Talk in the preseason was that the Track Houston Sub Bantam Girls division would be okay this year. Well that was quite an understatement. These girls ages 6-8 dominated their age division at the local, state and national level where they won many gold medals and set several new records.
The Sub Bantam Girls head coach Kenya Artis said that her girls and coaching staff worked very hard this year and set their goals to make their first ever appearance in the National Junior Olympics. Starting this year, USATF included the Sub Bantam division (ages 6-8) in their national track meet.
Their road to the Junior Olympics kicked off at the USATF Gulf Association Championships where the girls placed 1st in 6 out of 7 running events which included the 100M, 200M, 400M, 1500M, 4x100M and 4x400M. The SBG set a new record in the 4×400 meter relay and another one was set by Zorah Fontenot in the 1500 meter run in a time of 6:14.32.
In the USATF Region 12 contest (Texas state meet), Dynasty McClennon won the 100M with Daja Maxeyplacing 2nd. Dynasty also broke the 200M record with a time of 30.45. The previous record stood for 7 years. The Track Houston SBG winning streak continued as Jalen Elrod and Maryah Hampton placed 1st and 2nd in the 400 meter race. In the 1500 meters run Zorah Fontenot show her poise and stamina as she easily won her distance race and set a new Region 12 record with a time of 6:14.72. The relay races completed the Sub Bantam Girls roll through the regional finals with a win in the 4×100 meter relay and a win and a new record in the 4×400 meter
The Sub Bantam Girls head coach Kenya Artis said that her girls and coaching staff worked very hard this year and set their goals to make their first ever appearance in the National Junior Olympics. Starting this year, USATF included the Sub Bantam division (ages 6-8) in their national track meet.
Their road to the Junior Olympics kicked off at the USATF Gulf Association Championships where the girls placed 1st in 6 out of 7 running events which included the 100M, 200M, 400M, 1500M, 4x100M and 4x400M. The SBG set a new record in the 4×400 meter relay and another one was set by Zorah Fontenot in the 1500 meter run in a time of 6:14.32.
In the USATF Region 12 contest (Texas state meet), Dynasty McClennon won the 100M with Daja Maxeyplacing 2nd. Dynasty also broke the 200M record with a time of 30.45. The previous record stood for 7 years. The Track Houston SBG winning streak continued as Jalen Elrod and Maryah Hampton placed 1st and 2nd in the 400 meter race. In the 1500 meters run Zorah Fontenot show her poise and stamina as she easily won her distance race and set a new Region 12 record with a time of 6:14.72. The relay races completed the Sub Bantam Girls roll through the regional finals with a win in the 4×100 meter relay and a win and a new record in the 4×400 meter
Their road to Kansas wasn’t paved with yellow bricks but with blue ribbons that would lead the Sub Bantam Girls to Wichita, KS where they could compete among the nations best at the USATF National Junior Olympics. The first national medal for the Sub Bantam Girls came when Dynasty McClennon was in a battle to the finish line with another athlete in the 200M race but after a few seconds “1 McClennon” displayed on the timing system board for a first place finish. In the 400M race it appeared that Jalen Elrod was out of the race running in 4th place but with 100 meters to go she shifted into another gear to pull off a spectacular win. The 4×100 meter relay team of Jalen Elrod, Daja Maxey, Maryah Hampton and Adaora Nwokeji won gold in a time of 1:01.01. The girls had two 4×400 meter relay teams to medal in the final. The team of Jalen Elrod, Daja Maxey, Maryah Hampton and Dynasty McClennon ran away from the field to win gold and their second team of Zorah Fontenot, Adaora Nwokeji, Karlee Singletary and Kaylan Johnson earned the 4th place medal. The other medal finalist are Dynasty McClennon; silver in the 100M, Daja Maxey; 4th place medal in the 100M and Zorah Fontenot; 4th placed in the 1500M run.
This year the SBG coaches decided to enter the girls in the AAU National Junior Oympic Games. In this venue the girls 4×100 meter relay team of Daja Maxey, Maryah Hampton, Adaora Nwokeji and Dynasty McClennon broke the national record in the prelims with a time of 1:01.27. That same team in the finals won gold and broke their own record set the day before in a blazing time of 59.96.
Coach Kenya Artis, Candy McClennon, Martrice Wafer and Keith Wright did a great job training and encouraging these young ladies. Appreciation goes to the parents, because without their strong support many of these accomplishments would not be possible.
This year the SBG coaches decided to enter the girls in the AAU National Junior Oympic Games. In this venue the girls 4×100 meter relay team of Daja Maxey, Maryah Hampton, Adaora Nwokeji and Dynasty McClennon broke the national record in the prelims with a time of 1:01.27. That same team in the finals won gold and broke their own record set the day before in a blazing time of 59.96.
Coach Kenya Artis, Candy McClennon, Martrice Wafer and Keith Wright did a great job training and encouraging these young ladies. Appreciation goes to the parents, because without their strong support many of these accomplishments would not be possible.
RSS Feed
