Naeem Turner-Bandele qualifies for nationals

Normal, IL – Zionsville West Middle School honor student qualifies for a return trip to the AAU Junior Olympics Championship. At the 2008 AAU Region 6B (Kentucky, Indiana, and Illinois) Track & Field & Multi-Events Championship, on the campus on Illinois State University, Naeem Turner-Bandele punched his ticket three times to be among the more than 12,000 athletes from 50 states that will compete in eight age-groups in 22 sports at the 2008 Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Junior Olympic Games in Detroit, Michigan which will be held July 23 – August 2, 2008.

On Saturday, July 5, 2008 Naeem finished second in his age division (sub-youth boys –age 13, born in 1995) in the 800 meter run while posting a season best time of 2:16.77. On Sunday, despite cutting his hand while setting his blocks just seconds before the start of the 400m finals, Naeem managed to gain his composure and focus on the race sufficiently to place fourth and qualify for the Junior Olympics in his second event. Later Sunday afternoon, Turner-Bandele ran a leg of the first place Fort Wayne Express 4 x 400 meter youth boys relay team (boys age 13 and 14, born in 1994 and 1995).

The rising eighth grader will be participating next at the Tommie Smith Youth Track Meet, Louisville, Kentucky on July 11 - 12, 2008. He will compete in the 200m, 400m and 800m events in hopes of lowering his times and preparing for the Junior Olympics. He is planning a second Junior Olympic tune-up the following week, July 19, 2008, when he competes in The Angelic Flyers Paul Wallace Memorial Classic at Thornwood High School, South Holland, IL