Titans star Hepburn headed to Italy

Glenbrook South senior Colin Hepburn, the defending Class 3A state champion in the 100-meter dash, was named to Team USA Wednesday night and leaves Saturday to compete in the sixth IAAF World Youth Championships in Bressanone, Italy.

Hepburn will compete in the international meet's first day on July 8 when preliminary heats for the 100 begin in the morning. Hepburn was named to the team by USA Track and Field after finishing second in the 100 Wednesday morning at the World Youth Trials in Ypsilanti, Mich.

Hepburn had to wait for the rest of the day until USA Track and Field officials met at the Ann Arbor Marriott that evening. When the names were announced by an official, Hepburn said both his first and last names were mispronounced as "Cole-in Heepburn."

"I think it's a little nerve-racking at this point," Hepburn said. "It's a big meet on the big stage. Now I will have new coaches and will see people I've never met before. It's exciting."

Hepburn's runner-up finish to Prezel Hardy of Killeen, Texas, did not guarantee him a spot on Team USA. Hardy beat Hepburn 10.48-10.59 in the finals at Eastern Michigan University.

Hepburn, who ran for the North Shore Breeze track club, joins Rockford discus thrower Alexander Thompson as the only other Illinois boys competitors in Italy. The USA men's team consists of 27 members. Distance runner McKinzie Schulz of Naperville is the only Illinois girl to compete at the World Youth Championships.

The World Youth Championships are held every two years and will make a repeat appearance in Europe after being held in Ostrava, Czech Republic, in 2007.

Hepburn was also entered in the 200 at the World Youth Trials, but scratched that event to concentrate on the 100.

He won the state meet with a school-record 10.50 time, beating Niles West's Chris Wright (10.7) on May 30 in Charleston.

The recruiting period for colleges began Wednesday and several coaches watched Hepburn race in the World Youth Trials final. He plans on leaving for Italy from Detroit.

"He's leaving for Italy on July 4 and was planning on visiting the University of Michigan (today)," said Kurt Hasenstein, Hepburn's Glenbrook South coach. "He's packed and ready to go."