Sevierville youth qualify for AAU

By: JASON DAVIS, Sports Editor July 22, 2008

KNOXVILLE - Three Sevierville runners qualified for the AAU Junior Olympics in Detroit later this month with outstanding performances at this weekend's regional meet in Knoxville at UT's Tom Black Track.
Sevier County High School rising junior Alex McCand-less, 16, took a first place spot at regionals, while eighth-grader Patrick Hanlon, 13, secured a second place finish and 10-year old Savannah Stair captured a fourth place, qualifying all three for the Junior Olympics.
McCandless turned in a near-personal best to take first place in the 2000-meter steeplechase.
"Alex McCand-less had a much better meet than he did at the districts by winning the 2000m Steeplechase in a time six hundredths of a second from his personal best and placing 3rd in the 1500m in a personal best time (4:26.35)," Eddie McCand-less, the local AAU track coach said.
In addition McCandless's 4x800m Relay was promoted to the Junior Olympics on their time from the District meet due to a Sunday rainout.
Hanlon won the silver medal in the 3000m run, turning in yet another personal best of 10:50.83, improving his time for the second straight meet.
Stair finished fourth in the 1500m race with a time of 5:49.72, showing great determination.
"She pushed herself to the point of being physically sick with about 200 meters to go and still (ran) a personal best, qualifying for the Junior Olympics," coach McCandless said.
mpsports@themountainpress.com