March 2, 2011
Press Release

TDP ELITE THINK DETROIT PAL’S TRACK AND FIELD TEAM SETS THREE NATIONAL RECORDS AT INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIP
 
Detroit, Mich.— The Think Detroit PAL 2011 TDP Elite track and field team set three national records and won 12 gold medals at the 2011 AAU Northern Indoor Championship at Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, Ill. in February. 

TDP athletes Isaiah Griffith (13),  MC Hampton (14), Kevin Hayes (14) and Devin McLeod (14) broke the national record for the boys 4x400 meter relay with a time of 4:00.08.  Additionally, Hampton set a new national record for the boys 400 meter dash at 54.73 seconds and Griffith set a record for boys long jump at 18 feet and 7.25 inches.  The nine athletes representing TDP at the championship participated in 18 individual events and one relay. They won a total of 21 medals, including 12 gold. 

The success at the indoor championship came as no surprise to TDP Elite track and field supporters.  Think Detroit PAL’s track and field team has racked up 4 national records and hundreds medals over the program’s 10 year history.  More importantly, 98% of the programs participants have secured college scholarships in part because of their involvement in the program. 

“Congratulations to the kids and coaches  as we look forward to the outdoor season,” said DeWayne Jones, Think Detroit PAL’s athletic director and newest member of the leadership team.  “It’s great that the participants can experience success as we continue to stress character and leadership.”

Most surprisingly, perhaps, is the fact that TDP track and field has built such a strong program without the use of a track for practice.  The nearly 100 kids aged 7-18 who participate in Think Detroit PAL indoor track and field practice at a small facility in southwest Detroit.

Think Detroit PAL was formed in 2006 with the merger of Think Detroit Inc. and the Detroit Police Athletic League.  In partnership with the Detroit Police Department and community volunteers, Think Detroit PAL builds character in young people through athletic, academic and leadership development programs. In 2010, Think Detroit PAL served over 10,000 girls and boys through 10 sports, making it one of the largest youth organizations in the state of Michigan. More than 80 cents of each dollar donated to Think Detroit PAL goes directly into programming

For more information, please visit http://www.thinkdetroitpal.org or call 313-833-1600.

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