The Town of Flower Mound track club recently qualified 16 athletes to compete in the San Antonio Games, where three of its members medaled.
A top three finish at the competition qualified Lauren Lyczak, Lauren Cox and Aubrianna Garrett to compete in a national contest in Colorado in 2009, and Flower Mound athletic supervisor Mark Long said he could not be happier.
"Of the 16 who qualified, 14 actually went and competed in the state meet," Long said. "We had Lauren Lyczak in the 10 and under division, who got second place in the shot put with a throw of 18 feet 9 inches. Also in the 10 and under girls, our stud, Lauren Cox, took first place in the high jump with a jump of 4 feet 6 inches ... and she got third in the long jump with a jump of 12 feet 11 inches. She is a very strong athlete.
"In the 14 and under girls, Aubrianna Garrett got third in the high jump with a 4-foot 10-inch jump."
The San Antonio Games ran from July 24-27, and Long said his objectives for this season were pretty straightforward.
"The goal was to get as many kids as possible to the state competition that we could, and then on to the national level," Long said. "I am very happy with the number of athletes that we did send on to state, and I was very pleased with the outcome of all the 14 that we did have go."
Long said he is also satisfied with his team’s showing at the state competition.
"I am very pleased with this year’s performance," Long said. "I think our lowest finish was a 30th. That was in the 800, and in that event you can have anywhere from 60 to 80 kids participating. I am very pleased with the outcome of all the athletes."
Long credits part of his team’s success to an addition he made before the season started.
"We have a new coach this year," Long said. "He has a background in coaching. He spent some time at Flower Mound High School as a volunteer track coach. His name is Ron Green. We went with him just because of his background. It was the direction I wanted to take the program, with a little more instruction for the kids."
Long said he tries to promote the health aspect of track and field and said he feels children benefit greatly from competing in the sport.
"I think it gives them something else to do," Long said. "Track is a great sport. I’m very happy with the talent and the fact that we run this program gives the kids an opportunity to compete in a sport that is sometimes overlooked when you look at the baseball association, with 2,000-plus kids, or the soccer association, which has 5,000-plus kids. I think it is great just to be able to give them another look at a different sport that they can enjoy for pretty much the rest of their lives."
The 16 students who advanced to the San Antonio games ranged in age from six to 16, and Long said he hopes that the competition served two purposes.
"My desire is really that the kids enjoyed the competition and learned teamwork, and that this creates a lifelong commitment to a healthy lifestyle," Long said.