Chandler Girls, Vista Murrieta Boys Track Clubs Win Inaugural Nike Track Nationals
National champions crowned in front of 4,000 spectators at Hayward Field

E-mail this page  Printer-friendly page Related info: Running USA

Posted Wednesday, 7 July, 2010

From Ryan Lamppa, Running USA

EUGENE, Ore. - (July 2, 2010) - On Friday evening, Nike crowned the winners of the first Nike Track Nationals (NTN), a national championship event held to determine the best high school aged track & field clubs in the United States.

In front of 4,000 spectators at famed Hayward Field, Chandler Track Club from Chandler, Ariz. captured the girl's team honors and the Vista Murrieta Track Club from Murrieta, Calif. took home the national title for the boys. Professional athletes Reese Hoffa, Lauren Fleshman, Dwight Phillips, Trey Hardee, Chelsea Johnson, Sheena Tosta and Jessie Williams were on hand to provide race commentary and to motivate competitors.

"This event verifies that even smaller states can compete at the highest level," said Chandler Coach Eric Richardson, while Vista Murrieta Coach Coley Candaele noted, "We didn't put all of our apples in one basket since this event is about coming together as a team. We even had three PRs in the meet so it has been an incredible experience!"

With the goal of crowning a true national track and field champion, Nike Track Nationals is a four-month virtual competition culminating in the national championship event where the top 12 boys and top 12 girls programs will compete for the title the night before the Prefontaine Classic.

"Chandler and Vista Murrieta have out-run more than a thousand high school aged track and field clubs in the country to be named NTN National Champions" said Nike's Vice President of Running, Amy White. "The competitive spirit and infectious enthusiasm of these young athletes are truly an inspiration to all of us."

About NTN
From March 1 - June 13 over one thousand track & field clubs competed in the virtual competition at www.NikeTrackNationals.com by inputting times and records set at USATF meets. Coaches updated marks weekly to see how their squad ranked against state, regional, and national competition. Upon completion of the virtual competition on June 13, the top club in each of eight regions automatically qualified for the Nike Track Nationals competition in Eugene, Oregon on Friday, July 2. The next four highest scoring clubs from any region rounded out the twelve team field.

Clubs competed in ten track and field events including: 100m, 110/100m Hurdles, 400m, 800m, Mile, Long Jump, High Jump, Pole Vault, Shot Put, Discus Throw. Each team was allowed to enter their top mark for each event, with a two-event maximum per individual athlete. Those marks were then scored in decathlon fashion with performance marks awarded a point score. Although competition consists of ten events, the lowest scoring event was dropped, making the total score the sum of their best nine events. The highest score took home the crown.

For complete results and to view the webcast, go to: www.NikeTrackNationals.com