News

The Pine Belt area will witness one of the greatest 5k races in the southern part of the United States this Saturday at the Run for Love 5k in front of the Payne Center at the campus of the University Of Southern Mississippi. U-Coach, a Private Running club, runs under the supervision and training of the owner of Hattiesburg's Soccer Locker and City Runners, Yousri Elmejdoubi, a former USM track and cross country athlete, who still competes at a world class level. "U-Coach was created to help young runners who like to work hard, want to improve and be the best of what they do. What do I do?, get them fast" said Yousri.

U-Coach will come  to the Run for Love 5K this weekend looking for fast times. Leading the way for the club will be Super-Girl Cory McGee, a 13 year old from Pass Christian, who will be trying to break the national record for the 5k distance, currently held by 2005 Footlocker Cross Country National Champion, 14 year old Jordan Hasay From California. The current record is 17:05. Jordan set the record a year ago when she was 13 years old. " I think Cory be able to go under 17:00 minutes", having a set up pace already planned for Cory and a pace rabbit who himself has a respectable 13:25 time in 5k distance, (her coach Yousri Elmejdoubi)." We are planning to go through the first mile between 5:24-and 5:27, the 2nd mile between 10:48 and 10:55 which is a 16:45 5 K pace, and the last mile it will only get faster, it will be exciting and fun to watch. If this record is broken here in Hattiesburg it will mean a lot to the city of Hattiesburg and to the runners in Mississippi.

Other U-Coach runners to look for at the race are Corey Rigdon who will be coming with the intention to win the overall position, and to shatter his personal record of 15:56. His rival and teammate Cameron Sherrill will also be looking forward to break the 16 minute barrier. John Caleb Grenn and Brach Barham will try to dip under 17 minute mark, which will smash their personal records. PCHS Superstar Logan Waites will try to run sub 19 minutes. She will try to lead her teammates Brittany Griffis, Ronald Young, and Jackson Ross to their personal bests. Finally Ana Smith will try to break the 21 minute mark.

For more information about the U-Coach Running Club, contact them by e-mail at cityrunners2003@yahoo.com or by telephone at 601-914-3687