News

Elgin Sharks send 19 to championship

Posted August 16, 2008 11:00 pm

The 2008 AAU Track and Field National Championship was held in Ypsilanti, Mich. on July 26 to Aug. 2. The Elgin Sharks took 19 athletes. More than 9,700 athletes participated in this years meeting making it the largest track and field meet held this year.

The following are results for the local athletes.

• 3,000-meter race walk (17- to 18-year-old): Mercedes Mancha, third place, 17:00.70.

• 800-meter run Primary (8 and under): Sophia Oury, 14th place, 2:59.22.

• 800-meter run SubBantam (9 years old): Laureen Toussaint, 12th place, 2:51.80; Jasmine Acuna, 23rd place, 2:56.61; and Jake Oury, 18th place, 2:42.17.

• 800-meter run Bantam (10 years old): Yesenia Gonzalez, 20th place, 2:45.95; Margaret Himmel, 50th place, 3:03.86; and Cezar Alfaro, 31st place, 2:40.19.

• 800-meter run Midget Girls (12 years old): Jessica Puquirre, 20th place, 2:34.97.

• 800-meter run Intermediate (15 and 16 years old): Josafat Gonzalez, 37th place, 2:08.

• 1,500-meter run SubBantam (9 years old): Laureen Toussaint, sixth place, 5:51.15; Jasmine Acuna, 11th place, 5:59.13; and Jake Oury, fifth place, 5:21.14.

• 1,500-meter run Bantam (10 years old): Yesenia Gonzalez, 14th place, 5:34.79; Margaret Himmel, 30th place, 5:52.91; and Cezar Alfaro, ninth place, 5:19.38.

• 1,500-meter run SubMidget (11 years old): Alondra Hinojosa, second place, 5:09.41; and Max Oury, 27th place, 5:20.74.

• 1,500-meter run Midget (12 years old): Sami Staples, 13th place, 5:13.56.

• 1,500-meter run SubYouth (13 years old): Katie Adams, eighth place, 5:03.02.

• 3,000-meter run SubMidget (11 years old): Max Oury, eighth place, 10:58.33

• 3,000-meter run Midget (12 years old): Sami Staples, third place, 10:56.46

• 3,000-meter run SubYouth (13 years old): Brooke Wolfe, first place, 10:33.16; and Katie Adams, second place, 10:34.11.

• 3,000-meter run Youth (14 years old): Vicky Garcia, 19th place, 11:59.14.

• 3,000-meter run Intermediate (15 and 16 yrs old): Ricardo Mancha, 12th place, 9:36.80; and Francisco Gonzalez, 23rd place, 9:51.15.

• 4 x 800-meter relay Intermediate (15 and 16 years old): 13th place, 8:47.44 (Josafat Gonzalez. Jose Duarte, Ricardo Mancha and Francisco Gonzalez)

The week before the national championship, four athletes from the Sharks also participated in the USATF Track and Field Championship in Omaha, Neb. Following are the results:

• 1,500-meter race walk Midget (11 and 12 years old): Emilio Mancha, second place, 8:14.92.

• 3,000-meter race walk Intermediate (15 and 16 years old): Amani Salinas, sixth place, 17:41.43.

• 3,000-meter race walk Young (17 and 18 years old): Mercedes Mancha, first place, 16:33.65.

• 1,500-meter run Youth (13 and 14 years old): Katie Adams, third place, 4:44.

• 3,000-meter run Youth (13 and 14 years old): Katie Adams, second place, 10:17.42.

Thanks to the Elgin Parks and Recreation Department, Elgin Area School District U-46 and the people of Elgin for their support to the Sharks program with their support it made it possible for the team to get to the national competition and bring home two gold medals; four silver medals; two bronze medals and four copper medals.

The Sharks have just started their cross country season. If anyone is interested in joining the Sharks, call Bob Pleticha, head coach, at (847) 741-5849.