USA Track & Field announces Youth Olympic Team

U.S. nominations were allocated specifically to U.S. athletes placing highest in their events after the conclusion of three Americas Team Area Youth Olympic Trials – Track & Field events.

“We are proud to recognize the talented, young athletes, who will represent the United States on one of the grandest stages of international sport” said Max Siegel, CEO of USATF. “Not only will they showcase their abilities against the world’s best, but they will also gain a very meaningful cultural experience through the values of Olympism.”

Highlighting the selected athletes are Noah Lyles in the men’s 200 meters and Haley Showalter in women’s discus. 

Lyles (Alexandria, Virginia) ran one of the most exciting races at U.S. Area Youth Olympic Trials – Track & Field in Miramar, Florida, where he won the 200m in a wind-legal 20.89 (+1.3). Lyles was the day’s only athlete to run a sub-21 in both the prelim (20.95 [+2.3]) and the final April 5. He returns to the international scene after last year competing for Team USA at the 8th IAAF World Youth Championships in Donetsk, Ukraine.

Also at the U.S. trials event, Showalter, a 16-year-old thrower, won gold in the women’s discus with her toss of 46.77m/153-5. Her throw marked a personal best by more than a foot as she defeated the next closest competitor (44.66m/146-6) by more than six feet. Showalter also dominated women’s hammer throw, claiming gold by more than 17 feet with a throw of 63.29m/209-08.

Only one athlete per country earns a place in any single track & field event, and any athlete making the team may only compete in one individual event at the Youth Olympic Games in addition to a possible appearance on the 8x100m mixed relay team, during which time athletes will compete with other members of their continental associations.

The full roster is below.

Last Name	First Name	DOB	Event	Hometown
Lattin	Amere	12-Jul-97	Men's 110m Hurdles	Houston, Texas
Okoronkwo	Chinne	26-Sep-97	Women's Triple Jump	Lynnwood, Washington
Johnson	Brandee	3-Apr-98	Women's 200m	Suffolk, Virigina
Foster	Rhesa	25-May-98	Women's Long Jump	Fresno, California
Moffitt	Janae	9-Jan-97	Women's High Jump	Converse, Indiana
Fitzgerald	Emma	1-Jul-97	Women's Javelin Throw	Wayland, Mass.
Ellis	Brittny	1-Sep-97	Women's 400m	Gurnee, Illinois
Lyles	Noah	18-Jul-97	Men's 200m	Alexandria, Virigina
Merkley	Tyler	17-Apr-97	Men's Discus Throw	Rancho Cucamonga, California
Showalter	Haley	3-Jun-97	Women's Discus Throw	Highlands Ranch, Colorado
James	Andrew	12-Jan-97	Men's 400m	Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Marshall	Myles	8-Dec-97	Men's 800m	Kingwood, Texas
Brinson	Kenneth	9-Apr-97	Men's Hammer Throw	Atlanta, Georgia
O'Connor	Janie	15-Apr-98	Women's 100m	Watchung, New Jersey
Rasul	Amir	10-Jun-98	Men's 100m	Miami, Florida
Fisher	Grant	22-Apr-97	Men's 1500m	Grand Blanc, Michigan
Kimani	Rushing	21-May-98	Women's 100m Hurdles	Hallandale, Florida

Head Coach– Ron Williams
Assistant Coach– Norine Richardson

Athletes at the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games will compete in 28 sports while also taking part in a Culture and Education program. At the inaugural Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games, the U.S. collected eight medals in track and field: three gold, two silver and three bronze.

Click here for more information on the 2014 Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, China.

About USA Track & Field
USA Track & Field (USATF) is the National Governing Body for track and field, long-distance running and race walking in the United States. USATF encompasses the world's oldest organized sports, some of the most-watched events of Olympic broadcasts, the country’s #1 high school and junior high school participatory sport and more than 30 million adult runners in the United States. For more information on USATF, visit www.usatf.org.