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Thirteen-year-old Rudder Brown, pictured here with his medal at the Park West track, recently won the title of All American for shot put when he placed fifth in the nation in his age group at the USATF Junior Olympic National meet on Aug. 1.

With a distance of 48’10”, Brown’s throw in the shot put was a personal best.  A three-year member of the Mount Pleasant Track Club (MPTC), Brown, 13,  placed fifth in the nation in his age group, Youth Boys (13-14), after also placing first in the state and region levels of the USA Track and Field Junior Olympics.  

“The MPTC is very focused on goal setting, and Rudder embraced that this season,” said Head Coach Tami Dennis.  “He came to practice in early April with three very specific goals for the season: to be state and region champion, and to be an All American.  Every practice, he had those goals in mind.  And he reached all three goals this year. I couldn’t be more proud of him.”

Brown, a former Laing Middle School student and rising freshman at Wando High School, traveled to the National meet after competing in the Junior Olympic Region Meet in Maryland on July 9. This region is composed of six states and is considered one of the toughest regions in the country.  Brown was region champion in shot put for his age group, sending him to the Nationals last weekend.

The national meet was composed of the top youth track and field competitors from each region in the country.   The top eight athletes at the National meet are considered All-American.

Brown remarked on how much fun and how exciting the National meet was, and what a challenge it was to compete against other athletes from across the country, many of whom were older than him.  

“It felt really good to beat older athletes,” he said.  

Brown had been practicing with the track club for three days per week since April. This was his second time attending the USA Track and Field Junior Olympic National meet, after also qualifying in 2007 at age 12.

Improving in his throw in each meet level of the Junior Olympics as well as nearly every time he threw, Brown’s best score the shot put was 44’4” at the state meet and  46’5” at the region meet, setting up his personal best.

“He knew when he threw the winning throw at nationals that it was a great one,” Dennis said.

In addition to  Dennis, Brown was coached throughout the past 17 weeks by volunteer Quintin Turner, a former MPTC member and current athlete at The Citadel.  Turner, who was state and region USATF champion himself last year, accompanied Brown to the National meet this year.

Rudder’s mother, Deb Brown, said coaches Dennis and Turner should receive some credit for her son’s success.

“Tami is one of the most encouraging coaches,” she said.  “She and Quintin are constantly setting goals and encouraging the athletes to meet them. Throughout the season they always made Rudder feel like he could meet his goal of being All American.”

“It’s great to see someone as focused as Rudder is at age 13,” Dennis said.  “He knew exactly where he wanted to be when he started the season, and he knew his competition and how to get there.”