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Developmental
Meet #1
April 12, 2008
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Next up: AAU District Meet in Johnson City:
We will be meeting at 2:00pm on Thursday, June 26, 2008 at the Airport exit Hardees at 5113 Messer Airport Highway in Birmingham AL
Location of Airport exit Hardees in Birmingham
We will be travelling to the Day's Inn at 2312 Browns Mill Rd in Johnson City TN
Location of Day's Inn in Johnson City
Directions for trip to Johnson City:
Start at 5113 MESSER AIRPORT HWY, BIRMINGHAM going toward RICHARD ARRINGTON JR BLVD N
Turn Right to take ramp onto I-20 E toward GADSDEN/ATLANTA/I-59 N - go 0.4 mi
Continue on I-59 N toward GADSDEN - go 130.9 mi
Take the CHATTANOOGA exit onto I-24 E - go 17.5 mi
Take Left exit #185B/KNOXVILLE onto I-75 N - go 84.0 mi
Merge onto I-40 E - go 16.5 mi
Take exit #385/LEXINGTON onto I-75 N - go 3.6 mi
Continue on I-640 E toward ASHEVILLE - go 7.2 mi
Take the ASHEVILLE Left exit onto I-40 E - go 28.6 mi
Take Left exit #421/BRISTOL onto I-81 N - go 56.7 mi
Take exit #57A/ASHEVILLE/JOHNSON CITY onto I-26 E - go 11.6 mi
Take exit #20/ROAN ST - go 0.3 mi
Turn Right on N ROAN ST(US-11E S) - go 0.2 mi
Turn Right on BROWNS MILL RD
Arrive at 2312 BROWNS MILL RD, JOHNSON CITY, on the Right
We will be competing at the Liberty Bell sdports Complesx within one mile of the Day's Inn.
Former Strider Golden Coachman
to run 800 meters in Olympic Trials:
Former Alabama Strider Golden Coachman will be competing soon in the 800 meters in the United States Olympic Trials. Having attended Smith Middle School and Huffman High School, Golden got his start in track under Coach Dewitt Thomas at the Smith Middle School and Woodlawn High School training sites. As coach Thomas says, "It's not where you're at or where you've been. It's where you're going." After graduating from Huffman High School, Golden ran one year at Wallace State in Hanceville where he was an All-American in the 800 and 1500. Following two tours of duty in Iraq, Golden's return to collegiate competition resulted in his breaking Mississippi State University's school record for 800 meters (STORY) and his qualifying in the 800 meters for the United States Olympic Trials which will be held in Eugene, Oregon later this month. Let's watch Golden compete. We need to call or e-mail him. Stay tuned for more about Golden.
The Strider Summer Invitational was
at Hewitt-Trussville Middle School
on June 14, 2008:
The meet had many participants and was a success.
2008 summer season opens with a bang:
The Alabama Striders competed in the Alabama Youth Track & Field BTC Classic Meet at Hoover High School on June 7, 2008. The majority of Striders participating were from the Eastern Alabama district and the Oxford training site.
RESULTS
Birthday party for Coach Thomas June 13:
 | Coach Thomas being Coach Thomas
at 2004 AAU Indoor Nationals
at the University of Tennessee
in Knoxville, Tennessee |
Birthday party for Founder/CEO Coach Thomas will be 6:30pm at the Woodlawn High School track. There will be a cookout and a fundraiser. All current and former Strider student/athletes, parents, family members, coaches, staff, Strider alumni and all current and former friends and fans of the Alabama Striders are invited. Contact your site administrator for more details. Coach Thomas has been our inspiration and motivation.
Striders competed in
Hershey District Meet on May 10:
The meet was at Lawson Field in Birmingham.
watch for photos and results.
Striders competed in the state championship Hershey meet
and 18-under 5K road race #2 in Jacksonville AL
on May 17, 2008. Results of road race
The road race is Race #2 of the
Alabama Striders 18-under 5K Grand PrixRoad Race Series
Only those who qualified in the district meet may
compete in the state championship Hershey track meet.
Spring 2008 Schedule:
April 12 - Developmental Meet 1 (
Birmingham AL)
April 19 - Prattville Invitational (Prattville AL)
April 26 - Developmental Meet 2 (Metro Birmingham AL)
May 10 - Hershey District Meet (Birmingham AL)
May 17 - Hershey State Meet (Jacksonville AL) must qualify in district meet
May 17 - Alabama Striders 5K Grand Prix Race 2 (Jacksonville AL)
May 31 - Alabama Striders Spring Championships (Birmingham AL) CANCELLEDSummer 2008 Schedule:
June 14 - Strider Summer Invitational (Trussville AL) ENTRY FORM
June 27-28 - AAU District Meet (Johnson City TN) TRIP FEE Top 6 in each event advance to AAU regionals
July 10-11 - AAU Regional Multi-Events (Knoxville TN)
July 12-13 - AAU Regional Championships (Knoxville TN) Top 4 in each event advance to AAU Nationals
July 16-20 - United States Youth Games (Oakland CA) Teams selected by officials
July 19-20 - TFC Nationals site to be announced) Top 8 in each event are age-group All-Americans
July 27-August 2 - AAU Junior Olympic Nationals (Detroit MI)
Strider Forms:
2008 Sponsor Letter for AAU meets
Sign-in sheet for practices
Spring 2008 Schedule
Summer 2008 Schedule
Entry Form for 2008 summer Invitational
Flyer for 2008 Summer Invitational
2008 Summer Track Program Fee
Brent (Fountain Field) Training Site
Center Street Middle School Training Site
Davis Middle School Training Site
Dothan High School Training Site
Fairfield School Training Site
Fort McClellan Training Site
Gate City Training Site
Hobson City Training Site
Jacksonville Training Site
Lewis Elementary Training Site
Norwood Training Site
Oxford High School Training Site
Eastern Division Summer Track Program Training Sites
Smith Middle School Training Site
West End High School Training Site
Woodlawn High School Training Site
Fee for Johnson City Trip
Striders compete well indoors in Knoxville:
In the National AAU Indoor Track and Field
Championships at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Tennessee on February 23-25, 2007, the Alabama Striders had a
small but mighty group of 10 student-athletes winning 9 medals. The
Striders were led by the incomparable 5 year old phenom Aubrey Eaton
and 9 year old Kanisha Willis. Aubrey competed in the 10-under shot
put, placing 11th with a throw of 5-06.25 but the meet officials
awarded Aubrey a medal for his valiant effort as he was by far the
smallest and youngest competitor in the 10-under shot put field. All
other competitors in this event were 9 or 10. In the 1500 meter race
walk, Aubrey made a mistake and missed one lap, but since Aubrey did
not get disqualified for breaking the racewalking rules, once again
the meet directors awarded Aubrey another medal in the racewalk.
Kanisha Willis, a 2 year Strider veteran, placed 3rd in the 10-under
girls shot put with 13-05.50 and also 5th in the 1500 meter racewalk
in 14:38.57. Other Alabama Striders medaling in the meet included
Chastity Evans, 4th in 10-under girls 1500 meter racewalk in 13:01.23,
Juaneka Wiley, 4th in the 11-12 girls 1500 meter racewalk in 13:20.66,
Soweta Gillis, 6th in the 10-under boys shot put with 16-00.00,
Nathaniel Murph, 3rd in 11-12 boys 1500 meter racewalk in 11:21.41 and
Antonio Thomas, 5th in 11-12 boys 1500 meter racewalk in 12:26.76.
This was Antonio's 8th medal in national competition.
Coach Dewitt Thomas, founder and CEO of the Alabama Striders, said,
"This was a great experience for the majority of our athletes who had
never competed indoors before. Our student-athletes did a fantastic
job and competed very admirably. This should springboard these
athletes into successful spring and summer seasons."
The Striders have competed in some cross country and road races
such as the one pictured above in Weaver AL RESULTS
The Striders conducted an 18-under 5K road race on December 31 at
Germania Springs Park in Jacksonville AL at 2PM on December 31 RESULTS
>Striders compete and do well
at club nationals (again):
At the National Club Championships in Orlando on July 5-8, 2005, the Striders won 14 medals which is the most the Striders have ever won at a club championships. Victorya Langford of Adamsville set a club national bantam record of 11:32.80 which was fastest overall girls time in the meet. The record she broke was set in 1998. This was the first time she has ever run the 3000 meters. This is her 9th season with the Striders. She is the daughter of Coach Tracy Langford, a 9 year veteran of the Alabama Striders.
2005 Spring/Summer Track Schedule
Striders win 13 medals in Orlando in 2004:
In the 2004 national club championships in Orlando, the Striders won 13 medals. Ladarius Woods (15-16 boys) was 1st in the 200 meters, 2nd in the 400 meters (49.83, personal record and Strider record) and 3rd in the 100 meters. Jamarquis Caldwell (17-18 boys) was 2nd in the 110 hurdles and the 400 hurdles (55.67-PR). Also in the 17-18 boys, Maurice Winston of Randolph County (Wedowee) medaled in the long jump, 100 meters and 200 meters. Keenan Brock (Norwood, Birmingham) was 2nd in the 100 meters and 5th in the 200 meters. Victorya Langford capped off an incredible season with a 2nd place in the 1500 meters (5:22.79, Strider record). Victorya also got the 4th place medal in the 800 meters. Ending the incredible medal run, Antonio Thomas, who has been a Strider since he was 4 years old, won a 6th place medal in the primary boys shot put. Several other Striders competed and did an excellent job.
Vonetta Flowers visits practice
before kids go to club nationals:
Vonetta Flowers, 2002 Olympic bobsled champion and member of the Alabama Striders from ages 9-18 returned to the striders final practice before going to the club nationals in Orlando. Vonetta, her husband Johnny Flowers and their twin boys visited the practice on Friday, July 2, 2004. Vonetta very graciously brought track shoes, running shoes and a very valuable photo of her and Jill Baaken, giving these to Coach Thomas. Vonetta spoke with the team over an hour and met with every individual team member, parent and coach. Vonetta gave a very inspiring talk to the team and praised Coach Thomas and his involvement in her career. She also passed out many autographed photos and posed for many pictures with everyone there. Channel 13 was there filming and the Birmingham Post-Herald was there doing a story.
For the story in the Post-Herald, click here
For some photos of the event, click here
***Thank you, Vonetta, we will always love you***
List of kids going to club nationals:
NOTE: Years listed after hometown denote number of years in Alabama Striders
Age 6-8 Girls:
Taylor Young (Birmingham, 1 year)
Age 6-8 Boys:
Zavian Caldwell (Lincoln-Talladega, 3 years)
Antonio Thomas (Birmingham, 5 years)
Age 9 Girls:
Tameesha Brock (Birmingham, 1 year)
Shakeria Gatson (Adamsville, 1 year)
Age 10 Boys:
Derrick Stockdale (Talladega, 1 year)
Age 11 Girls:
Victorya Langford (Adamsville, 7 years)
Age 12 Boys:
Keenan Brock (Birmingham, 2 years)
Age 13-14 Girls:
Brittany Christopher (Anniston, 3 years)
Age 15-16 Boys:
Ladarius Woods (Homewood, 6 years)
Age 17-18 Boys:
Jamarquis Caldwell (Lincoln/Talladega, 3 years)
Daniel Rivers (Lincoln/talladega, 1 year)
Beu Walker (Birmingham, 3 years)
Maurice Winston (Wedowee, 1 year)
National Club Championships in Orlando:
The charter bus (by Sheridan) left Legion Field on Monday morning, July 5, 2004 and will be returning to Legion Field at approximately 9:00PM or 10:00PM on Sunday, July 11, 2004. The Striders will be competing on July 6, 7, 8 and 9.
We will be staying in the Amerisuites on International Drive.
For the location of the motel, click here
For driving directions fromlegion field to the motel, click here
2003 Results: Boys | Girls
Anyone winning first place in the club nationals automatically qualifies for the nationals in Des Moines. Under the Striders new scholarship system, the Striders will pay 90% of the expenses to all qualifiers.
Jackie Hall resigns as Striders interim head coach:
Jackie Hall, who had been planning to coach through the club nationals in August, resigned as Alabama Striders interim head coach at the conclusion of the Southeastern Assocation meet on Saturday, June 27, 2004. Coach Hall resigned due to personal reasons. Coach Hall did a great job as interim head coach and the Striders are grateful to her for the time she spent as interim head coach.
Althea Thomas will be Striders interim head coach:
Althea Thomas, who was a member of the Alabama Striders from 1990-2000, will serve as Alabama Striders interim head coach from July 1, 2004 through August 8, 2004. Althea was a member of 4 national championship teams at Louisiana State University. While at LSU, she was an All-SEC performer and an All-Louisiana college performer. She was on the all-SEC academic list during her last 2 years at college. While in high school, Althea was an 18 time Alabama individual state champion. After starting high school at Huffman, she attended Pelham from 1997-1999. She was a member of Pelham's 1998 indoor state championship team, 1998 outdoor state championship team and 1998 cross country team. She was state heptathlon champion in 1999.
Striders perform well in Southeastern AAU meet:
The Alabama Striders young men 4x400 relay, Victorya Langford and Ladarius Woods all won victories at the Souteastern AAU championships at Mountain Brook on June 25-26. 2004.
Strider Invitational - June 12, 2004:
For complete results, click here
2004 Summer Schedule
Striders travel to Prattville, shine at Prattville Invite
1st place 7-8
440 relay
(left to right)
Shamel Franks, Antonio Thomas,
Taylor Willis, Zavian Caldwell | 
(left to right)
Coach Thomas (founder)
and Bessemer site
director Kyola Akers
also known as Coach K
time another Strider
victory at Prattville | 
2nd place 11-12 boys
440 relay
(left to right)
Sherrod Cochran, Kenan Brock,
Derrick Stockdale, Joshua Sutton |
The Alabama Striders took a contingent of approximately 20 student-athletes who were young and inexperienced but proved to be determined beyond their experience and years. The Striders captured several first place finishes as well as a multitude of seconds and thirds at the Prattville Panthers Invitational held at Prattville Junior High. Dewitt Thomas, head coach and founder, said, "Considering that this was the first outdoor meet for the majority of our athletes, I was quite pleased with the outcome but it is a long season and this was our first step to hopefully a successful championship season, We are getting in position to get in position." | Jaylen Willis
Birmingham
7-8 girls
3rd in 100 yards
1st in 220 yards
2nd in 440 relay |
 | Moesha Chatman
Talladega
7-8 girls
3rd in 50 yards |
 | Zavian Caldwell
Talladega
5-6 boys
1st in 50 yards
1st in 100 yards
2nd in 440 relay |
 | Shamel Franks
Birmingham
5-6 boys
3rd in 50 yards
1st in 220 yards
2nd in 440 relay |
 | Antonio Thomas
Birmingham
7-8 boys
1st in 50 yards
2nd in 440 relay |
 | Chloe Sutton
Birmingham
9-10 girls
1st in 50 yards
1st in 100 yards
1st in 220 yards
2nd in 440 relay
1st in standing long jump |
 | Tamesha Brock
Birmingham
9-10 girls
2nd in softball throw |
 | Kamren Kennedy
Birmingham
9-10 boys
2nd in 220 yards
1st in 440 yards
2nd in 440 relay |
 | Derrick Stockdale
Talladega
9-10 boys
1st in softball throw
2nd in 440 relay |
 | Davonte Chamblin
Birmingham
11-12 boys
2nd in softball throw |
 | Sharrod Cochran
Talladega
11-12 boys
1st in softball throw
1st in standing long jump |
 | Kenan Brock
Birmingham
11-12 boys
1st in 100 yards
1st in standing long jump
2nd in 440 relay |
 | Joshua Sutton
Birmingham
4th in 100 yards
2nd in 440 relay
2nd in standing long jump |
 | Tyeshia Carey
Bessemer
13-14 girls
1st in standing long jump
3rd in 440 relay |
 | Janayus Akers
Bessemer
15-16 girls
4th in 100 yards
1st in 220 yards
3rd in 440 relay |
 | Nicholas Akers
Bessemer
15-16 boys
3rd 440 relay |
 | Robert Cummings
Bessemer
4th in 100 yards
3rd in 220 yards
2nd in 440 relay |
 | Taurus hall
1st in 100 yards
1st in 220 yards
3rd in 440 relay |
Alabama Striders Training Sites include:
Woodlawn High School, Birmingham AL
Mondays and Wednesdays 6:00PM-7:30PM
Site director: Coach Thomas, cell phone 205-276-4789
Davis Middle School, Bessemer AL
Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays 6:00PM-7:30PM
Site director: Coach Akers, cell phone 205-370-3937, home phone 205-428-2378
Jacksonville State University track, Jacksonville AL
Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays 6:00PM-7:30PM
Site director: Danny McWilliams, home phone 256-831-5055
If you are interested in training at these sites
or for information about other sites statewide,
please call the 24 hour hotline 205-595-TRAC(8722) and leave a message.
The Striders competed at AAU Indoor Nationals:
The indoor nationals were February 27-29, 2004 in Knoxville, Tennessee.
The Striders competed on February 28-29. [schedule and roster that was used]
 | Antonio (Boo-man) Thomas (left, age 7, Birmingham)
and Zavian Caldwell (right, age 5, Talladega),
two of the youngest Striders competing in Knoxville. |
Striders finish at indoor nationals with record haul of 23 medals:
On Sunday, February 29 the Striders continued their outstanding participation at the University of Tennessee's Stolely Athletic Center's indoor arena by grabbing 14 more medals and garnering a record indoor national haul of 23 medals. Once again led by Laderius Woods of Homewood, Jamarquis Caldwell of Lincoln and Cleasha Burks of Hoover, the Striders competed under the banner of ATAC (Alabama Tennessee Age-Group Coalition) which was founded with the help of Coach Thomas in 2002. In the midget boys division, Kenan Brock of Birmingham sped to a time of 7.62 for 5th in the 55 meter and 29.42 for 6th in the 200 meter. For Intermediate girls, Cleasha Burks added medals in the 200 (5th, 27.74) and 400 (7th, 1:04.00) while Ashley Russell of Dadeville sprinted 11.21 in the 55 meter hurdles for 5th place. Intermediate boy Laderius Woods, who is rapidly approaching Jazmond Burke's team record of 7 medals at nationals, earned runnerup status in the 55 meters (6.70), 3rd place in the 200 (24.20) and ran an indoor PR of 54.33 to score 4th place in the 400. In the young men's division, Jamarquis Caldwell ran a great race in the 55 hurdles (8.14) for the silver. Caldwell also placed 6th in the open 400 (53.64) and ran the fastest leg on the 4x400 relay quartet that garnered the runnerup spot in 3:59.25. Teaming with Caldwell in the relay were Daniel Rivers of Lincoln, Alex Loera of Lincoln and Curtis Hadddox of Dadeville, all of whom also ran the 800. In the 800, Rivers was 6th in an indoor PR of 2:14.88, Haddox was 12th in 2:24.31 and Loera was 13th in 2:26.95. Coach Thomas stated at the end of the meet, "I am very proud of all our student athletes. They without a doubt successfully completed outr finest effort in indoor national competition. We look forward to the 2005 meet."Striders perform great on February 28 at AAU Indoor Nationals:
Even though taking a small squad of less than 20 to the indoor nationals, the Alabama Striders amassed 7 medals and qualified several athletes for Sunday's running finals. The meet was held in the very spacious 13,000 seat Stokely Athletic Center. The Striders were very impressed with the facilities used for the competition. The Striders group left Legion Field Friday at about 5PM Central time. Even though arriving at the Knoxville motel late Friday night and not able to get a lot of rest, the Striders represented themselves well in a grueling Saturday of competition.
 | Monesha Chatman of Talladega led the bantam (born 1994 and after) girls with a 6th place 5-00.00 shot put that earned her a medal (top 8 received medals at nationals) and ran the 55 meter dash (27th, 11.66). |
Bantam girl Chloe Sutton ran the 200 (23rd, 37.79) and 400 (1:40.59).
 | Derrick Stockdale's double medal performance paced the bantam boys on Saturday. Derrick of Talladega medaled in the shot put (5th, 14-04.75) and long jump (7th, 8-01.50). |
 | Antonio (Boo-man) Thomas of Birmingham tossed 8-09.00 to grab the 6th place medal in the bantam boys shot put. Also, Thomas was 11th (4-01.50) in the long jump and 28th in the 55 meters (12.94). |
 | Bantam boy Zavian Caldwell of Talladega, although only 5 years old, was 7th in the shot put (7-07.00) and 9th in the long jump (6:09.75) and 24th in the 55 (10.61). |
 | Bantam boy Kamren Kennedy ran the 200 (27th, 45.17) and 400 (15th, 1:25.08). |
 | In the midget (born 1992-1993) boys division, Kenan Brock of Birmingham leaped 12-06.25 in the long jump to tally a 6th place medal. Also, Brock qualified 5th in the 55 in 7.61 and 5th in the 200 in 28.20. |
 | Midget boy Sherrod Cochran of Talladega medaled in the shot put (4th, 19-00.75), placed 11th (9-04.00) in the long jump and was 23rd in the 55 meter dash (9.44). |
Midget boy Joshua Sutton was 24th in the 400 (1:40.12).
 | In the intermediate (born 1988-1989) girls, Hoover High School sophomore Cleasha Burks placed 8th in the shot put and qualified 6th in the 400 (1:04.66) and 2nd in the 200 (27.02) which was the 2nd fastest for all girls in this meet for athletes born August 1, 1985 and after. |
Intermediate girl Ashley Russell of Dadeville ran the 200 (22nd, 30.46) and 400 (14th, 1:11.90) and competes Sunday in the 800 meter run which is the shortest running event not to have a qualifying round.
 | Laderius Woods of Homewood, who was 1999 bantam boys outdoor national 100 meter champion and 2003 youth boys outdoor national 100 meter runnerup, advanced to the finals in three sprint events. Woods qualified in the 55 (2nd, 6.62), the 200 (5th, 24.68) and the 400 (7th, 56.14). |
 | In the young men classification, veteran Jamarquis Caldwell of Lincoln qualified in the 55 meter hurdles and also qualified 8th with 55.76 in the 400 meters (8th, 55.76). |
 | Young man Daniel Rivers of Lincoln ran a personal record in the 400 (12th, 56.37 in 400) |
 | Young man Curtis Haddox of Dadeville ran the 400 (21st, 1:01.90) and the 1500 (9th, 4:59.55). |
 | Young man Alex Loera of Lincoln ran the 400 (22nd, 1:02.49) and 1500 (11th, 5:14.08). |
 | Alabama Striders head coach Dewitt Thomas said: "This by far has been our most impressive team performance at an indoor national meet. Our small but determined group of student-athletes have competed admirably and we look forward to finishing tomorrow on a high note." |
Sec.-Treas.
Mrs. Lee-Thomas |
Coach Bowie |
Coach Caldwell |
Coach Milligan |
Coach Robinson |
Managers Edena Wilkerson (left) and Jasmine Crum (right) |
Results of 2003 indoor nationals in Merrillville, Indiana
Current list of local coaches:
Coach Dewitt Thomas (Birmingham):
office: 205-595-TRAC (8722)
cell: 205-276-4775
Coach Frank Robinson (Birmingham):
phone: 205-902-4197
home: 205-923-1539
Coach Tracy Langford (Adamsville):
home: 205-674-7443
work: 205-796-0104
Coach Ted Leeth (Dothan):
cell: 334-596-5430
Coach Jackie Hall (Hoover):
cell: 205-563-6611
Coach Frank Bowie (Jacksonville):
cell: 256-282-6647
Coach Prentice Beverly (Montgomery):
cell: 334-416-3470
Coach Caldwell (Talladega):
home: 256-268-0964
cell: 256-223-0827
Coach Maye (Prattville):
cell: 334-361-1833
Ladarius Woods of the Alabama Striders
Places 2nd in the Youth Boys 100 Meters
at the Nationals in Ypsilanti, Michigan:
Ladarius had also won the bantam boys 100 meter national championship in Cleveland, Ohio in 1999, anchored the midget boys 4X100 relay which placed 7th in 2001 in the nationals in Virginia Beach, and in 2002 missed making the youth boys finals in the 100 meters by .001 second in the nationals in Knoxville.Also, Bessemer native Judith Burroughs of the Alabama Striders placed 7th in the bantam girls 1500 meter racewalk and her brother Nicholas Burroughs placed 8th in the sub-midget boys 1500 meter racewalk.
For complete results of the nationals, click here
There will be more to follow about about the Alabama Striders in the 2003 nationals.SEAUU Championships in Knoxville (June 20-21):
Individual Results | Click here for team scoresRECENT EVENT (June 27-28, 2003):
AAU Region 3A Track and Field Championships
Charlotte, North Carolina
University of North Carolina-Charlotte:
Team scores from AAU Region 3 Meet
National Results: 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998
Contact numbers:
Coach Thomas (cell): 205-276-4775
Asst. Coach Jackie Hall (cell): 205-563-6611
Asst. Coach Caldwell (cell): 256-223-0827
The Alabama Striders will be competing as part of the Alabama Tennessee Age Group Coalition:
Current members of coalition:
Alabama Striders - Coach Dewitt Thomas
C-Motion (Chattanooga) - Coach Stanley Jackson
Memphis Thoroughbreds - Coach Tom Washington
Prattville Panthers - Coach Greg Maye
Website: www.alabamatennesseeagegroupcoalition.8k.com
Coach Caldwell will be conducting an Alabama Striders training site at the Ft. McClellan track on Mondays and Wednesdays from 6PM-8PM. His home phone# is 256-268-0964 and his cell phone# is 256-223-0827.
Attention: All statewide sites:
West End (Birmingham) High School will be the joint practice site for all statewide student athletes of the 2003 Alabama Striders summer team for the purpose of time trials, relay practice, paperwork, fee collections, and team unification prior to the Knoxville trip.
Contact the coach at your training site or
Head Coach Dewitt Thomas
coachmdthomas@yahoo.com
home: 205-595-8722 (TRAC)
cell: 205-276-4775
2003 National AAU Junior Olympics Championship Schedule:
June 20-21 - Knoxville, Tennessee
AAU Southeastern Championships
University of Tennessee
Top 6 qualify for next round.
June 26-27 - Charlotte, North Carolina
AAU Region 3A Multi-Event Championships
Top 6 qualify for nationals
June 28-29 - Charlotte, North Carolina
University of North Carolina-Charlotte
AAU Region 3A Track and Field Championships
Top 4 qualify for nationals
Location | Nearby Motels | Directions from Legion Field
July 23-30 - AAU Junior Olympic National Championships
Eastern Michigan University
Detroit, Michigan
 |
To commemorate the historic 2002 olympic gold medal won by Vonetta Flowers and Jill Bakkan (pictured at left) in the 2-woman bobsled, renowned sports artist Steve Skipper of anointedhomesart.com is offering a limited edition portrait print of Vonetta Flowers and Jill Bakkan called "Glory at the Top" at various costs. Please visit Mr. Skipper's website where you can find information about ordering. Also Vonetta, a former Alabama strider, and her husband Johnny Flowers have very graciously agreed to donate a portion of their earnings from the sale of these portraits to the Alabama Striders. |
Althea Thomas, daughter of Alabama Striders founder Dewitt Thomas, recently ran a personal record 57.30 in the 400 meter hurdles in the Mt. Sac Relays in the Los Angeles, California area. This performance was good for 3rd overall and placed her 6th on the all-time LSU list, 7th on the mational list, and 1st in the newly formed NCAA Mideast region. Althea ran 11 seasons with the Striders, starting at age 8.
 | Vonetta Flowers makes Yahoo Sports!!!
Click here to see her 2/9/02 page there.
Flowers (left) and Jill Bakken (right)
at 2002 Winter Olympic award ceremony |
Vonetta Flowers wins gold in 2002
Winter Olympics!!!
On February 19th, 2002, Flowers and her partner, Jill Bakken, became the first American women to win a gold medal in the bobsled competition.Her tireless effort and dedication has paid off.
She was one of the original Striders. As an Alabama Strider from 1983-1992,
she was a national champion and multiple All-American. She was recruited
and developed by
Coach Dewitt Thomas, founder of the Alabama Striders.
For more about Vonetta,
click here or check out her website at www.vonettaflowers.com
which includes material about Coach Thomas and the Striders: Unlikely Story in Alabama
Many other articles about Vonetta may be found by clicking here
Curtis Perry, born in October 1974 in Birmingham, started running with the
Striders in 1991, graduating from Woodlawn High in 1994, Wallace State-Hanceville
CC in 1996, and LSU in 1998. Curtis was 1998 NCAA 200 meter champion and a national
and world class sprinter, competing in world championship relays for LSU. Perry
has trained in Los Angeles under Coach John Smith in a group including Maurice
Green, Ato Boldon, and a host of other world class athletes. Curtis has been
inactive during the last couple of years due to injuries, but he is currently
training in the Birmingham area under Coach Felisa Howard Woods, who herself
competed for the Striders from 1985-1991. Felisa, who competed in the 1996
Olympic trials, is a former age group, JUCO, and NCAA All-American.
Ten Striders Achieve All-American
Status at 2001 J-O Nationals
| Striders make the news at the 2001 nationals Image at right shows Striders in
4X100 relay
For what was written about the Striders in
the Birmingham and Virginia newspapers,
CLICK HERE |
 |
Some of the medal-winning Striders in the 2001 nationals
(photos taken at
meet location)
11-12 boys 4X100 (6th, 51.21)
(l-r)Chris Bighems (Dothan),
Michael Hall (Birmingham),
Ladarius Woods (Birmingham), Stanley Jones III (Dothan) |
Golden Coachman
(Birmingham, Huffman High)
4th, 17-18 800, 1:54.58 | 
13-14 girls 4X100 (8th, 50.05)
(l-r) Katrina Harrell
(Center
Point, Erwin High),
Julisa Edwards
(Hoover, Berry Middle),
Adrienne Bradley
(Birmingham, Smith Middle),
Christina King
(Birmingham,
Parker High)
|
More Striders photos taken at the 2001 nationals
(l-r)Head Coach Dewitt Thomas (Birmingham),
Assistant Coach Stanley Jones Jr. (Dothan),
Assistant Coach Mia Lewis (Dothan) |
Coach Stan Jones Jr., Mrs. Jones, Stan Jones III (far left)
and brothers at practice track |
|
Coach Thomas and Coach Lewis with Striders at practice
More Alabama Striders representatives at the 2001 nationals
(photos were taken elsewhere)
Coach Thomas |
T.J.'s mother |
Emily Hulse |
Melanie Poke, Mallory Davis |
For results and story of the 2001 national meet, CLICK HERE
Early Striders results from the nationals
in Virginia:
Golden Coachman (17-18 boy),
who is entering his senior year at Birmingham's Huffman High School,
placed 4th in the 800 with a PR of 1:54.58 and 10th in the 1,500 in a
PR of 4:08.25. Katrina Harrell (13-14 girl) has advanced to the finals in
the 100 and 200. In the 100, she ran 12.80 into a 1.5mph wind in the first
round and 12.80 into a 1.2 mph wind in the semi-finals. In the 200,
she ran 26:33 into a 4.2 mph wind in the first round and 25.60 in the
semi-finals to nab the last qualifying spot by a mere .003 second.
Laderius Wood, 1999 bantam boy 100 meter champion, qualified for the
semi-finals in the 100 with a time of 13.09, but does not expect to
continue in the competition due to an injury. In the 4X400 midget boys
relay, Laderius Wood (Birmingham), Michael Hall (Birmingham), Stanley
Jones III (Dothan), and Chris Bighems (Dothan) ran 4:10.60 which was the 10th fastest time in the prelims and did not qualify for the finals. In t
he youth girls 4X400 relay, Jolisa Evans (Hoover), Creashia Burke (Hoover), Veronica Jones
(Birmingham), and Katrina Harrell (Center Point) ran 4:15.24 which was 4th in their heat
and did not qualify for the finals.
The Striders competed in Huntsville on June 22-23, 2001
For results of the 2001 Huntsville meet, CLICK HERE
For photos of the
meet, CLICK HERE
For
results of the same meet in 2000, CLICK HERE
The Striders competed in
Savannah, Georgia on July 5-8, 2001.
About 40-45 Striders qualified for the nationals.
For results of the 2000 Region 3 Meet, CLICK HERE
For results of the 2001 Region 3 Savannah meet,
CLICK HERE FOR BOYS OR CLICK HERE FOR GIRLS
The Striders competed
in Atlanta on May 26-27, 2001.
For photos
of the meet,
CLICK HERE
JJJJJ
Hot Fun In
The Summertime!!!
The
Alabama Striders is a statewide club with 6 divisions as follows:
METRO BIRMINGHAM: Includes Bessemer area, Shelby County, over the mountain, Leeds, St. Clair County
.
EAST: Includes the following counties: Calhoun, Cleburne, Etowah, Talladega
WEST: Includes Tuscaloosa, Demopolis, Hillcrest, Livingston, etc.
NORTH:
Includes Hartselle, Cullman, Decatur, Huntsville, Madison County, etc.
MID-SOUTH:
Includes Montgomery, Auburn, Phoenis City, Selma, Tuskegee, Opelika, etc.
SOUTH:
Includes Mobile County, Baldwin County, Dothan area, etc.
Pictured above is former Alabama Strider
Vonetta Flowers (left in left picture,
right in right picture)
with bobsled teammates. Vonetta is currently a member of the 2001-2002 US
world bobsled team
which placed 2nd in the 2001 World Cup Championships and 7th in the 2001
World Championships. She
competed the 1996 and 2000 Olympic Trials in the long jump. While at UAB
from 1992-1996, she was
an 8-time NCAA All-American, winning 20 individual titles in the Sun Belt
Conference and 12
individual titles in Conference USA. She set UAB indoor records in the 200
and the long jump.
She set UAB outdoor records in the 100, 200, long jump and triple jump. She
ran on UAB outdoor
record setting 4X100 and 4X200 relay teams. She is currently the sprint and
jump coach at UAB.
She was an Alabama Strider from 1983-1992. For more about Vonetta,
click here or check out her website at www.vonettaflowers.com
which includes material about Coach Thomas and the Striders: Unlikely Story in Alabama
Many other articles about Vonetta may be found by clicking here
 The
Alabama Striders family congratulates
Althea
Thomas (Strider 1988-2000)
2000 All SEC Hurdles
2000 NCAA
All-American 4x400
Member of LSU Lady Tigers 2000 NCAA
Outdoor
National Championship team |
 Strider Jazmond Burks runs in a 100-meter prelim of the
Region 3 AAU track meet in July 2000 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Jazmond is a
4-time national champion in the 100 meter and 200-meter. Of the 45 Alabama
Striders who made the trip to the University of Tennessee, 15 earned
berths in the national meet in August 2000 in Orlando, Florida. |
 Strider Ken Ogletree
(Grambling University), 1999 national runner-up in 17-18 boys shot-put |
 1999 AAU
All-Americans, 17-18 Women's 4x800 Relay: (Left to right) Althea Thomas
(LSU), Elace Minnifield (Huffman), Kiosha Hughes (Ensley), Ellye Bernardi
(Oxford) |
LINKS:
Vonetta Flowers article on Yahoo Sports--2/9/02
Vonetta Flowers website
Location, nearby motels, etc. of 2003 Indoor Nationals
2001 National
Outdoor Track Results
Results and story of 2001 nationals
Results of 2001 Region 3 meet (boys)
Results of 2001
Region 3 meet (girls)
Results of 2000 Region 3 meet
Results of 2001
Southeast AAU meet
The
Alabama Striders family congratulates
Strider Ken Ogletree
(Grambling University), 1999 national runner-up in 17-18 boys shot-put
1999 AAU
All-Americans, 17-18 Women's 4x800 Relay: (Left to right) Althea Thomas
(LSU), Elace Minnifield (Huffman), Kiosha Hughes (Ensley), Ellye Bernardi
(Oxford)