Claudia Francis of Queens will compete in the girls’ 1,000-meter run next week at the inaugural Youth Olympic Games in Singapore.
Francis, a senior this fall at Benjamin Cardozo High School, will run in the qualifying round next Thursday, Aug. 19. The final is Aug. 23. She is one of the leading halfmilers in the country, having run 2:05 for 800 meters outdoors and 2:50 for 1,000 meters indoors.
The 1,000 is rarely contested outdoors. Francis’s experience running the distance in indoor meets at the Armory could give her an advantage in Singapore.
Two athletes from New Jersey are also on the 20-member U.S. squad. Myasia Jacobs, of Paterson, will run the women’s 100 meters, and Najee Glass, of Woodbridge, will run the men’s 400. Jacobs, who will be a junior at Paramus Catholic in the fall, will run her qualifying race on Wednesday. She has a 100 best of 11.44. Glass, who will be a junior at St. Peter’s Prep, begins his qualifying round on Tuesday. Glass has run 47.32.
The Youth Olympics is a multisport event, similar to the Olympic Games, for athletes ages 17 and under. There will be 26 spots contested in Singapore. Competition begins on Saturday.
Not all of the standard events are contested in track and field. There was supposed to be a three-person medley relay, but it does not appear on the current online time schedule.
Track and field will be contested at Bishan Stadium, which seats 4,100 spectators. /JP/
