USATF Junior Olympics indoor National Qualifier Meet was held at Proviso High School Indoor Track, hosted back the Dorothy Dawson Meet Series.

Several local Syracuse/North Webster runners competed in the annual championships, with eleven personal records (PR) set by the team.  Team Bird 2 is the regional USATF & AAU Cross Country & Track Field club www.teambird.org that offers training and competition to area youth.

Carmen Yoder, North Webster 5^th grader was the highlight of the clubs contingents with qualifying in the 800 and 1500 meters races, to move on the USATF National Indoor Meet @ Illinois State Normal IL March 10-11.  Carmen ran the fastest 800 in her young racing career with a 2:50 to finish 6^th and then later in the day top the meet off with another stellar performance with another PR of 5:50 in the 1500, that is about a 6:02 mile time, to finish in a very close 5^th place.  Later Carmen commented “Coach the sprint mechanics works, I caught both those girls”.

Others participating in the meet with also personal records; Madison Miller 1500 5:33, 800 2:43, Lauren Miller 800 3:42, Jaxon Bame 1500 5:07, 800 2:25, Bridgette Yoder 1500 5:39, 800 2:39, Delanie Bame 1500 5:48, 800 2:47, Parker Bame 1500 6:22, 800 3:05,

**RESULTS**

COLUMBIA CITY (February 6, 2012) – Team Bird local youth running club has expanded its services to youth suspension body weight and metabolic training programs.

Team Bird is well known nationally as distance runners for cross country and track. The club is one of the oldest in the state of Indiana getting it’s roots back in 2001, here in Columbia City IN. More information about Team Bird can be found at www.teambird.org

We have always provided suspension body weight and metabolic training as part of general youth fitness with the running club. Our popularity over the last year, allowed us to take on other sports such as: Softball, Volleyball youth athletes” said director Gary Bird.

Team Bird specializes with just youth and the training approach, age development and equipment is for youth fitness. We do not provide Adult Training activities that you may find at adult fitness centers. We use the athletes body weight to provide: coordination, flexibility, agility, strength, speed, and fitness. Our main concern is taking a proactive solution to prevent youth injuries in all sport, by providing sound training principles, in the exercise training plans.

Currently we provide services from Bremen to Berne so the market for specialization of youth training methods is out there which got us to this next step. Monday’s and Thursday’s are already filled with youth athletes participating in the program. We recently added additional certified instructors to take on the needs of our youth.

Media: Gary Bird, Director 260.229.3324 or 

garylbird@teambird.org

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.