SBR JAG'S MICHAEL McKENZIE SPRINTS TO A NATIONAL TITLE IN THE 11-YEAR OLD BOYS' 100m!
South Baton Rouge Jaguar head coach Terry Boyd wasn't surprised when 11-year old Michael McKenzie won his first national title in the 80 hurdles at the AAU Club Championship in Orlando, Florida earlier this month.
"I knew he had the fastest time on paper going into it," Boyd said. "He has been improving and dropping some great times throughout the summer, especially for just picking up the event."
Mckenzie made it look easy, cruising to a 13.03 and breaking a smile as he crossed the finish line, almost a half second before his closest competition, Space Coast Striders Track Club's Mychael Pulley, who finished with a 13.40.
But Mckenzie wasn't finished.
He returned to take the 100m national title with a time of 12.91. This race was tighter as Austin Striders Track Club's Bryce Anderson, who finished with a 13.18, battled Mckenzie to the end.
In the 200 meters, Mckenzie battled Aiden Cotton, representing the Cotton Club Posse, coming up just a bit short. Mckenzie finished with a 25.93, while Cotton won the event in 25.66.
But the two gold and one silver was not all of the hardware Mckenzie hauled home to Baton Rouge. He was the high point award winner for 11-year-old boys and won a trophy for his efforts.
The high point award did surprise Boyd.
"It actually did surprise me about the high point award," Boyd said. "I think this is the first time we have had an athlete from the team to win the high point trophy."
Mckenzie is no stranger to the big stage at the AAU Club Championships. It was his third time competing in the AAU Club Championships. Last year, he finished with two silvers in the 200m and 400m, and a bronze in the 100m. In 2019, he finished third in the 200m, sixth in the 100m, and seventh in the 400m.
After knocking on the door for a couple of years, Mckenzie kicked down in 2022. He has come a long way from the AAU Club Championships in 2017 when he finished 79th in the 100m and 94th in the 200m.
"He loves to practice," Boyd said. "Sometimes I will show up at the track and Mikey is already out there warming up. He is usually the first one there. He is a great kid, and a great kid to coach."
Another surprise for Boyd was the girls 11-12 4x400m relay. Missing two of the regular legs, who were not able to the make the trip, it was next girl up for the Jaguars.
Bailey Sampson, Reagan McKenzie, who is Michael's sister, Summer Brown, and Autumn Brown made the most of it by winning the relay in 4:20.42. The race was not without drama as the Jaguars edged out Coastal Georgia Track Team's 4:20.88 performance.
"It's the first time that group has run together since the indoor season," Boyd said. "We thought they were capable of a top 8 finish, but they went out there and ran their hearts out. We are extremely proud of what they accomplished."
Other Jaguars with notable performances at the AAU Club Championships include Jaivyn Washington. Washington won all-american honors in three events in the 14-year old boys' division by finishing second in the triple jump (38-7), fourth in the 200m (26.64), and fifth in the 100h (14.35).
Washington's teammate in the 14-year-old boys' division, Raheem Gray had three top five performances. Gray finished third in the javelin (92-4), and had a pair of fifth place performances in the shot put (39-3.25) and discus (101-4).
In the 14-year-old girls' division, Aldany Dupree finished fifth in the 400m (59.62) and ninth in the 800m (2:29.98).
Deandre Carter, competing in the 10-year-old boys shot put finished third with a 25-2.5, and Urijah Robillard, competing in the 12-year-old boys' 400 finished in sixth place in the 400m with a 59.34.
Next up for Mckenzie and his SBR Jaguar teammates will be the AAU Junior Olympics in Greensboro, North Carolina. The meet can be WATCHED LIVE on MileSplit, beginning Saturday, July 30th.