East Valley residents Dominique Daniels and Hannah Carson are talented young ladies but they have a problem. They’re ahead of their time.

Daniels, a 15-year-old sophomore at Gilbert Mesquite High School is the youngest American BMX amateur champion in two classes of bike racing.

Carson, also 15, is a national age-group record holder in the javelin and a state record holder in the discus and shot put.

The girls want to represent their country in the Olympics games in Beijing.

Judging by their times and distances, they’d probably make a pretty good showing for the U.S.

Looking at their ages, the powers that be say: “No.”

BMX guidelines currently require a racer to be 19 years old to qualify for the Olympics, although the Olympics have no such requirement.

“Dominique has been burning up the track, winning race after race,” said her dad, Tim, who strongly disagrees with the age rule.

In 2007, Dominique Daniels won more than 25 national races including the Redline Cup, the Disney Cup, the U.S. National Championship, the American Biking Association Grand Nationals, the Future Pro Challenge and the 2007 World Championship.

“She’s been racing about four years, but only competitively the past 2 1/2,” Tim said. “We used to drive by this track in Chandler all the time. I had bought her a little motorcycle about four years ago and one day we stopped to see if she could ride it on the track, but they told us it was for bikes. So we went home and got her Huffy and ...”

Dominique blossomed into a potential Olympian this summer.

Carson’s youthfulness doesn’t meet an Olympic requirement for throws, marathon and race walking.

But it is especially heart- breaking when you consider how close she is to meeting that requirement.

In order to be eligible for selection she must be 16 years by Dec. 31, 2008. Carson’s birthday is Jan. 26.

As a member of the Chandler-based Arizona Cheetahs track club, Carson and her sister, Mischa, have appeared in East Valley Victories columns on numerous occasions.

Hannah holds the USA Track and Field Association Junior Olympic National record in the javelin, at 52.9 meters. She broke her own record of 44.19 at the 2007 event last July in Walnut, Calif.

At the state qualifying meet she broke the youth girls state record with a throw of 129 feet. She also finished first in the shot put (42 feet) and discus (111 feet) to successfully defend her titles.

Carson also helped her Rhodes volleyball team win the Mesa Junior High championships last fall and was a starter on the Dobson varsity soccer team, which was seeded No. 9 in the recent 5A-I state tournament.

Neither Daniels nor Carson has let the age limits dampen their enthusiasm or hopes of being on an Olympic team. They’ll continue training with gusto.

Carson has been invited to compete at the U.S. Olympic Trials — June 27 through July 6 — in the javelin competition.

“Still the experience will be great and there will be other summer events that she can go to,” said Stephen Carson, Hannah’s dad and the boys track coach at Chandler High School.

In the meantime, Carson will play softball for Dobson in the spring and train at Mesa Community College with the goal of breaking some city records at the April 19 Mesa City Meet, as well as the nationally known Mt. SAC meet in April.

She can also compete at junior college meets as an open competitor.

And even though the U.S. team is leaning toward veteran bikers, Daniels has her sights set on continuing to leave her competition in the dust.

First Daniels will be training with the French national team from Feb. 13-28. Then she will compete at next month’s U.S. Amateur championships in Dallas. Shortly thereafter she’ll learn her Olympic fate.

“She has put in a lot of hard work to get to where she is,” Tim said.

That work includes father and daughter getting up at 5 a.m. to run three miles each day, she works out at Velocity Sports several times a week and rides her bike three or four times a week.

“I think someone who is training 4 1/2 hours a day, out of town two weekends a month, has given up a social life ... it should be recognized with at least a chance to make the Olympic team,” Tim said. “But because of her age and years of experience (compared to the other girls), her opportunity might not be there.”

SWEPT AWAY

The Coyotes Curling Club women’s team went 2-1 and captured the five-state Mountain Pacific Region title with a 2-1 victory over San Francisco to advance to next month’s United States Club National Playdowns.

The team of skip Karen Tait, vice skip Carol Ann Naso, second Theresa Shaw, lead Gwen Gray and alternate Kelly Fleischaker took on teams from Arizona, California, Idaho, Oregon and Utah in Seattle on Jan. 11-13.

“We have worked so hard all year and we can’t wait to compete against the nation’s best teams in March,” Tait said.

Nationals are scheduled for March 1-8, in Mankato, Minn.

The Coyotes Curling Club team, which was established in 2003, curls every Saturday from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. at the Alltel Ice Den in Scottsdale.

“We are part of an 11-team league,” said Tait, whose team is the only all-women squad.

They compete against mixed teams in fall, winter and spring league play.

Saturday sessions are open to the public and spectators can register for a ”Learn to Curl” program.

To follow the team’s progress or for more information visit www.coyotescurling.com or www.azwomenscurlingteam.com.

Best bets

Something for everyone: Velocity Sports Performance of Scottsdale will offer several summer training opportunities for athletes in all sports. Activities are safe and appropriate for ages 5 through college. Session types and lengths vary. Visit www.azvsp.com, e-mail scottsdale@velocitysp.com or call (480) 503-8212.

Something for everyone: Velocity Sports Performance of Scottsdale will offer several summer training opportunities for athletes in all sports. Activities are safe and appropriate for ages 5 through college. Session types and lengths vary. Visit www.azvsp.com, e-mail scottsdale@velocitysp.com or call (480) 503-8212.

THINGS TO DO

Start them young: Lil Dribblers is a beginning basketball program for ages 3-5. Classes focus on the basics of passing, dribbling and shooting with an emphasis on physical fitness. Parents participate along with their child. Equipment is scaled down and age-appropriate. The next six-week session will begin March 1. Cost is $85. Classes are 40 minutes and will be held at Arizona Premier Basketball Academy located in Gilbert near Country Club Drive and Guadalupe Road. Visit www.sportsforfunlildribblers.com for more information or to register or call Andy Iwanski at (480) 688-1048.

Hit the diamond:

Walk-in registration for the Gilbert Community Services Youth Spring Ball Program will be Feb. 19-22 at Gilbert Community Services office (90 E. Civic Center Drive). Registration forms may be downloaded at www.ci.gilbert.az.us/parks/sports-youth.cfm. The youth ball program is open to boys and girls 5-15 years of age, who want to play t-ball, softball and/or baseball. This is an instructional recreation program that emphasizes fun, skill development and team unity. Games begin on April 7 and conclude May 17. For additional information, please call the Gilbert Community Services Department at (480) 503-6200.

Tennis anyone?

Tennis players who want to play in spring and adult tennis leagues at Gene Autry Tennis Center must attend a non-court ability rating session from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. any time before March 4 at the facility (4125 E. McKellips, Mesa). Cost is $2. Single, doubles and mixed leagues start the week of March 24 and continue for eight weeks. Registration is March 3-6. Visit MesaTennis.com or call (480) 654-3787.

Event calendar

To post a sports announcement on our online calendar visit evtrib.com and click on the calendar located on the home page. Just follow the instructions and everyone will soon know about your event.

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Know someone who deserves mention in East Valley Victories? E-mail or call Billye Jill Paulson at bpaulson@evtrib.com or (480) 898-6862.

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