Local Sports Champion Heads to Eugene, Oregon for NCAA Track & Field Nationals!

Hey Peachtree City…..The Memorial Day holiday is the official start of the summer season!  Yes this is the time were food, fun, and frolic are at the fore-front of our itineraries.  For you sports enthusiast there is the NBA playoffs, NASCAR, baseball, and of course……golf! 

So what has all this to do with homes, mortgages, and the economy?  Absolutely nothing!  However, I wanted to take a minute and give some recognition to our son who through hard work, courage, tenacity, and just sheer athletic ability has managed in 4 years to make a huge mark on the track and field community.  

All bragging aside, Elliott is the poster guy for a true Academic All-American!  This year he has won both the SEC Indoor and Outdoor Championship.  Did I mention that he keep a 3.5 grade point average?  Last week he just posed another win by taking Regionals.  His event….Pole Vaulting.  Yeah, maybe this event is not as popular as the 100 meter sprints but you try running down the track with a pole and jumping 18 feet over a bar.  But you have to really know Elliott to understand this kids heart and what he is actually made of.  Not only does he have the heart of a champion, he has a strong sense of family….which by the way is pretty big and diverse.     

Recently, Elliott was recognized by ESPN the Magazine for making 1st Team Academic All District.  I have attached that article. 

Elliott Haynie Repeats As ESPN The Magazine First Team Academic All-District Senior pole vaulter earns honor for third consecutive season

COLUMBIA, S.C. - South Carolina senior track member Elliott Hayniehas been named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District III First Team, the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) announced Friday. The bid marks the third consecutive season that Haynie earned first team honors by the organization.

To be eligible for Academic All-District honors, student-athletes must hold at least a 3.3 grade point average and be a sophomore in academic and athletic standing. Haynie is now eligible to become an Academic All-American, an honor he has earned each of the past two seasons.

Haynie established himself as the SEC’s premier pole vaulter this season in winning the SEC Indoor and Outdoor titles. He is the first double-crown winner in Gamecock history and currently holds the South Carolina outdoor record at 17′10 ½ (5.45m). He posted the top qualifying mark at last week’s NCAA East Preliminary Round and will look to medal at the finals next week. During the indoor season, Haynie earned his first All-America citation in a Gamecock uniform after placing ninth at the NCAA Indoor Championships. A transfer from Gardner-Webb, Haynie was a four-time Atlantic Sun champion in his two years in Boiling Springs.

South Carolina travels to Eugene, Ore., next week to compete at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. The final meet of the 2010 season will be held June 9-12 at Heyward Stadium on the campus of the University of Oregon.

Hey Georgians…..the other purpose for writing this post was to acknowledge all the other student athletes that are making their contibutions to sports.  These athletes and standouts rightfully deserve the opportunity and the continued support of family and friends.  Folks, its’ mandatory that we keep our kids engaged and support music, sports, and other extra-curricular activities that assist with the development of our kids so that can reach their full potential.  Our governments and boards are slowly eliminating the resources for these activities due to budget cuts and dwindling tax revenues. 

Elliott started out as a small town kid from Fairburn, Georgia with big dreams and aspirations.  Another kid from Elliott’s high school (Creekside) saw his dream become a reality recently as he was drafted by the NFL in the first round by the Kansas City Chiefs.  Congrats to you too, Eric Berry and your family.  Eric played football in high school with one of my other son.  In fact, Eric’s siblings were named after Elliott and his twin Evan.   Evan & Elliott Berry are fast become local and national sport celebrities in both football and track and field. 

It all started with the desire and a dream…….Who’s Next!!!!  Could it be your kid? 

Congrats Elliott and Good Luck at Nationals!