U.S. Track and Field Junior National Team Excels at 2005 International Blind Sports Association World Youth Championships
by Ryan Lucas / Jessica Reyes - U.S. Association of Blind Athletes (719-630-0422)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 08/07/05
CONTACT: Jessica Delos Reyes or Ryan Lucas (719) 630-0422
COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. – The United States Association of Blind Athletes is pleased to announce the United States medal-winning track and field athletes at the 2005 World Youth Championships. The United States Junior National team won six medals, including the gold medal in the 400-meter team relays.
Spain took the lead early in the team relay, maintaining it until late in the race. The Spanish team’s final battalion transfer went awry, allowing the United States to take the lead and win the gold medal in the 400-meter team relay.
Markeith Price easily won gold medals in the boys’ 600-meter dash and the long jump. Kyleigh Altenburg likewise won two medals for the U.S., the first a gold in the girls’ discus, where teammate Andrea Gephardt took silver, and the second a bronze in the long jump. Tony Selvaggio also won gold for his effort in the boys’ shot put.
The track and field competition took place this weekend at Wasson High School’s Garry Barry Stadium. The competition included events in the long jump, shot put, javelin, high jump, numerous relays (60-, 300, 600, 100, 400, 800 and 1500-meter dash) and team relays (100- and 400-meter dash).
The 2005 World Youth Championships include competition in four sports for blind and visually-impaired athletes, ages 13-19. These sports include track and field, swimming, judo and goalball; a team sport for blind and visually impaired athletes in which two teams roll a ball with bells inside across a court to score goals.
Athletes from 26 countries spanning five continents competed in the 2005 World Youth Championships.
The 2005 U.S. Junior National track and field team features athletes from all over the country, including Trisha Chase (Murray, Utah), Kristen Millerov (Caro, Mich.), Wilkens Eugene (Macon, Ga.), Terry Garett (Fort Lupton, Colo.), Tony Selvaggio (St. Louis, Mo.), Joma Leonard (Union City, Ga.), Ron Hawthorne (Kansas City, Kan.), Juanita Lillie (Coopersville, Mich.), Andrea Gebhart (Jenison, Mich.), Kyleigh Altenburg (Cove, Ore.), Markeith Price (Baltimore, Md.), Joseph Gray, Victoria Guin (Colorado Springs, Colo.) and Jordan Walters (Colorado Springs, Colo.) and Cory Bigby.
Jim Vargo (Jeffersonville, Ind.) will coach the 2005 junior national track and field team. Vargo will be assisted by Tim Cobb (Imperial, Mo.) and Derrick Thigpen (Atlanta, Ga.).
For more information, please contact Ryan Lucas or Jessica Delos Reyes at (719) 630-0422 or pressofficer@usaba.org .
The United States Association of Blind Athletes, a member organization of the U.S. Olympic Committee, is a non-profit organization that provides training for blind and visually impaired athletes for competition in nine sports. USABA members range from blind children developing sports skills to elite athletes who train for competitions such as the Paralympic Games, which continually draws more than 4,000 disabled athletes.
Author:
Ryan Lucas / Jessica Reyes
Organization:
U.S. Association of Blind Athletes
Phone:
719-630-0422
