IN THE COUNTY LEGISLATURE OF JACKSON COUNTY, MISSOURI
Title
A RESOLUTION congratulating "Lightning Liz" Stephens upon winning the 2001 BMX World Championship for the girls age 16 division.
Intro
RESOLUTION # 13822, September 10, 2001
INTRODUCED BY Terry Young, County Legislator
Body
WHEREAS, Fort Osage High School junior Liz Stephens has won her second BMX World Championship sanctioned by Union Cycliste International; and,
WHEREAS, she has won two American Bicycle Association top titles, one at age 9 and the other at age 10; and,
WHEREAS, she ranked second in the nation after the 2000 season and was guaranteed a spot in the World Championship; and,
WHEREAS, she recently had her determination tested at a national race in June 2001, when she injured her left thumb by chipping a bone as she fell off her bike; and,
WHEREAS, she underwent surgery and a pin was inserted into her thumb. Two days before the world competition race in late July, the pin was removed and the thumb swelled and prevented her from practicing because of the pain; and,
WHEREAS, "Going into the race, I was actually doubting myself...I didn't even think I was going to make it out of my semis," Liz said, "My confidence wasn't that strong;" and,
WHEREAS, she managed to take second, third and fourth place in the three preliminary races that led to the semifinals; and,
WHEREAS, she overcame her pain to claim the semi-finals title. After that, she said, "The energy was going. I had 100 percent confidence I was going to win (the world title);" and,
WHEREAS, Liz is the daughter of Phillip and Julie Stephens of Buckner, Missouri who are owners of the Countryside BMX track in Eastern Independence. She has four brothers: John, age 24; Jeremiah, age 19; Joshua, age 22; Joey, age 12 and one sister, Angela, age 27; and,
WHEREAS, thus far her trainers have been her brothers and her father; and,
WHEREAS, "She's quite a competitor," said her dad, Phillip...
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