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Published Wednesday, July 01, 2009 in Sports

Dare2 Dream runners compete at AAU National Qualifier

By Chris Goltermann

The Times-Herald

In their first-ever AAU Junior Olympic qualifier, the Dare2 Dream track team from Newnan showcased several top-notch performances, highlighted by second-place efforts from Rodrickquies Boozer in boys events and both Lyric Underwood and Brittney Menefee in girls competition.

Dare2 Dream athletes will now set their sights on the AAU Junior Olympics to be held July 27-Aug. 8. Coach Marvin Noble said he will sending nearly his entire team to the annual event as athletes from all 16 AAU qualifiers will converge on Des Moines, Iowa. Qualifying was based on times or distances, depending on events and age group.

Qualifying was the first of two major steps for Dare2 Dream to get to the national level. The other will be financially, where the team will have to secure airfare and lodging for the week-long event.

"We're going to need some help (financially) to get to nationals," said Noble.

Last weekend, Boozer and twin brother Rodney each had a pair of top-six finishes among their three events at the Area 6 National Qualifier at Laney Stadium in Augusta. Competing in the 8-under Primary boys division, Rodrickquies finished second in the 400 meters in 1 minute, 13.99 seconds and third in the 800 at 2:53.79. Rodney was fifth in the 400 (1:15.30) and sixth in the 800 (2:57.61). The brothers also ran in the 200, placing 12th and 21st respectively.

Underwood and Menefee highlighted Dare2 Dream's girls entries. In the Youth girls (14-under) division, Underwood finished second in the 800 meters in 2:37.70. She also finished seventh in the 400 (1:02.96) and 16th in the 200. Menefee, a rising senior at East Coweta High, placed second in the discus with a throw of 85 feet, 2 inches (25.96 meters).

Other scorers for Dare2 Dream included Dajon Bonnee in Sub Bantam (10-under) boys. Bonnee was third in the 800 in 2:49.88. In Sub Youth boys (12-under), Charles Grey was third in the 1,500 (5:20.62) and teammate Khadim Jones took fifth. Jones also scored in the 400, placing seventh.

Grey also ran on two third-place Youth division (14-under) relay teams. Just 12 years-old, Grey joined Khadim Jones, Christopher Seldon and Ozwald White to finish third in both the 1,600 and 3,200 relays. Individually in Youth boys, Seldon was sixth in the 200 hurdles (30.42) and seventh in the 800.

Among Intermediate boys, Semaj Allen finished eighth in the 800 and was part of a second-place 3,200 relay team with Cory Bemister, Rasheed Jones and Kristjan Lacroix. The quartet also placed sixth in the 1,600 relay.

Other top girls finishers included six year-old Iyonna Melson, who took fourth in the 200 of the Primary (8-under) division. In Intermediate girls, Casey Seldon was sixth in the 1,500 and finished just a second-and-a-half off a qualifying time in the 400 hurdles before having to leave early for a family emergency.

"We're still hoping to qualify Casey if we can," said Noble. "That would give us a full team at nationals."

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BOYS RESULTS

Primary (Fourth overall, 19 points)

200 -- 12. Rodrickquies Boozer, 33.69; 21. Rodney Boozer, 35.85; 400 -- 2. Rodrickquies Boozer, 1:13.99; 5. Rodney Boozer, 1:15.30; 800 -- 3. Rodrickquies Boozer, 2:53.79; 6. Rodney Boozer, 2:57.61

Sub Bantam

200 -- 17. Dajon Bonnee, 34.22; 800 -- 3. Dajon Bonnee, 2:49.88

Sub Youth

400 -- 7. Khadim Jones, 1:05.70; 11. Brandon Baudridge, 1:23.05; 800 -- 10. Charles Grey, 2:39.00; 11. Brandon Baudridge, 3:18.50; 1,500 -- 3. Charles Grey, 5:20.62; 5. Khadim Jones, 5:46.17

Youth

400 -- 18. Ozwald White, 1:03.83; 800 -- 7. Christopher Seldon, 2:27.41; 10. Ozwald White, 2:36.47; 200 hurdles -- 6. Christopher Seldon, 30.42; 1,600 relay -- 3. (Charles Grey, Christopher Seldon, Khadim Jones, Ozwald White); 3,200 relay -- 3. (Charles Grey, Khadim Jones, Christopher Seldon, Ozwald White), 10:41.34

Intermediate

400 -- 29. Kristjan Lacroix, 56.95; 30. Cory Bemister, 57.28; 800 -- 8. Semaj Allen, 2:06.62; 21. Cory Bemister, 2:18.26; 24. Rasheed Jones, 2:21.63; 1,500 -- 10. Kristjan Lacroix, 4:52.88; 13. Rasheed Jones, 5:29.41; 1,600 relay -- 6. (Semaj Allen, Cory Bemister, Rasheed Jones, Krisjan Lacroix); 3,200 relay -- 2. (Semaj Allen, Cory Bemister, Rasheed Jones, Kristjan Lacroix), 9:10.26

GIRLS RESULTS

Primary

200 -- 29. Iyonna Melson, 42.84; 400 -- 20. Iyonna Melson, 1:33.13; 800 -- 4. Iyonna Melson, 3:33.52.

Youth

200 -- 16. Lyric Underwood, 29.79; 400 -- 7. Lyric Underwood, 1:02.96; 800 -- 2. Lyric Underwood, 2:37.70

Intermediate

1,500 -- 6. Casey Seldon, 6:03.37; 400 hurdles -- 11. Casey Seldon, 1:13.93;

Young Women

Discus -- 2. Brittney Menefee, 85 feet, 2 inches (25.96 meters)

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