Community Achievements

ATHLETIC RECRUITMENT PORTFOLIO: CALLIE BURDEN

PROFILE

Name: Callie Burden

Primary Events: 400M, 200M, 100M

Classification: Youth Elite Sprint Competitor (Ages 9–10 Division)

Affiliations: Blue Lightning Track Club (GA) | Formerly: Virginia Pride Track Club (VA)

Accolades: 2-Time AAU All-American | 3-Time Junior Olympics Qualifier

From early on, it was clear Callie Burden was born to move fast. She spent her early childhood racing her dad to the front door and in local parks, forcing him to give maximum effort just to keep up! Though her sports journey began in gymnastics—where she was instantly promoted to the competitive team on her first night for flipping and advanced skills—her coach saw her explosive speed and suggested track. It was love at first stride, and Callie soon committed to running full-time.

That decision ignited an incredible athletic trajectory:

Virginia Dominance: Ranked top 3 in the state in the 100M, 200M, and 400M dashes.

Georgia State Champion: Earned the title of Georgia's #1 ten-year-old club runner in the 400M, capturing District gold (the club state equivalent) and 200M bronze.

Regional Powerhouse: Claimed double silver medals in the 400M and 200M against elite competition from South Carolina.

National Elite & All-American: A 2-time All-American who has qualified for the Junior Olympics in all three years of her track career.

Most recently, Callie showcased her elite work ethic at the AAU National Club Championships against 327 teams. Shattering her projections, she entered the 400M seeded #20 and blazed her way to an incredible #11 finish out of 93 runners. She followed it up by placing #18 out of 123 athletes in the 200M. Comparing her national progress from her first Junior Olympics appearance (where she finished #20 in the 400M) to her recent #11 finish, Callie's rapid growth proves she is one of the brightest young sprinters in the nation.

Her athletic profile is characterized by explosive acceleration, strong lateral mechanics developed in gymnastics, and exceptional mental toughness in high-stakes national fields. Her future goal is to one day run in the Olympics.

Watch out for this rising star! 🌟

REGIONAL & STATE DOMINANCE

Georgia Circuit (Current)

State Ranking: Ranked the #1 ten-year-old club athlete in the state of Georgia for the 400M dash.

AAU District Championships (State Equivalent):

🥇 Gold Medalist & District Champion – 400M

🥉 Bronze Medalist – 200M

AAU Region 8 Championships (GA / SC):

🥈 Silver Medalist – 400M

🥈 Silver Medalist – 200M

Virginia Circuit (Historical)

State Depth: Established a foundation of elite versatility by ranking Top 3 in the State of Virginia across all short-to-long sprint disciplines: 100M, 200M, and 400M.