A talented young sprinter from Raleigh has been chosen to receive a big honor from USA Track & Field.
Bryce Love, who runs for the Carolina Elite Track Club, is the 2009 Youth Athlete of the Year by USA Track & Field's Youth Committee.
This summer, he became the first Midget Boys Division runner to set three national records in one year. (Check out his times below.)
Love will receive his award during the Dec. 5 Jesse Owens Awards and Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Indianapolis. The awards event is held in conjunction with USA Track & Field's annual meeting.
"I am honored and blessed to receive this prestigious award," Love said in a news release issued by USATF on Monday. "I thank USA Track & Field for this recognition. I have participated with USATF since I was 8 years old. I was inspired as I stood by the track and watched the older athletes run phenomenal times. I set goals and worked hard to do my best. This award is special. I'd like to thank my family, team, coaches and community for their continued support."
See a video of Bryce Love in action.
LOVE'S RECORD-BREAKING SUMMER
From USA Track & Field
North Carolina USATF Junior Olympics
June 26-28, N.C. A&T's Irwin Belk Stadium, Greensboro
National records: Midget Boys, 200-meter dash, 23.57 seconds; midget boys, 400 meters, 52.16 seconds (previous records of 23.74 and 52.90, set by Xavier Jones in 2007
Other races: first place, 100 meters, 11.68 (wind-aided; +2.2 mps)
Russell Blunt East Coast Invitational
July 24-26, Duke University's Wallace Wade Stadium, Durham
National record: Midget Boys, 100 meters, 11.64 seconds (previous record, 11.69, set by Darian Trout-Brown in 2008
USATF National Junior Olympic Outdoor Track & Field Championships
N.C. A&T's Irwin Belk Stadium, Greensboro
National record: Midget Boys, 400 meters, 51.76 seconds (preliminaries); 200 meters, 23.37 (beat national youth record of 23.38 he set in qualifying heats); 400 meters, 50.75 (broke own record set in preliminaries by more than 1 second)
Other races: 100-meters preliminaries, 11.59 (wind-aided); 100 final, 11.79 seconds (into stiff wind)
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- Teri Boggess
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