**RESULTS**

Myrtle Beach, SC

**RESULTS**

Local youth cross country runners compete at Nationals

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina (December 10, 2011) – Several area youth competed as Team Bird 2 in the prestige’s USATF Junior Olympics Cross Country Meet Saturday, at Whispering Pines Golf Course.

Carmen Yoder, Delanie Bame and Madison Miller travel along with addition Indiana runners to make their mark on the nation’s finest youth cross country runners. After spending the late fall training in cold and snowy conditions it was most refreshing to have temps in the high 50’s and just a perfect runner’s day. The trio was competing by age groups with Carmen and Delanie in the midget division with the two coming across the finish step to step together. Carmen smashed her previous best 3K time by over 30 seconds finishing 116th with a time of 11:54.7 the North Webster elementary 5th grader competes regularly with the club and expect big accomplishments from Carmen in the future. Delanie was 119th with a time 11:55.1 equaling her previous best. “These girls were working hard the past couple of weeks, in all types of weather” remarked Coach Gary Bird.

Madison Miller a Wawasee Middle School 8th grade also posted her best time of the season with a 16:22.02 for 4KM distance, in the youth division. Maddy finish 161st after having a nasty spill at the start was able to regain her composer to run a 6:12 mile. At this level however any mistakes can take its toll on a runners overall success. “Maddy just got wrapped up with the fast runners with a lot of pushing and bumping” Coach Gary Bird commented.

Five area runners made to the USATF National Cross Country meet as Team Bird 2 runners with all five setting their best times of the season. Ryan Smith 16:13 making All American Central Noble Junior, and Jennifer Emery a Leo Junior set a 26 second personal best.

Next on tap for Team Bird 2 is the Indoor Track Season starting in January.