track and field

May 28…….A third grade honor student, Jude Burst, of St. Paul’s Episcopal in New Orleans destroyed by almost 16 seconds the 30-year-old record in the nine-year-old age group. The previous record was set in 1980 by Coley Candaele of California at a time of 10:36. Jude’s record time was 10:20:16 shattering by almost 16 seconds Coley’s time. The event was sanctioned by USA Track & Field.

The world record was set at an annual track meet called “The Meet Under the Lights” in New Orleans. The hosts of the event were former LSU runners, Ann Roedecker and Pat Gavin, owners of the “The Louisiana Running Company.” Jude is a member of the New Orleans “Metro Stars.” This is an AAU track team coached by Virgil and Loretta Johnson. Jude was wearing the Nike Zoom Victory shoes when he broke the world’s record.

Jude found his passion for running in December 2007 at a fun run at the ripe old age of seven-years-old. That was his first competitive race at which he ran two miles in 13:46.  At the age of eight he set a meet record of 505.60 in the sub-bantam 1500 meter race at the National Club Championships held at Disney Wide World of Sports in July of 2009. In August 2009 he won the gold medal in the 1500 meter race for the AAU Junior Olympics. By November 2009, Jude won the nine-ten-year old division of the 3000 meter at the Footlocker Cross Country Championships. His winning time was 10:53.

I’m sure we’ll be seeing him in the future setting records for the Track & Field world.