Yougendy Mauricette wins national championship in Philly

Yougendy Mauricette stands atop the podium as the winner of the 400-meter hurdles at the New Balance Nationals held at historic Franklin Field in Philadelphia. SUBMITTED PHOTOS

Tim Bamforth

June 24, 2022

Yougendy Mauricette, left, is shown with his coach Dontez Collins.

Downstate Delaware’s Yougendy Mauricette accomplished a feat last weekend that only a handful of Delaware athletes have ever had the pleasure of reaching. The Sussex Tech junior out of Georgetown captured the national championship in the 400-meter hurdles race at the New Balance Nationals, held at historic Franklin Field in Philadelphia. Mauricette, racing for the Above Xpectations Track Club and coach Dontez Collins, blew away the field to win the race by an amazing three seconds in a time of 51.31. This spring was his second year running track for coach Kani Kane at Sussex Tech, where he specialized in hurdles, sprints and jumps, winning three conference titles and four state titles. He was also named Delaware Athlete of the Year. During his sophomore year, he won conference and state titles in the 300 hurdles. We track coaches normally do not see such a huge improvement in just one year, so I asked coach Collins what he thought the difference was.

“I changed his training to a lot of repeats with low recovery at practice and running hard when his legs were tired with lactic acid,” said Collins. “We worked on his flat speed with 100-meter and 200-meter repeats, and then focused on his technique over the hurdles. He also ran a lot of 400-meter races throughout his indoor and outdoor seasons, which helped him get stronger in his hurdle races.”

Cape Henlopen’s Kai Maull was the other downstate track athlete to win at nationals, leaping 24-feet-7 ¾-inches in 1997 to win the title in North Carolina.

Jungle Jim’s 5K

One of the more popular road races of the summer, the Jungle Jim’s 5K Splash, will be held this Saturday beginning at 7:30 a.m. in Rehoboth Beach. Race proceeds will benefit the Children’s Beach House, as the late Derrick Lingo was a member of the CBH board. The race will offer awards in five-year age groups and also to the overall and top masters finishers. Participants will be able to spend a little time in the waterpark following the race to cool down on the lazy river. Families are not permitted into the park until it opens at 10 a.m. To register, go to seashorestriders.com.

Open Track Night

For the past two Tuesday evenings, a nice group of road racers has come out to the fast Cape Henlopen Legends Stadium 400-meter red oval for open track workouts. After two weeks of repeat 800-meter and 400-meter workouts, the interesting and great thing about putting one foot in front of the other is that almost anyone can do the sport. Running is something open to all ages and ability levels, and that has been evident the past two workouts, as we have had males and females ranging in age from 5 to 75 and from a 2:36 marathoner who can average six minutes a mile for 26 miles to a to a 40-minute 5K runner who averages 12 minutes a mile for three miles. Next week, we will climb a ladder with a 4-8-12-8-4 workout. See you soon!

Dave Reynolds Biathlon

The popular midsummer Dave Reynolds Biathlon, comprising a half-mile ocean swim and a 5K run, will take place Sunday, July 3, starting at Rehoboth Beach Patrol headquarters in Rehoboth Beach. Participants can register as individuals or as two-person male, female or coed teams. Event proceeds go to the Dave Reynolds Scholarship. This is one of the longest-running events in Rehoboth Beach at 31 years. It draws hundreds of spectators to the Boardwalk.

Also, in its second year, the free mini youth biathlon will comprise a 100-meter swim followed by a quarter-mile run on the Boardwalk.