys relay team also took first in the 17U 4x100 relay team, consisting of Peter Balldie, James Rogers, Shamar Morgan and Jaren Hamilton and clocked a 45.09. The girls 4x800 relay team took the gold with No. 1 Florida High School 800m runner, Samantha Kavanagh in the lead leg. She was followed by Kennedy Hill, Cha’iel Johnson and Damaria Green.
In the distance events, Johnson also won her individual gold medal for the 17U 800m with a time of 2:23.28. Rheinhardt Harrison finished first in the boys 17U 1500m, while teammate Elijah Price won the same event in the 20U division.
The field events were dominated by Akari Isaac in Girls 17u shot put and discus. She catapulted the shot to first place throw of 11.30m (37-1.00) and tossed a winning 35.33m (115.11) in discus. Cyrus Way also snuck away with a gold in the Boys high jump height of 1.85m (6-00.75).
“All in all, it was an awesome opportunity for us in terms of athletics and academics,” Coach O said. “We felt that our kids were able to go down and see the culture of another country, as well as the historical aspect that this was the first time we have done anything like this. We competed exceptionally well. Very well done by everyone.”
Up next for AAU Track and Field is 2019 AAU Club Championships on July 7-13 in Orlando, Florida at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. The meet is one of several qualifying events for the 2019 AAU Junior Olympic Games on July 24 through August 3 in Greensboro, North Carolina. Click here for more information on the AAU Junior Olympic Games.
All media interested in covering any future events should contact Keri Burns, AAU Marketing Communications Coordinator at kburns@aausports.org.
Email
Print
