Sports
Breaking Barriers
Nearly 50 years before Coco Gauff was making history on the tennis courts, it was her grandparents who were making a difference in their community by breaking barriers, showcasing integrity, and, more importantly, giving young Black children an opportunity to learn life lessons through the game of baseball and softball.
In 1971, amid the then-segregated neighborhood of Delray Beach, Florida, Eddie Odom Jr. took some of the first steps toward changing the landscape of baseball in his community.
As a boy, Odom Jr. had been denied the opportunity to play organized baseball because of his race, an exclusion that stayed with him for decades. After playing in the minor leagues for a few years, Odom Jr. was determined that no child in his neighborhood would face the same barrier.
“When I got older,” said Odom Jr., “I told myself I was going to start my own league.”
In 1970, Odom Jr. did exactly that, creating a community where every kid could step onto the field, regardless of race. When Odom Jr. tried to bring interested kids from his neighborhood to the existing league across town, however, they were turned away because the league boundaries excluded Black neighborhoods. But Odom Jr. did not let that discourage him, and instead, gathered kids together and started practicing at a nearby park.
After a long year of getting the league off the ground, Odom Jr. decided that they were ready for the next step — competing against other local teams. When he took his team to the other side of town to compete, however, the league official told him he was unable to schedule a game because they were not officially charted with Little League® International. Later that night, the same official quietly invited Odom Jr. to his home and gave him the guidance he needed to charter a league. That league, ingrained in Little League’s core value of integrity from the start, is now known as Delray Beach American Little League.
From the very beginning, the obstacles were constant. Opponents started to tell them fake rules about Little League in order to gain an advantage over them.
“They told us we couldn’t throw curveballs,” said Yvonne Odom, Vice President of Baseball for Delray Beach America LL. “But when the game started, they were throwing them to us.”
In the early years, many community members criticized the city for having two local leagues, one for the white community and one for the Black community. Yvonne, however, saw it differently. She viewed it as an opportunity for more kids to play baseball.
City officials and other members of the community did not think that the league would last very long, convinced that it would fizzle out.
“We are determined to keep our league going because we want our kids to be able to play baseball. It’s for the love of the game, that’s all,” said Yvonne.
Over time, Delray Beach American LL earned respect through persistence and performance, driven by the motto “every kid plays.” No matter the circumstances, the league wants every kid to have the opportunity to get on the field and be a part of the team.
Odom Jr.’s goal for the league at its founding was for young Black children to see older Black children playing baseball.
“I wanted them to have a place to call home, a place where they felt safe,” said Odom Jr.
That same mission continues today through programs like the “Early Birds,” where coaches come together to teach young players how to catch and throw, which is what Odom Jr. considers the most important part of the game.
When the league first started, many people did not want to go to Pompey Park, home of Delray Beach American LL, because of its location in the middle of the Black community.
Through Yvonne’s persistence, she argued that if a team won the district, the home league should host the district tournament. Once Delray Beach American LL began hosting tournaments, the visitors saw the quality of the park and were amazed at the hospitality they were provided.
As the league continues to grow and evolve, so have its community relationships. The league has even built a strong relationship with the Miami Marlins, taking the Little Leaguers® to a game each year.
“Creating friendships regardless of the color, which is something we have had to fight, and something we are continuing to do,” said Yvonne.
One of the league’s proudest traditions is its Opening Day, which marks the start of the season with special guests and a community celebration. Many notable guests have come to this event, such as former Miami Marlins catcher Charles Johnson, the Marlins’ mascot, Delray Beach American LL alumni, and even Yvonne’s granddaughter, Coco Gauff, who also used to call a game from time to time.
Yvonne says what continues to set the league apart from other organizations in their area is their community of dedicated volunteers. Many of the volunteer coaching staff grew up playing and the league and have returned to give back to the younger generation.
“Many league officers are only volunteering when their kids are participating in Little League,” said Yvonne. “In our league, we have coaches who have been with us for more than 20 years.”
For more than 50 years, Delray American Little League has remained committed to its founding principle — that every kid should have the opportunity to play baseball. Through every obstacle, victory, and change, the league continues to stand as a symbol of inclusion, perseverance, and a sense of belonging.
“At the beginning, we were not welcomed, but baseball has that way of uniting races,” said Yvonne. “We continue to operate because of the positive outcomes that baseball produces in the community.”
To learn more about the Little League program and find a league in your community, visit PlayLittleLeague.org.
Location: U-M Indoor Track & Field Building | Ann Arbor, Mich.
Live Results
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State indoor track & field returned to action at the Wolverine Invitational Saturday capturing a pair of event titles.
In the men’s pole vault, Adam Blue finished first with a personal best vault of 5.13m. He cleared 4.90m and 5.13m on his first attempts, but was not able to clear 5.23m. His previous high was 4.97m at the Spartan Invitational in 2024.
Michigan State’s other event win came in the field events with Leila Barmore winning the women’s long jump. She reached her longest jump on her second attempt, reaching 5.78m. Gabrielle Jeffries finished 14th with a jump of 5.15m.
In the men’s long jump, Andrew Harding finished fifth with a long jump of 7.19m. Dylan Terryberry set a new PR in the high jump (1.88m), finishing seventh.
In running events, Logan Allen finished third in the final of the men’s 60m hurdles with a time of 8.05. Cameron Cheetam qualified for the final of the men’s 60m after qualifying with a time of 6.87. In the final, he finished third, crossing in 6.81. In the prelim, Carter Bissell set a new personal best in the 60m prelim with a time of 7.11.
In the women’s 300m, Elizabeth Anderson and Alexys Wilson both had personal bests. Anderson finished 11th with a time of 39.61. Wilson was 14th with a time of 40.38.
Michigan State will return to Ann Arbor next week for the Simmons Harvey Invitational on Saturday, Jan. 17.
Andreas Panagos set a new personal record in the weight throw at the Snowflake Invitational.
The Middlebury men’s track and field team opened the indoor campaign in strong form, accumulating 10 event titles during its annual Snowflake Invitational on Saturday from Virtue Field House.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Caleb Smith secured the top spot in the long jump with a leap of 6.73 meters, headlining a Panther sweep of the top-six spots. He also won the pole vault by clearing 4.25 meters.
- Toby Warmack posted a 1.97m effort in the high jump to grab gold. Sam McGarrahan and Smith followed in second and third place at 1.87 meters each.
- The 400m race saw Joey Caspar cross the finish line first with a time of 49.87 seconds. Emerson Kington followed in second place at 50.81, while Wyatt Lawton rounded out the podium finishers (51.03).
- Andreas Panagos logged a toss of 14.36m to earn top honors in the weight throw.
- Donnell Harvey Jr. opened the indoor season in style, taking first in the 60m race (6.90). The sophomore also finished in the top spot during the 200 with a time of 22.49.
- Jack Ulrich led the pack in the 800, clocking in at 2:03.42.
- Owen Johnson crossed the finish line in 8:54.45 to win the 3,000, while Felix Rogovin posted a time of 9:05.50 to earn second.
- The final top placing came for the Panther 4×400 relay team. Kington, Caspar, Nate Gardner and Sebastian Pantzer logged a combined clocking of 3:28.62.
- Pantzer also logged a runner-up effort in the 200 (22.83) with Gardner trailing in third by one-tenth of a second.
- Smith and Quinn Kennedy landed second and third in the 60 hurdles, respectively. Smith’s time of 8.63 seconds sat nine-tenths of a second off the winner, while Kennedy’s 8.64-second effort set a new personal best.
- Kennedy and Calvin Szoradi rounded out the top-three performers in the shot put at 12.76 meters and 12.56 meters, respectively.
- Tony Wang placed second in the triple jump, soaring 13.05 meters, while Caden Cote cleared 4.10 meters to finish as the runner-up in the pole vault.
NOTES
- Panagos moved the weight 1.44 meters further than his prior best effort in the navy and white.
Middlebury returns to the Virtue Field House to host its annual Winter Classic. The action begins on Friday at 2:00 p.m., followed by the second day of competition at 9:00 a.m. Saturday.
“I was very pleased with our effort this weekend,” said head coach Ed Beathea. “We broke 2 school records and had several outstanding performances. This was a very positive start to the season for us.”
The final day had a heavy focus on the track, starting with the sprints. Jasiah Rogers earned the first win of the day in the 60-meter sprint with his time of 6.77.
Several personal bests were broken in the men’s and women’s 300 meter. Kristina Vincic ran a 39.78 in the women’s contest. Trelee Banks-Rose continued to extend his school record time with his time of 32.89, winning the race. Tamer Saleh (9th) and Christian Woodson (11th) also set personal bests with times of 34.04 and 34.09, respectively.
In the 800, the Hoosiers had seven finishers in the top 15 in the women’s race, including Nola Somers Glenn (2nd; 2:08.77), Lily Myers (3rd; 2:08.86 PR), Catie McCabe (4th; 2:09.56 PR), Michaela Quinn (6th; 2:12.99), Ellia Hayes (2:15.85 PR), Joey Rastrelli (13th; 2:17.00), and Ava Jarrell (14th; 2:17.42).
Nico Colchico ran to the win as the lone Hoosier in the men’s 800 meter with his time of 1:49.50.
The Hoosiers had two finishers in the top 10 with Katelyn Winton (4:56.15) and Maddie Rocchio (5:02.11) finishing seventh and ninth, respectively.
Jessica Hegedus (9:53.68) and Mary Eubank (10:05.98) each recorded personal best times to finish fifth and ninth, respectively in the women’s 3,000-meter run.
The track closed with season best times in the men’s and women’s 4×400 relays. The quartet of Kristina Vincic, Veronica Hargrave, Ava Olomajeye, and Kiera Davis ran a time of 3:39.98, finishing sixth overall.
In the men’s race, the team of Cameron Mullens, Kalen Sargent, Tyler Tarter, and Daquan Tate recorded a fourth place finish with a time of 3:11.14.
In the field, Kelly Moran (12.14m/39-10) started the day with an eighth place finish in the women’s triple jump.
Tyler Carrell followed in the pole vault with a second place finish off a season best mark of 5.40m/17-8.5. Lukas Brauc (5.00m/16-4.75) also opened his first meet as a Hoosier with a sixth place finish.
In the shot put, Seth Brosseau claimed a fifth place finish with his distance of 17.03m/55-7.5.
The Hoosiers will be back at home next week as they host the Indiana Invitational. The meet will span two days from Friday, January 16, to Saturday, January 17.
Follow Indiana track and field and cross country via X, Facebook and Instagram.
#NeverDaunted
With only partial squads traveling from both Brown programs, the women’s team finished in second place in the meet, coming in behind first place Dartmouth, and ahead of third place Vermont and fourth place UMass Lowell.
The men’s team placed fourth behind Dartmouth, UMass Lowell, and Vermont, respectively.
WOMEN
Junior Alyssa Jackson led the way in the 60m dash with a time of 7.71 seconds, with freshman Anya Anderson also earning a point for her fourth place finish in 8.06. Junior Anna Pollak took runner-up at 26.77 in the 200 meters and freshman Sydney Ruckett (58.25) took first place in the 400m dash.
Brown took three of the top four spots in the finals of the 60m hurdles, with Simone Dunbar (8.89) placing second, followed by Jannah Maguire (8.97) and Kareema McKenzie (9.02) in third and fourth, respectively.
In the field events, senior Nene Mokonchu finished in a three-way tie for first place in the high jump at 1.65m. In the long jump, senior Rachel Bibiu (5.38m) took second place and freshman Clara Fan (5.26m) finished third. The Bears also picked up a win and nine points in the triple jump with freshman Joyce Olawalye winning the event at 11.53m. Fan (1.28m) took second and Bibiu (11.03m) finished fourth.
Sophomore Giana DeCesare took runner-up in the weight throw with her mark of 15.32 meters, and junior Amiya Hopkins finished fourth in the shot put with a 12.47m mark.
MEN
Leading the way for Brown on the track were senior sprinters Elias Archie and Solomon Miller, with Archie taking home first place in the 60m dash by crossing the finish line in 6.88 seconds, followed by Miller in third place in 6.93.
Junior Jake Haley scored a point with his fourth place finish in the 500 meters with a time of 1:07.18.
In the field events, junior Gabriel Liem Thai took second place in the pole vault (4.45m), freshman Jerald Evangelista placed third in the triple jump (13.27m), and freshman Sean Wilton finished third in the shot put (15.30m).
The Bears will return to action next Saturday, January 17 at the Beantown Challenge at Harvard.
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Mizzou track and field opened its indoor track and field season Saturday hosting the second annual Alexis Jarrett Invitational at the Hearnes Center Fieldhouse and claimed six event titles, despite competing a limited number of student-athletes.
Other schools competing included SIU-Edwardsville, Central Methodist, Kansas City, Iowa Western Community College, Barton County Community College and Cottey College.
TOP TIGERS
Senior sprinter Robert Hines was a two-time winner. He claimed the 200m dash with a time of 21.82 – just four-tenths of a second off his indoor personal best – and also won the 60m dash in 6.87.
Senior Anna Vedral won the women’s pole vault at the Alexis Jarrett Invitational for the second straight year clearing 3.90m (12-9.5) and sophomore Anna Ferguson (3.60/11-9.75) took second after tying for the runner-up spot a year ago.
Senior Petra Gombas secured the Alexis Jarrett Invitational title for the second straight year with a throw of 19.91m (62-11.5).
RECAP
Sophomore Marlena Tresnjo won the women’s high jump at 1.76m (5-9.25).
The Tigers were especially strong in the throwing events.
Junior Garik Pozecki had a spirited competition with SIU-Edwardsville’s Grant Milbrath in the men’s weight throw and finished second by a single centimeter, throwing 21.62m (70-11.25), a personal best and the sixth-best mark ever at Mizzou, to Milbrath’s 21.63m (70-11.75). Teammates Clayton Kamp and T.J. Wiggins followed Pozecki in third and fourth with respective throws of 17.92m (58-9.5) and 16.83m (55-2.75).
The Tigers swept the women’s weight throw, taking the top five positions. Gombas’ victory was followed by teammates Reagan Kimrey (19.12/62-8.75), Delilah Pippen (PR – 16.72/54-10.25), Ames Burton (16.62/54-6.5) and Kaitlyn Morningstar (PR – 16.60/54-5.5).
Junior Chase Crawford won the men’s shot put with a personal best throw of 17.62m (57-9.75). Teammates Sam Albert (PR – 15.83m/51-11.25) and Kamp (14.86m/48-9) were third and fifth, respectively.
In his Mizzou debut, Houston transfer Dillon Leacock was second in the 60m hurdles (8.29) and eighth in the 200m dash (22.44) – both events in which he had not competed before.
Multi-event athlete Sophia Wydra, a freshman, also made her debut in the black-and-gold and competed in three events: women’s long jump, sixth, 5.45m (17-10.75); women’s 60m hurdles, ninth, 9.24; and shot put, third (11.42m/37-5.75).
Former Tiger Arianna Fisher, competing unattached, won the women’s triple jump (12.81m/42-0.50), an event in which she holds the Missouri school indoor record (14.06m/46-1.5).
UP NEXT
Next week, Missouri hosts its second of five consecutive home meets – the Show-Me Showdown – inside the Hearnes Center Fieldhouse on Friday, Jan. 16.
FOLLOW THE TIGERS
For all the latest on Mizzou Track and Field, stay tuned to MUTigers.com and follow the team on Facebook, Instagram and X (MizzouTFXC).
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