The sport of track and field recognizes ability in younger athletes. It distinguishes potential. Both are easy to see in Sydney Holden.
A member of the Los Angeles Jets Track Club, Holden is just eight years old, but demonstrates ability and poise well beyond her years. No one has ever run faster in the sub-bantam girls division in the 400 meters. Her time of 1:10.69, which she ran in a semifinal heat on her way to winning the Region 15 Junior Olympic title, established the national record. She followed up that performance a short time later in winning the national Junior Olympic title in the event.
The all-time best performance was the first of a pair of national records Holden recorded in 2012. At the Junior Olympic Championships, she ran a leg on the 4x400m relay for the Los Angeles Jets Track Club that shaved close to seven seconds off the existing national record.
And just as the sport itself does, the Youth Athlete of the Year award honors both ability and recognizes future stars. With this in mind, Holden is on the right track.
Bragging Rights H Set the national record in winning the sub-bantam girls 400m (1:10.69) at the Region 15 Junior Olympic Championships H Junior Olympic 400m champion (1:11.99) and 1500m runner-up (5:37.57) H Ran a leg on national record setting 4x400m relay (4:58.22)