Texas Stallions advance to nationals

Spring, TX, July 14, 2009. – Junior Olympic spots were up for grabs as the top athletes from the Gulf Coast Region competed July 10 and 11 in the Area 13 Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Junior Olympics (JO) National Qualifier at Klein Memorial Stadium. Athletes age 5 – 18 competed in various track and field events, with the top six in each event and age group earning awards and the top four advancing to the Junior Olympics.

Fourteen athletes represented the Texas Stallions this weekend, with eight qualifying for the Junior Olympics. Spring residents Jonathan Carnes, Ahmad Cummings, Harrison Moore, Christopher Ward, Kaylan Harris, Freddie Moore, Alexander Brooks, Christopher Collins, Jarius Chevalier, Lamont Grow, Lavoxkeia Carnes, LaMika LaFrance, Brittany Collins, and LaKayla LaFrance represented the Stallions well in the National Qualifier.

Lavoxkeia Carnes earned one gold and two silver medals in all of her events. She is the regional champion in the primary girls 400m dash and silver medalist in the Long Jump and 100m Dash. Her jump of 11’4.25” broke the regional record with a margin of only .25” separating her from the gold medal. Showing dominance in the Primary Boy division is Harrison Moore. Harrison took the gold medal and is the regional champion in two of his three events, the Long Jump and 100m Dash.

Also advancing to the Junior Olympics are midget boy, Freddie Moore in both of his events placing 4th in the discus throw and the shot put; Sub-youth girl Brittany Collins is the silver medalist in the 800m run; Youth girl LaKayla LaFrance with a silver and bronze medalist in the 200m Hurdles and 100m Hurdles, respectively; Youth boy Alexander Brooks with a 4th place finish in the 800m run; and Intermediate boys Christopher Collins is the bronze medalist in the 2000m Steeplechase and Lamont Grow is the bronze medalist in the long jump.

Finishing in the top six is LaMika LaFrance with a 5th place finish in the midget girls 400m Dash, in what proved to be one of the closest races of the championship, with only a fraction of a second separating each of the top six places in the midget girls 400m. Also, Zhanna Brooks who previously advanced in June’s multi-event qualifier.

“I am so proud of our athlete’s” said Head Coach Paul Durisseau, “their hard work and dedication has truly paid off”.

The Texas Stallions Junior Olympians will be traveling to Des Moines, IA to compete in the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Junior Olympics, July 27 - August 8, 2009.