Athletics Competition to Begin Today at Youth Olympic Games

Courtesy of USATF
The inaugural Youth Olympic Games began in Singapore on Saturday evening with a lavish Opening Ceremony. The Singapore YOG, open to boys and girls born in 1993 or 1994, include many sports that have been part of the modern Olympic Games first held in 1896.

Track and field competition begins on today with the first of three consecutive days of morning session qualifying rounds. All field events consist of a qualification and finals and all track events consist of round one and finals except for the race walks and relays which will be straight finals.

Athletes beginning their competition today include Najee Glass (boys 400m, Woodbridge, NJ), Robin Reynolds (girls 400m, Miami, Fla.), Le'Tristan Pledger (girls long jump, Kansas City, Kan.), Hadley Reed Hancock (girls pole vault, Leesburg, Ga.), Gunnar Nixon (boys high jump, Edmond, Okla.) and Sarah Tolson (girls discus, Pawhuska, Okla.).

While some events mirror those in the traditional Olympic Games and senior athletic championships, some will be unique to the YOG. Instead of an 800m and 1,500m, there will be a 1000m race. The longest running distance will be at 3,000m and the Steeplechase will be over 2,000m. Race walks will be 10,000m (boys) and 5,000m (girls). There will be no multi-events. The final event on the timetable will be a Medley Relay consisting of stages of 100m, 200m, 300m and 400m.

For more information and complete results from the 2010 Youth Olympic Games, visit http://youtholympicgames.teamusa.org/.