Putting on a track meet is no easy task. It’s the details that kill you. Jesse Williams, the Brooks Sports Marketing Manager, loves the sport, like
his parallels at other footwear companies. Without men and women like Jesse, our sport would cease to exist. Footwear companies sponsor athletes sponsor events on the roads, in cross country, and track and field.
The key to making a successful event and branding it is to find or develop an event that keeps with your brand’s philosophy and message. For footwear companies, sponsoring high school events should be a no-brainer, with 1.6 million 14-19-year-olds in high school cross country, indoor track, and outdoor track & field in 2010.
The challenges are dealing with the various state federations and their rules, which are to protect young athletes, but, in some cases, hinder them from competitions that might make sense for them.
That Brooks put on this meet within two months is a fact. That they succeeded beyond their wildest dreams is this observers’ opinion. It is, along with NB Indoor & Outdoor and NXN, the type of events that our sport needs and that nurture some of our brightest future stars. Brooks PR Invitational has found its place is in the high school sports pantheon. And they did it in their first year!
Consider these facts: In year one, the event had seven number-one marks in the nation for 2011 and seven number-twos! In the girl’s 60 meters, won by Deserea Bryant in 7.26, the event had the number 1 and number five performances for 2011. In the Girl’s 60m hurdles, won by Kendell William in 8.51, we had the number 2, 5, 8, and 10th best performances of 2011! In the 400 meters, a gutty Courtney Okoio lead the nation in 54.26, with the number 2, 5, and 9 performances for 2011!
And it just got better! In the 800 meters, Shelby Houlihan won by three seconds in 2:08.59, the number two time of 2011, and second place was the number six time for 2011!
The girls mile was fantastic, as junior Ajee Wilson, in a tight pack, lead ten girls under 5:00! Ajee ran 4:49.48 for the fastest mile of 2011. But behind her were the number 3,5,7,9 and tenth best miles for 2011!
The most exciting race of the day was the girls’ two-mile. Erin Finn took the field through the mile in 5:08, and the race was on, with the field all together until the penultimate lap. As Erin Finn started to drop back just a bit, Kayla Beattie took the lead and looked poised for a win. Unknown to her, Welsey Frazier was making this HUGE move with five hundred to go, and as they came off the final turn, was within striking distance. Frazier did not stop and literally caught Beattie five meters, no three meters before the finish, cementing her win at the finishing line! The crowd was loud and boisterous as the young women lead a parade of the first ten best times for 2011! That’s right, you are not hallucinating; numbers 1-10 in one race!
Look at that smile on Wesley Frazier’s face? Doesn’t that show a job well done and the fastest indoor two-mile of 2011? 10:17.47 should say loads to curious onlookers. And tenth place in 10:30? Wow!
It was fascinating watching the Brooks team running around. They had their chaperons and the marketing staff, and their goal was to make this one of those key memories for the young athletes. On the third floor of the Hyatt, they had a game room, a movie room, a dining room, and a hang-out area, and the athletes got to see new products and talk shoes with the Brooks shoe developers. The experience was well-considered. Look at the the photo below and notice the Brooks wallpaper with the names of the athletes and their events. Note that, after the meet, the athletes literally tore down the wallpaper out of the Dempsey hall to take home as souvenirs!
“We got nearly all of the athletes we wanted to get, ” noted a relieved Jesse Williams after the meet. ” We have a great team at Brooks, but these athletes, their parents, and the chaperons made it a lot of fun!”
The boys’ races were fantastic as well! Damiere Byrd won the 60 meters in 6.70, the fastest time in the country. He was followed by the second, fourth and eighth fastest times of 2011! In the 60-meter hurdles, Torrey Campbell won in 7.82, with Demetrius Lindo in 7.83. The times don’t tell you that Demetrius had already run 6.87 for fourth in the 60m final! Hats off to Torrey Campbell, who gave us the third fastest time of 2011, with numbers five, six and nine best times of 2011 following him over those hurdles!
The 400 meters was fast as well! Armin Hall won in 47.45-the fastest time in the nation! Second place was Michael Newton, in 48.52, with the 8th best time of 2011.
The 800 meters was a barn burner, as the 400 meters was hit in 51.87, and the pack was a bit behind. Keffri Neal, running a very smart race, held off to move until about 300 meters to go and just accelerated to a national leading 1:50.92! Behind him were the 3,5,7,8,9 and tenth-best times of 2011! The tenth place was 1:56.6!
The two mile was the Ammar Moussa show. Ammar is the reigning CIF cross country champ (division 4) and CIF California two-mile champ. He led his team to the NXN cross country champs in December and defended his USA JO title in cross country. Ammar may not remember an interview with RBR in June 2010 at the adidas Grand Prix. When I asked him his goal for 2011, he told me he wanted to see how fast he could run as a senior! Well said, Ammar!
Ammar Moussa lead from early on, trading the front spot with Matthew Jablonski, and in the end, it came down to Moussholding off Jablonski by two seconds, with Ammar winning in 9:00.62, the second fastest time of the new year. Following Moussa was the number 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 performances of 2011! A tremendous race over two miles!
The afternoon’s final race was the boy’s mile, and it did not disappoint. The field hit 63 for the 400 meters, 2:09 for 800 meters, and 3:09 for the 1,200 meters. The tightly wound field did not slow down, and the battle of the kicks ensued! Jantzen Oshier and Elias Gideon were battling it out down the straightaway, with Miles Schroeder, the winner of the NB Indoor GP high school mile, in hot pursuit.
In the final meters, it was Jantzen Oshier and Elias Geydon battling, battling, and Oshier getting the nod in 4:07.52 to 4:07:58. Oshier and Geydon ran the number two and three times for 2011 and were followed by fourth and ninth, and tenth best times of 2011!
In four hours, Brooks put on its own event, the 2011 Brooks PR invitational, gave the sport a timely, orchestrated event (covered well by Flotrack.org), and created 150 plus high school ambassadors of our sport.
In the evening, at the awards ceremony at Paul Allen’s Experience Music Project (where I saw several Jim Hendrix guitars and some of his lyric sheets, among other memorabilia), the athletes, parents, and chaperones were feted with dinner, awards, music and some credible Kareoke (some well done Vanilla Ice, Neal Diamond, and the highlight, a cover of a Kiki Dee and Elton John song, by some Brooks shoe gurus!).
Jim Weber, the President of Brooks, spoke for a short time, congratulated everyone involved on the success of the event, and noted that the young athletes were the first participants in an event that Brooks will do ” for many years to come!”
Coming from so esteemed a person as the president of Brooks, one will not consider that, in all of the excitement, Jim was photographed with a Brooks enthusiast in a gorilla suit! As the tagline goes, Run Happy!
Besides the smile on the Brooks Gorilla’s face, there should be an exhausted smile on the team at Brooks for taking a chance and bringing something innovative to our sport!
Licensed to HY-TEK MEET MANAGER Demo HY-TEK’s Meet Manager 2/27/2011 03:45 PM
Brooks PR Invite 2011 – 2/27/2011
Universaty Of Washington Dempsey Center
Results
Girls 60 Meter Dash================================================================Name Year School Finals================================================================Finals1 8 Bryant, Deserea SR Unattached 7.262 17 Ekpone, Olivia SR Unattached 7.463 14 Cunliffe, Hannah FR Unattached 7.554 33 Lyday, Carisma SR Unattached 7.685 29 Houston, Taylor SR Unattached 7.72
Girls 400 Meter Dash===================================================================Name Year School Finals H#===================================================================1 45 Okoio, Courtney JR Unattached 54.26 12 3 Baisden, Kendall SO Unattached 54.31 13 58 Watson, Sage SR Unattached 54.58 24 42 Ndipagbor, Akawkaw SR Unattached 55.44 25 18 Ezumah, Chimere SO Unattached 56.63 16 57 Walker, Azia JR Unattached 58.55 27 50 Rogers, Raevyn FR Unattached 58.96 1
Girls 800 Meter Run================================================================Name Year School Finals================================================================1 28 Houlihan, Shelby SR Unattached 2:08.592 59 Westaway, Jenna JR Unattached 2:11.043 39 Mires, Beylee SR Unattached 2:12.954 34 Mackay, Kimberly SR Unattached 2:14.755 53 Stevenson, Arielle SR Unattached 2:15.196 13 Crodell, Taneisha JR Unattached 2:15.337 24 Gammage, Dynasty SR Unattached 2:15.838 27 Hatfield, Taylor JR Unattached 2:26.18
Girls 1 Mile Run================================================================Name Year School Finals================================================================1 61 Wilson, Ajee JR Unattached 4:49.482 43 Neale, Amy-Eloise SO Unattached 4:49.583 1 Amaral, Joelle SR Unattached 4:52.324 35 Margey, Kelsey JR Unattached 4:52.465 46 Osika, Shannon SR Unattached 4:53.646 23 Fulton, Eleanor SR Unattached 4:53.657 10 Coogan, Katrina SR Unattached 4:54.558 38 Meyers, Maddie JR Unattached 4:54.649 12 Crevoiserat, Linds SR Unattached 4:54.6610 44 Neczypor, Hannah SR Unattached 4:58.0411 32 Lawson, Kelly SO Unattached 5:07.0912 51 Schappert, Stephan SR Unattached 5:07.7413 54 Sveinsson, Chelsey SR Unattached 5:12.11
Girls 2 Mile Run================================================================Name Year School Finals================================================================1 22 Frazier, Wesley SO Unattached 10:17.472 5 Beattie, Kayla SR Unattached 10:17.933 19 Finn, Erin SO Unattached 10:19.284 62 Woodward, Allison SR Unattached 10:20.185 47 Pierce, Haley JR Unattached 10:20.346 25 Grabill, Molly SR Unattached 10:23.387 55 Thompson, Joanna SR Unattached 10:24.148 21 Foster, Julia SR Unattached 10:25.319 31 Knight, Katie SO Unattached 10:29.7210 136 Fluehr, Erika SR Unattached 10:30.9211 16 De La Bruyere, Emi SR Unattached 10:34.9012 52 Schmidt, Colleen SR Unattached 10:47.9513 20 Fluehr, Kathryn SR Unattached 10:48.2514 36 McAlister, Catrina SR Unattached 11:01.47
Girls ‘ 60 Meter Hurdles===================================================================Name Year School Prelims H#===================================================================Preliminaries1 60 William, Kendell SO Unattached 8.51q 22 48 Pledger, Letristan SR Unattached 8.54q 12 26 Hall, Dior FR Unattached 8.54q 14 15 Davis, Chalese SR Unattached 8.62q 15 11 Cox, Melia SR Unattached 8.63q 16 49 Richards, Kayann SR Unattached 8.71q 27 9 Buchanan, Brea SR Unattached 8.85q 28 2 Anthony, Michele SR Unattached 9.07q 2
Girls 60 Meter Hurdles===================================================================Name Year School Finals H#===================================================================Finals1 60 William, Kendell SO Unattached 8.44 12 11 Cox, Melia SR Unattached 8.49 13 26 Hall, Dior FR Unattached 8.55 14 15 Davis, Chalese SR Unattached 8.59 15 48 Pledger, Letristan SR Unattached 8.73 16 49 Richards, Kayann SR Unattached 8.97 27 2 Anthony, Michele SR Unattached 8.98 2— 9 Buchanan, Brea SR Unattached DNF 2
Boys 60 Meter Dash===================================================================Name Year School Prelims H#===================================================================Preliminaries1 75 Byrd, Damiere SR Unattached 6.78q 22 70 Bracy, Marvin JR Unattached 6.81q 13 125 Snoddy, Broderick SR Unattached 6.88q 24 95 Hicks, Jaylon SR Unattached 6.89q 25 126 Strainge, Jerimy SO Unattached 6.90q 26 105 McClain, Remontay SR Unattached 6.95q 16 73 Brooks, Darian SR Unattached 6.95q 28 102 Lindo, Demetriius SR Unattached 6.96q 18 101 Lady-Shreibe, Jaco SR Unattached 6.96q 210 122 Short, Jadon SR Unattached 6.99q 111 67 Authorlee, Jermain JR Unattached 7.04q 112 83 Fisher, Joe SR Unattached 7.07q 1
Boys 60 Meter Dash===================================================================Name Year School Finals H#===================================================================Finals1 75 Byrd, Damiere SR Unattached 6.70 12 70 Bracy, Marvin JR Unattached 6.75 13 126 Strainge, Jerimy SO Unattached 6.80 14 102 Lindo, Demetriius SR Unattached 6.87 24 125 Snoddy, Broderick SR Unattached 6.87 16 105 McClain, Remontay SR Unattached 6.89 27 122 Short, Jadon SR Unattached 6.90 28 73 Brooks, Darian SR Unattached 6.91 18 101 Lady-Shreibe, Jaco SR Unattached 6.91 210 95 Hicks, Jaylon SR Unattached 6.94 111 83 Fisher, Joe SR Unattached 6.97 212 67 Authorlee, Jermain JR Unattached 7.06 2
Boys 400 Meter Dash===================================================================Name Year School Finals H#===================================================================1 92 Hall, Arman JR Unattached 47.45 12 112 Newton, Michael JR Unattached 48.52 13 104 Mayhen, Nolan SR Unattached 48.55 24 127 Sutton, Sean SR Unattached 48.89 25 133 Wanliss, Oneal SR Unattached 49.07 16 88 Gilreath, Alexande SR Unattached 49.63 2
Boys 800 Meter Run================================================================Name Year School Finals================================================================1 111 Neal, Keffri SR Unattached 1:50.922 99 Kaiser, Nick SR Unattached 1:52.253 128 Thompson, Kyle SR Unattached 1:52.694 91 Grumney, Sean SR Unattached 1:53.524 110 Mudd, Austin SR Unattached 1:53.526 65 Andrews, Myles SR Unattached 1:53.737 76 Byrne, Kevin JR Unattached 1:54.278 93 Hall, Chris SR Unattached 1:55.689 79 Daigre, Derrick SR Unattached 1:56.7610 130 Waddell, Alex JR Unattached 1:56.8411 118 Prince, Quamel JR Unattached 1:59.14
Boys 1 Mile Run
================================================================
Name Year School Finals
================================================================
1 113 Oshier, Jantzen SR Unattached 4:07.52
2 86 Gedyon, Elias SR Unattached 4:07.58
3 121 Schoedler, Miles SR Unattached 4:11.42
4 135 Williams, Blake SR Unattached 4:13.96
5 69 Bierig, Kenji JR Unattached 4:14.33
6 103 Luthin, Tim SR Unattached 4:14.59
7 98 Kaddurah, Omar SR Unattached 4:16.00
8 115 Pickering, Ryan SR Unattached 4:16.06
9 63 Adams, Casey SR Unattached 4:16.85
10 64 Albertston, C J JR
Unattached 4:17.00
11 131 Walden, Chris SR Unattached 4:17.16
12 71 Brewer, Chris SR Unattached 4:17.22
13 89 Gohlke, Brian JR Unattached 4:17.37
14 132 Walling, Rayn SR Unattached 4:17.91
15 129 Turner, Jake SR Unattached 4:19.22
16 72 Brinkley, Justin JR Unattached 4:23.68
Boys 2 Mile Run================================================================Name Year School Finals================================================================1 109 Moussa, Ammar SR Unattached 9:00.622 96 Jablonski, Matthew SR Unattached 9:02.513 90 Graham, Thomas JR Unattached 9:04.144 108 Morgan, Scott SR Unattached 9:04.995 123 Smith, Jacob JR Unattached 9:05.206 114 Owens, Eddie SR Unattached 9:08.087 94 Hamilton, Vince JR Unattached 9:08.598 84 Gardner, Andrew SO Unattached 9:09.479 124 Smoragiewicz, Tony SR Unattached 9:13.9210 82 Fahy, Darren JR Unattached 9:20.14
Boys 60 Meter Hurdles===================================================================Name Year School Prelims H#===================================================================Preliminaries1 77 Cabral, Jonathan SR Unattached 7.85q 12 117 Powell, Glenn SR Unattached 7.99q 13 102 Lindo, Demetriius SR Unattached 8.00q 24 78 Campell, Torrey SR Unattached 8.07q 25 97 Jones, Jonathan JR Unattached 8.09q 16 107 Mikesky, Shane SR Unattached 8.10q 17 68 Barger, Daishon JR Unattached 8.10q 18 119 Reed, Jeylin SR Unattached 8.16q 29 120 Safer, Marcus SR Unattached 8.48q 2
Boys 60 Meter Hurdles===================================================================Name Year School Finals H#===================================================================Finals1 78 Campell, Torrey SR Unattached 7.82 12 102 Lindo, Demetriius SR Unattached 7.83 13 77 Cabral, Jonathan SR Unattached 7.85 14 97 Jones, Jonathan JR Unattached 7.94 15 107 Mikesky, Shane SR Unattached 8.05 26 119 Reed, Jeylin SR Unattached 8.07 27 117 Powell, Glenn SR Unattached 8.21 18 120 Safer, Marcus SR Unattached 8.24 29 68 Barger, Daishon JR Unattached 8.25 2