MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. - The nation's top youth track and field competitors are heading to Myrtle Beach, SC for the 2011 World Youth Track & Field Trials and the 2011 USA Youth Outdoor Track & Field Championships, June 28- July 3 at Doug Shaw Stadium. Athletes who will be competing in the World Youth Trials will be vying for a chance to compete in Lille, France at the 7th annual IAAF World Youth Championships, taking place July 6-10.

The Youth Championships is a national competition with entry based upon qualifying standards for each event and has the same age divisions as the USATF Junior Olympic Program: Bantam (10 and under), Midget (11-12), Youth (13-14), Intermediate (15-16) and Young Women/Men (17-18). The USA Youth Outdoor Track & Field Championships are also scored for team championships in all age divisions.

The 2011 Championship meet and Trials will feature great competition from some of the nation’s top youth athletes. Highlighted below is only a handful of the many talented athletes competing this week.

Cameron Thornton ranked among the top high school 800m runners this outdoor season, clocking the fourth-fastest time in the nation at 1:49.62. Nick Hartle, whose seed time is less than three tenths of a second off Thornton’s, should challenge for the World Youth Trials victory.

Rudy Winkler, who won this year’s hammer competition at the New Balance Outdoor Nationals, is the favorite in the event at the World Youth Trials.

Amy Weisenbach led the nation’s high schoolers in the 800m this year with her blazing fast time of 2:02.04. She is favored by almost three seconds in the World Youth Trials 800m competition.

Trinity Wilson, fresh off her victory at the USA Junior Outdoor Championships in the 100m hurdles, will look for another national title at the World Youth Trials.

Haley Crouser looks to continue the family javelin legacy created by her father, former NCAA champion Dean Crouser, and brother, national high school record holder Sam Crouser. Her mark of 173-0 leads the other World Youth Trials competitors by 20 feet.

Harvey McSwain is the top seed in the Young Men’s 100m and 200m races and will look to dominate the short sprints like Addison Brandon did in last year’s competition.

Kendall Williams’ seed time in the Intermediate Boys’ 100m is a tenth of a second faster than the record for the age group. He is also the top seed in the 200m.

Margaux Jones won last year’s Youth Girls’ long jump competition and enters 2011 as the top seed in both the long and high jump competitions.

Jordan Howden will double in Midget Boys’ 200m and 400m, events that he won last year in the Bantam Boys division.

Lauren Williams will look to sweep the sprint events in the Midget Girls’ division. Her seed times in both the 100m and 200m are a threat to the age group records.

For more information on the 2011 USA Youth Outdoor Track & Field Championships, visitwww.usatf.org.