Thunderbird TC advances to nationals

Three Thunderbird Track and Field Club members advanced to the USA Track and Field National Junior Olympic Championships with strong performances July 12-13 at Carroll College in Waukesha.

Caleb Anderson, Austin Glynn and Delaney FitzPatrick posted impressive marks in both field and track events.

The trio have qualified for the USA Track and Field National Junior Olympic Championship Meet that begins today and runs through Sunday in Omaha, Nebraska.

The top three finishers in Waukesha advanced to the national meet.

In the Bantam boys division (born 1998 or later) Caleb Anderson won the regional championship in three events. In the high jump, Anderson leaped a distance of 4-feet, 1 3/4 inches. The mark was also a personal best for Anderson and it met the Junior Olympic standard.

"Caleb should have a good shot at the high jump title (at nationals)," Thunderbird Track and Field Club coach Kevin FitzPatrick said.

Anderson won the 800-meter run and reached another personal record, with a time of 2:42.56. He claimed the 1,500-meter run title, with a time of 5:31.77.

Also in the 1,500, Kav FitzPatrick placed 11th and set a personal record (6:20.30).

"It was really windy that day," Kevin FitzPatrick said. "So for Kav to run a personal best and Caleb win the title, is pretty good."

Austin Glynn won two regional championships. Glynn, who's from Onalaska, met the Junior Olympic standard in two field events.

In the mini-javelin, Glynn reached a distance of 97-feet, 2-inches. In the shot put, Glynn tossed 27-feet, 3 1/4 inches.

"We had three boys compete in the Bantam division, which there's 11 events you can compete in," Kevin FitzPatrick said. "Our boys won five out of 11 events, so that's pretty good."

In the Youth girls division (born 1994-95), Delaney FitzPatrick placed second in the javelin throw (76-1). It's the fifth-straight year FitzPatrick has qualified for nationals in that event.

FitzPatrick finished fourth in the high jump (4-7) and fifth in the triple jump (28 feet, 10-1/2 inches). She set a personal best in all three events.

"She missed going to nationals in the high jump by one jump," Kevin FitzPatrick said. "But she had three really nice jumps and set a personal best."

Delaney FitzPatrick was successful in the triple jump, despite not having a lot of experience in the event.

In the Midget boys division (born 1996-97), Mack FitzPatrick placed fifth in the mini-javelin (71-2) and sixth in the discus (46-7). His mark in the discus was a personal record.

"Throwing into that big wind had an impact on his distance," Kevin FitzPatrick said.

The club faced several of the Midwest's toughest youth track and field athletes in Waukesha. Region 8 covers Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, North and South Dakota and Nebraska.

Kevin FitzPatrick said most of the races had about 10-12 runners.

For more information about the USA Track and Field National Junior Olympic Championships, log on to www.usatf.org/events/2008/USATFJuniorOlympicTFChampionships.

Kevin Damask can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it