Top Hurdlers headling USATF Youth Nationals Meet this week in Maryland

Johnny Dutch (left) North Carolina and Terry Prentice California (rt Dave Casper photo) headline fine group of Intermediate Level Boy Hurdlers at Youth Nationals this weekend in Maryland

This weekend in Maryland, a super group of young male hurdlers will hook up once again, this year in the Intermediate Division, after some record-setting last year in the Junior Olympic competition at the Youth Division. Trey Charles (Georgia), Johnny Dutch (North Carolina), and Terry Prentice (California) are a super trio of “timber toppers” who achieved record setting performances in last summer’s 2003 Junior Olympic competition, and have put together even better 2004 spring seasons, leading into a summer of Junior Olympic level national competition. With 2005 a year of a World Youth (Under 18) Championships, there is real motivation for young athletes in this Intermediate division to compete at the USATF JO meets and perform at level indicating worthiness of membership on that squad heading to Marrakech, Morocco next July.

Trey Charles, from Georgia, competing for the First Light TC in Georgia, appears to still be an eighth grader in that state, not showing up in any high school results this past spring. He cranked a National Record in the Youth Division last year in the USATF Junior Olympics 200m Hurdles, blazing a 23.99, in taking down the 24.83 Meet Record set by Texan Chris Hickman (1995), who has turned out to be a super prep and collegiate athlete. Trey was second in the Youth 100m Hurdles last year at 13.79. This year Trey was a fine 49.27 for the flat 400 in the Georgia Association JO Meet, with a 57.41 entry mark for the 400m Hurdles in the Intermediate Division at the Maryland Youth Nationals and 57.81 Association Mark in that event. Trey is not entered in the 110 Meter High Hurdles in the Maryland affair, with great anticipation as to the young athlete’s step from the 200 to 400 meter barriers in that one lap event this weekend.

Johnny Dutch, from North Carolina, as a frosh student at Clayton HS, had a super 2004 spring season, equaling the National Prep frosh 110m High Hurdles record at 14.16 while on his way to a State Championship 3A in that event, with a 38.56 for second in the State 3A 300m Intermediate Hurdles in May. Dutch was the USATF JO National Youth 100m Hurdles champ last year at 13.19, with a time of 24.49 in the 200 meter barrier event that was also under the old National Best while chasing Charles to the title there. Dutch had a full indoor season, placing third in the State Meet 55m Hurdles, with a 7.48 seasonal best for that event that placed him among the top twenty hurdlers in the nation of all grades this winter. Johnny did compete in the Nike Indoor Championships in March, winning his heat in the 60m Highs in 8.11, and placing third in his semi-final to just miss out on the finals in that affair.

Terry Prentice, from California, a frosh student at Diamond Ranch HS in Pomona, is another who has taken off from last summer’s success to another level this 2004 spring season. Prentice was fourth in both the JO National Finals Youth 100m Hurdles (14.12) and 200m Hurdles (26.60) last summer while chasing above athletes Charles and Dutch to their successes. Prentice was 5th in the California State All-Group Meet in the 300m Intermediate Hurdles this spring, racing 37.75 in that contest, with a 7th place finish in the 110mHH at State as a first year prep at 14.33 (14.24w seasonal best). Terry showed great poise and is honed for this summer competing against some of the nation’s best, including sub-13.40 and 36.00 star Kevin Craddock (Logan, Union City) at the California State competition. Prentice has branched out this summer for his Southern California Cheetahs club team, leading entrants in the Decathlon at the Maryland Youth Nationals affair this weekend, as well as competing in the Long Jump.

It will be a full weekend of action back in Maryland this coming weekend at the USATF Youth Nationals, with all looking forward to the results from this fine young group of hurdlers!