Sassy

The Main Man in My Life...Quincy!
2005 North American Track & Field Champion/50m sprint

Quincy's First Newspaper Article!

Gold rush

Banister earns 100-meter medal at Hershey's meet By Charlie Laughtland

Quincy Banister's bedroom is filling up with tokens from his burgeoning track career.
The 9-year-old sprinter earned his most treasured memento to date last weekend at the North American finals of the 28th annual Hershey's Track and Field Games.
Banister captured the 100-meter dash gold medal in an extremely close 9-10 boys race Aug. 6 in Hershey, Penn.
"I pulled out in front of everybody," Banister said.
But the rest of the field tightened the gap and one runner eventually overtook Banister before losing his balance near the end of the heat.
"When he stumbled, I sped up," said Banister, who will enter the fourth grade at Meridian Park Elementary next month.
Banister crossed the finish line in a time of 14.50 seconds. The next two runners were within .06 of his winning mark.
More than 400,000 boys and girls ages 9-14 throughout the U.S. and Canada compete in the Hershey's Track and Field Games each year. Alumni of the program include Olympic medalists Justin Gatlin, Joanna Hayes and Monique Henderson.
Banister clinched a spot in the North American meet by registering the Northwest region's fastest times in both the 50 and 100 meters at the state championships July 9 in Puyallup.
Qualifiers were treated to an all-expenses paid, four-day trip to Hershey, where they visited the candy factory and amusement park. Bannister's favorite ride was the gravity-defying Storm Rider roller coaster.
"It goes like 75 mph and it spins," he said, using his hands to illustrate each loop.
Banister got involved in track and field just three years ago. It was clear from a young age he had a little extra zip in his step.
"Ever since he started athletics he's been real fast," said his mother, Sarah Ahlgren. "His coaches told us to get him involved in track right away."
Banister's success in sports -- he also excels at basketball and soccer -- was somewhat unexpected. He was born with a hole in his heart that required surgery when he was six months old.
The family was told the condition might restrict the type of physical activities Banister would be able to participate in. The only reminder of the procedure he was left with is the faint, four-inch scar on his chest.
"The doctors said he probably wouldn't be able to run and play like other kids," Ahlgren said. "But he's sure showed them."

Hershey's Track and Field GamesCreated in 1975, the Hershey's Track and Field Games has grown from a local playground event in one community to one of the largest youth sports programs in the United States and Canada. Meets take place in every state and every province in North America, and the grand finale -- the North American finals -- takes place in Hershey, Penn.The goal of the Games is to introduce children to physical fitness through basic events like running, jumping and throwing. But the program also strives to encourage children to reach their potential and develop a sense of accomplishment. The Games are solely funded by the Hershey Co.