AMHERST, N.Y. – Team USA members Michael Grant and Courtney Champion of the New Horizon Track Club (Georgia) showed their dominance in the sprints in a tune up for next week’s IAAF World Youth Athletics Championships to conclude the USA Track & Field Youth Athletics National Championships. Grant and Champion were named Verizon Athletes of the meet after their performances.

The 2001 World Youth silver medalist in the 200, Grant added the young men’s 100m (10.63) and the 4x100m relay (40.82) crowns to his young men’s 200m (21.50) title he won yesterday. “I felt really good on my start. After I was in front, I wanted to stay relaxed and ahead of the pack the rest of the way,” said Grant.

Champion also added the 100m (11.80) and 4x100m relay (44.79) to her 200m (23.73) title. Champion ran the second leg for New Horizon, helping her club set a new young women’s relay record. “We wanted to break the record, that is what we were here for from the beginning. I gave it my all as I tried to catch all the outside lanes, but wasn’t able to catch that one team,” said Champion. “I wanted to get out fast in the 100m because I was racing against old rivals.” The 17-year-old won the 200m yesterday and was happy to finish strong. “I always break down the last 30 meters and I just wanted to follow through.” The senior at Collins High School won the 2003 Georgia State 100, 200m and 4x100m relay championships and will represent Team USA in Sherbrooke.

The day had another national record when the West Valley Eagles won the young women's 4X400m relay in 3:38.83 bettering the United Stars relay record of 3:39.49 set July 29, 2001 in Sacramento, Calif.

Natasha Hastings ran a 53.98 to win the young women’s 400m. “I am not all satisfied because I wanted to get in the 52s. I had difficulty breathing during the race, but I started strong coming off the turn,” said Hastings. The 16-year-old from Queens, N.Y. will represent Team USA next week in Sherbrooke.

Cedric Goodman set a personal best in winning the young men’s 400m in 46.81 seconds. “I needed someone in front to run off of. I had to catch up at the end because my teammate Reggie (Witherspoon) came off quick and passed me on the 300m turn, but I got him in the end,” said Goodman.

Ebony Collins won the youth girls 400m in 54.43. “I slowed down and floated on the backstretch and let everyone pass by because my shoes were about to fall off. My strength is at the 200m mark and that is where I make my strongest move in taking the lead,” said Collins. The 14-year-old Los Angeles native is in the 9th grade.

The 2003 Georgia State 100m intermediate boys champion, Eddie Rush won his division in the 100m in 10.99. “I felt good running the 100m at this meet. I was happy to maintain my composure and finish strong,” said Rush.

The 2003 Texas State 5A 110m hurdles champion Jason Richardson won the 110m and 400m hurdles young men championships in 13.89 and 50.72 seconds respectively. “I got off to an amazing start in the 110 hurdles with my biggest challenge going up against a (-3.7) headwind,” said Richardson. The 17-year-old’s strategy in the 400m hurdles was to get a fast leg snap over the hurdles while associating his time with his competition from the start. “I paced off of Aries (Merritt – 3rd place) the first 200m who got off to a really fast start. I could see that he was ahead and made my move on the last curve to run as fast as I could.” The Cedar Hill, Texas native will also represent the USA next week in Sherbrooke. “I’m extremely excited to compete in my first international meet. I am looking forward to compete because I know most of the team already. We are going to have fun,” Richardson continued.

University of South Carolina-bound Ronetta Alexander won the young women’s 100m hurdles in 13.60 seconds. “I knew it was going to be tough, but wanted to run my own race not worrying about anyone catching or passing me while staying aggressive and keeping my composure,” said Alexander. The New York state indoor 60m hurdles record holder at 8.33 seconds is the 2003 New York State 55m and 100m hurdles champion.

Brandi Cross of Houston won the intermediate girls 400m in 54.49 seconds. “I was doing a little experimenting by breaking a stagger, but waited until I got to the 200m mark when I normally stagger around the 150 meters. I wanted to run a 52 or 53, but I have been doing well consistently running a 54,” said Cross. The 15-year-old will be one of the youngest members on Team USA competing next week in Sherbrooke. “I am so excited to be on the team and compete with older people that I can learn from. I think it will be a fun experience to compete internationally for the first time,” Cross continued.

Two-time Illinois state 100m champion Alexandria Anderson won the intermediate girls 100m title in 12.10 seconds. “My start out of the blocks was not that good, but I picked up speed to finish strong because I am a closer. I focus on running my own race because paying attention to others would get me off rhythm,” said Anderson. The 16-year-old Chicago native will represent Team USA next week in Sherbrooke.

The 2003 Oregon state 1,500m and 3,000m champion Galen Rupp won the young men’s division in the metric mile at 3:53.57. “I wanted to stay back with one lap to go before making my move to take the lead,” said Rupp. “I’m happy with today’s result and this gives me great confidence going into the World Youth Championships next week,” Rupp continued.

Blake Eaton added the youth boys discus throw title to his shot put championship he won yesterday. The Alleghany, N.Y. native threw 44.18m/144-11. “I had an overall good performance. At first, my throws were going straight forward instead of steadily lifting upwards,” said Eaton. “I am excited to be a double winner and I have a personal record in the shot put at 52-4.75. John Godina and Michael Carter are my favorite athletes and I really like to use the glide technique (starting from the back of the circle and throwing from the power position) that Carter used to win his titles in the shot put.” The 14-year-old’s goal coming into the championship is to gain the top seed in the shot put and discus throw for the 2005 World Youth Athletics Championships. “My next goal is to finish in the top three at 2003 Junior Olympics,” Eaton continued.

Lazaris Evans leaped 14.70m/48-2.75 to win the young men’s triple jump. The 18-year-old won the 2003 Georgia State triple jump championships. “My performance was alright, but I wasn’t at my best this morning. I need work on my second phase, my landing and my speed down the runway,” said Evans.

The 2003 Pennsylvania State indoor and outdoor pole vault champion, Andrew Rademacher won the young men’s division with a clearance of 4.90m/16-0.75. The 17-year-old had to alternate his release due to the windy conditions. “I had to push the pole away from the bar because the tailwind was pushing the pole back in to the bar. I felt good after I cleared 15-7 and knew that I had a better chance to win,” said Rademacher.

For more information on the 2003 USA Track & Field Youth Athletics National Championships and the Verizon Youth Series, including complete results from this year’s event, visit the USATF website at www.usatf.org.