The USATF National Junior Olympic Championships are being held in Greensboro until this Sunday afternoon.

Some local athletes have already scored:

CJ Rodriguez – Tucson Elite (Sahuaro) took 5th in the Javelin with 53.24.

Brittany Jones – AZ Pops (CDO) 11th in Heptathlon.

Alyssa Thompson; Jones; Jaide Stepter (CDO); April Steward (CDO) – AZ Pops 7th in 4X800 Relay 10:00.88

Daniel Wong – AZ Pops (CDO) 2nd in 2000m Steeplechase and 11th in the 3000m 9:14.38

“USA Track and Field has prepared our kids to take their life to the next level,”  former NCCA champion, olympic finalist and AZ Pops track coach LaTanya Sheffield.

When I spoke to Sheffiled on the phone I was expecting to talk to a very tired coach, instead I spoke to one of the most inspirational people I have ever had the privilege to interview.

Her excitement for her team and for all of Tucson’s track and field athletes must be contageous.

Daniel Wong broke his personal record by more than three seconds in Greensboro by partiallly listening to his coach and following through on her instructions.  “I told him what it took to make the Finals and then I asked him what he was going to do.  He knew what it would take and he did so well today!”

“He has a chance to be a double medalist and on top of that he is carrying a 4.5 grade point average.”

FROM SUNDAY:  Stepter medals in the 400m Hurdles 1:04.02 (6th).   Wong gets his second medal (4:15.16 ) in the 1500m finishing in 8th place.

NOTES FROM COACH:  “Daniel set the pace in his race today.  He was leading and they caught him at the end – he ran a courageous race.    Jaide (Sheffield’s daughter) hit one of the hurdles but still came in 6th – it was amazing.   We won four medals as a team.”

Sheffield promises photos upon her return to Tucson.

Complete results:

http://www.usatf.org/events/2009/USATFJuniorOlympicTFChampionships/schedule.asp