A four-man team of track and field Kentucky all-stars will compete at the World Youth Trials June 28-19 in Myrtle Beach, SC. All four athletes were 2011 KHSAA Track and Field Champions in their events and will attempt to become members of the 40-person Team US World Youth Championships squad which competes July 6-10 in Lille, France.
Tre'tez Kinnairdof Louisville Butler High School, the Boys Class AAA State 800m Champion, barely missed running the fastest time by a Kentucky male teen in the same event earlier this summer. He won by a large margin at the Music City Distance Carnival and became the number-one ranked sophomore in the country by running a 1:50.71. He followed that with a fifth-place finish at New Balance Outdoors National Championships running 1:50.88 to become and All-American.
Jacob Thomsonof Holy Cross High School, the Boys Class A State 800m, 1600m, and 3200m Champion helped lead his track team to their first state team title in any sport in 2011. In 2011 he established himself as one of the best 3200m runners in Kentucky state history with his 9:15.37 at the Sundown Invitational. That times places him fifth all-time in Kentucky. He was also named the KTCCCA Class A Athlete of the Year because of his success in 2011.
Donovan Halselof Bowling Green Warren Central High School, the Boys Class AAA State High Jump Champion, jumped 6’ 10” to win his region and “went out” while attempting to tie the state record of 6” 11 ¼ “ during the state championships. He is nationally ranked in the event.
Trevor Troutmanof Bullitt East High School won the Boys Class AA State Discus Championship. He had been one of Kentucky’s top throwers all season and currently competes for the Louisville Track Club. His state championship throw of 164’ 11” earned him the top performance of all classes, just like his two teammates.
The world’s top 16 and 17 year-olds compete at the International Amateur Athletics Federation World Youth Championships and the Trials is a precursor to that meet. Athletes who compete at the Trials must first meet qualifying standards set by United States of America Track and Field before June 20. They must meet IAAF qualifying standards to make the national team. Both meets occur every two years.
This is the second year USATF organized this meet and Kentucky was represented by a 7-man team in 2009. Several athletes from this state exceeded the qualifying standards, but these gentlemen are the ones who accepted the invitation from this team. We hope that increased exposure to the event will encourage others to perform on a national level and accept future invitations to join the team. Team KY is sponsored by Kentucky USATF, Kentucky Track and Cross Country Coaches Association, and MF-Athletic.