Tigard Youth Track speed through

Tigard Youth Track speeds through the summer
TYT completes another strong season at the USATF Nationals

The Times, Aug 7, 2008

TAKING OFF — Kaz Greene (above left) and Zach Floyd execute a flawless exchange to bring home the JO Regional silver medal in the 4x100 relay at the JO Regionals.

This time they had a chance to make club history.

While there have been young athletes from Tigard Youth Track that have qualified for the USA Track & Field Junior Olympics Championship in each of the club’s four years, no TYT athlete or team had ever made it to an event final.

But, there they were, the Midget (5th/6th grade) boys 4x100-meter relay team in third place in their heat with a real chance to do so. Sean McManamon, Bryan Berg, Chase Morrison and Landon Floyd gave a game effort, falling just short after finishing in 52.65 seconds with the finals benchmark at 52.08. Nonetheless, the performance was good for 10th overall.

“We were so close,” Berg said. “The kids at nationals are so fast, but we beat more than half of them.”

It was a great effort and fitting symbol for Tigard Youth Track’s summer season.

In its fourth year, TYT has emerged as one of the leading youth track programs in the state, producing solid competitive athletes at all levels and introducing scores of youngsters to the joy of athletic training and track & field competition. This year, with many of its veterans moving on to run for Tigard and Tualatin high schools, TYT turned over more than half the team and still became the state’s largest youth club.

One of the most substantial accomplishments for the club this summer was earning the 2008 Oregon Youth Athletic Club Championship overall title for the second year in a row.

Another huge milestone for TYT was hosting a USATF JO Developmental meet in May. TYT kids stole the show and the coaches and parents pulled off what was hailed as the season’s best meet.

Tigard HS head track coach Erik Smith commented, “This was a great day. It brings a lot of attention to our program, and our school.”

A coach from one local club added, “Great event for Tigard. Where did they get all that speed?”

That’s exactly what coach Smith likes to hear. In 2008, the partnership between the Tigard HS track program and TYT evolved tremendously. Tigard HS coaches like sprint expert Chris Paige spent quality time with the young athletes.

Tigard AD Kevin Bryant noted, “We work very well with Tigard Youth Track. We are getting kids into our program that are already sold on the sport and our kids have a youth program they can give back to and participate in.”

In fact, after a tremendously successful high school season, many of the THS athletes continued to run in the USATF postseason with TYT. A highlight of the summer was Tigard sophomore Zach Shclater’s dominance of the 400 in the JO circuit, culminating in his appearance in the U.S. Olympic Trials exhibition race.

Each week, TYT built its reputation with superlative athletic performances. All in all, 29 Tigard kids earned spots in the USATF Northwest Regionals in Spokane after strong performances at the Oregon State Championships. From there, 18 qualified for Nationals.

Notable individual achievements this season were aplenty. Drew Sanders took first at state in the Sub Bantam long jump (9-feet, 4-inches) and second in the 100 (16.86). Lena Greene was second at state in the Bantam long jump, then set a personal best of 11-6 at Regionals to beat all Oregon competitors and place fourth overall. Julian Body and Cole Knox dominated the Bantam boys 100 all summer, going 1-2 (14.75, 14.90) in state and first and fourth in the Regionals with Body advancing to Nationals. Ariana Pumpelly stood out in the Midget girls sprints, earning two firsts and a second in the 100, 200 and 400 at state. She ran the 100 and 200 at Nationals.

Landon Floyd, a national level sprinter, won the Midget boys 100 and 200 at state and also anchored the Midget boys relay that turned in the trilling effort at Nationals. TYT’s Midget boys 4x100 and 4x400 relays didn’t lose a race through Regionals. Team members included Floyd, Sean McManomon, Bryan Berg, Chase Morrison, Braxton Latt, Robert Mitchell and Ryan Wisner.

Elise Conroy dominated the Midget girls throwing events, taking second in the shot put (24-2) and winning the state title in the discus (63-2). Anthony Body, the team’s most improved sprinter, took third at state (12.08) in the 100.

Kaz Greene and Zach Floyd, besides running on the state champion and Regional runner-up 4x100 Youth boys relay team, battled in the triple jump all season. Greene (32-4) won the Oregon Youth Athletic Meet and placed second at state with Floyd right behind him each time. With Greene injured during Regionals, Floyd stepped up to take second and earn a trip to Nationals.

As for the future, TYT head coach Ralph Greene said, “I like this as much as coaching football. I never thought I’d say that. We look forward to raising the bar further.

“I love to watch the competitive kids try to make themselves better and the one’s who are just getting into it, enjoy themselves competing for the first time.”

Registration for the 2009 season opens in late January. For more information on Tigard Youth Track go to or email .