LOS ANGELES -- Sydney McLaughlin is running with a fast crowd these days. The 16-year-old sprinter and hurdler heads to the Rio Olympics as the youngest member of the U.S. track and field team. First, though, she wants to get home, hug her dog and eat some junk food before taking on the world.McLaughlin caps a whirlwind few weeks with a stroll down the red carpet at the ESPY Awards on Wednesday night. Shes attending as winner of the girls national prep athlete of the year trophy she picked up Tuesday night.She arrived in Los Angeles directly from making her first Olympic team by finishing third in the 400-meter hurdles at the U.S. trials last Sunday in Oregon. Her time of 54.14 seconds was a world junior record.I dont think its hit me yet, she said.After mingling with some of the worlds best professional athletes, McLaughlin goes home to Dunellen, New Jersey, for a brief visit. Shes missing Gamble her cockapoo dog, whom she hasnt seen in three weeks.Her parents, Willie and Mary, are scrambling to join her in Rio.Theres no way were going to let our baby girl go to another country without us being there, said Willie, who works from home as a network engineer for AT&T. Besides, how many times do you get to see your kids in the Olympics?Mary joked, Well just be buying a lot of bug spray.Willie McLaughlin qualified for the 400-meter semifinals at the 1984 U.S. trials, but didnt make the Olympic team. Mary McLaughlin, who works at Rutgers University, is a former runner, too. The couple met at Manhattan College in New York City.We planned for it for years, Willie said of his daughters Olympic qualification, but its actually here and its hard to believe.Her sister and two brothers will watch from the couch and party at the house, Sydney joked.McLaughlin couldnt have predicted she would be in Rio. Her high school track season began with a diagnosis of mononucleosis that kept her out 1 1/2 months. Her mother had a heart attack.Every Olympian has two or three major struggles before they make it, she told the crowd at the prep awards. I didnt know if I was going to make it and somehow I did.At trials, McLaughlin had what she called a mental breakdown before her first event. She called her dad in full freak-out mode, panicked at the prospect of being a teen running against grown women.Her coaches calmed her down and three races later Im an Olympian, she said.When you put her on the track, youre not running against a 16-year-old, Willie McLaughlin said. Youre running against a very talented, seasoned athlete. Thats what these women are finding out the hard way. I told her, `Theyre more scared of you than you are of them. Theyve got more to lose than you and thats the attitude you need to take into it.McLaughlin has a modest goal for her first Games.Im just going to get the experience. Theres so many more years to try again and so many more races to run, she said. I dont even think Im thinking about place or time. Im going to hang out with the girls on the team. Its kind of like vacation and work at the same time.From a dads perspective, Willie McLaughlin hopes his daughter gains confidence and hones the ability to interact and talk with anyone at the Olympics.Shes been really blessed with talent that other people simply dont have, he said.McLaughlin told Sydney that because of her track talent she can go places and do things that others cant.Dont be afraid of that, he told her. Dont be afraid of doing things new.From his perspective as a track coach, Willie is encouraging his daughter to step up her nutrition and embrace the lifestyle of a high-level athlete. That means cutting out junk food and some of the 16-year-old baggage, as he calls it.We had the boys, going to the mall, all that other stuff, he said, smiling. She needs to mature into that woman thats really going to take care of her body and take care of her instrument of success.Sydney, named for her dads favorite actor Sidney Poitier, is already showing her stuff in the nail art department. McLaughlins long fingernails were decked out in sparkling silver polish, a popular trend among female sprinters.She turns 17 on Aug. 7, days before the track competition begins in Rio. Shell be a senior this fall at Union Catholic High in Scotch Plains with some wild stories to tell. Nike Air Max Günstig . The Clippers were angry about blowing a big lead; the Kings didnt like being in that kind of hole and nearly digging themselves out only to lose. Air Max Schuhe Sale .2 billion agreement with Rogers Communications for the leagues broadcast and multimedia rights. http://www.airmaxschweiz.ch/ . -- Ryan Blaney provided more evidence that Penske Racings No. Nike Air Max Billig Kaufen .C. -- Chris Thorburn thinks one of the reasons the Winnipeg Jets have been successful under new coach Paul Maurice is that theyre playing together as a team. Großhandel Nike Air Max . William Carrier opened the scoring for Cape Breton (6-4-2), but Andrew Ryan tied the game and Brent Andrews put the Mooseheads (8-6-0) in front for good with a short-handed goal at 13:49 of the second period. A month into the Kevin Durant era, the Golden State Warriors offense is locked in.Its not too early to ask and answer the question: Are this seasons Warriors the NBAs best offense ever? ' ' '