Jaxson Hoey, shown at the District 1 Championships, will compete in the 1,500 meter final at USATF Junior Nationals (Photo by Patty Morgan)
Day one of USATF Junior Nationals wrapped up on Friday with some quality performances from some PA high schoolers and alums.
Downingtown West graduate Jaxson Hoey (headed to Penn State in the fall) took fourth in the first of two heats in the 1,500 meters, clocking a 3:53.04. That qualifies him for the final set for Sunday evening at 7:42 PST.
Connellsville rising senior and high school national record holder Madison Wiltrout was fifth in a competitive girls' javelin throw. Wiltrout threw 152-00 in a competition won by Katelyn Gochenour of Nebraska, the New Balance Nationals Outdoor champion in the event.
Kiski graduate Jace Roundtree was fourth in the second heat of the 110 meter hurdles in 14.23, but it wasn't enough to get him into the finals.
Former Cheltenham standout and current Clemson Tiger John Lewis was second in his preliminary heat of the 800 meters, running 1:48.97 to get him to the final, which will go off on Saturday at 8:10 PST. Pennsbury grad and Columbia mid-distance runner Alek Sauer was fourth in that heat in 1:54.71 and didn't make the finals.
Sarah Walker, a Germantown Friends' graduate who will attend Stanford in the fall was fourth in first heat of the 800 meters. Walker, who was coming off a foot injury that she suffered indoors, ran 2:10.36 in what turned out to be the fastest of four preliminary heats with three women running in the 2:04s.
In the women's 400 meter hurdles, Markeeta Thomas of Clemson and formerly of Paul Robeson, was third in her heat, advancing her to Saturday's final. The gun for that is slated for 7:25 PST.
In addition to Saturday's finalists, there's plenty to look forward to on Saturday at Junior Nats from a Pennsylvania perspective. Cheltenham's Chanel Brissett will contest the 100-meter hurdles at 4:45 PST in hopes of qualifying for the finals later in the night. At 4:00 PST, Jordan Geist, the state record holder from Knoch, along with Hickory's Evan Blaire will compete in the shot put (both will come back for Sunday's discus throw as well). We'll also get a look at North Allegheny rising junior Ayden Owens in the 400-meter hurdles. Owens was the AAA state champion in the 300-meter hurdles. Then at 9:15 PST, Germantown Friends' Nicholas Dahl will run the 5,000 meters.
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AAU Region 2 Qualifier
At the AAU Region 2 Qualifier at Richard Stockton College in Galloway, NJ, there was plenty of PA talent on display.
Neumann Goretti's Kamil Jihad took the win in the 800 meters. Jihad used a strong kick to out-duel Daveigh Brooks in a really close race. Jihad clocked a 1:55.32. CB West's Jacob Claricurzio was also in the race and took third in 1:58.19. Watch the race below:
Susquehanna Township rising senior Yasmin Brooks had a successful first half in the heptathlon. Competing against only one other athlete, Brooks takes a strong lead into the final day.
Heptathlon: #4 Women 200 Meter Dash 17-19 YO Heptathlon
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Name Year Team Finals Points
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1 Brooks, Yasmin 99 Drive TC 25.63 830
2 Thomas, Destinee 99 Delco Stalli 29.00 554
Heptathlon: #1 Women 100 Meter Hurdles 17-19 YO Heptathlon
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Name Year Team Finals Points
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1 Brooks, Yasmin 99 Drive TC 14.51 907
2 Thomas, Destinee 99 Delco Stalli 16.90 608
Heptathlon: #2 Women High Jump 17-19 YO Heptathlon
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Name Year Team Finals Points
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1 Brooks, Yasmin 99 Drive TC 1.52m 4-11.75 644
2 Thomas, Destinee 99 Delco Stalli 1.32m 4-04.00 429
Heptathlon: #3 Women Shot Put 17-19 YO Heptathlon
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Name Year Team Finals Points
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1 Thomas, Destinee 99 Delco Stalli 9.54m 31-03.75 499
2 Brooks, Yasmin 99 Drive TC 9.53m 31-03.25 499In the decathlon, Germantown Academy rising junior, Kyle Garland also had a big first day in the 15-16 age group. Here's a look at his day one results:
Decathlon: #1 Boys 100 Meter Dash 15-16 YO Decathlon
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Name Year Team Finals Points
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1 Garland, Kyle 00 Unattached 11.53 746
2 Battle,Jr., Anthony 01 Marlton Trac 12.78 506
Decathlon: #5 Boys 400 Meter Dash 15-16 YO Decathlon
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Name Year Team Finals Points
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1 Garland, Kyle 00 Unattached 53.93 642
2 Battle,Jr., Anthony 01 Marlton Trac 1:02.28 339
Decathlon: #4 Boys High Jump 15-16 YO Decathlon
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Name Year Team Finals Points
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1 Garland, Kyle 00 Unattached 1.77m 5-09.75 602
2 Battle,Jr., Anthony 01 Marlton Trac 1.37m 4-06.00 297
Decathlon: #2 Boys Long Jump 15-16 YO Decathlon
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Name Year Team Finals Points
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1 Garland, Kyle 00 Unattached 5.78m 18-11.75 540
2 Battle,Jr., Anthony 01 Marlton Trac 4.45m 14-07.25 281
Decathlon: #3 Boys Shot Put 15-16 YO Decathlon
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Name Year Team Finals Points
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1 Garland, Kyle 00 Unattached 12.81m 42-00.50 656
2 Battle,Jr., Anthony 01 Marlton Trac 7.72m 25-04.00 350In the 17-19 100 meters, Coatesville's Terrance Laird was the top finisher, running 10.89 to advance to
the final. Also advancing to that final was Christopher Dock's Austin Kratz (11.08), MLK's Edward Marshall (11.17), and Friends'
Central's Jeffrey Brown (11.20).
Laird was also the top finisher in the 200 meter prelims with a best time of 21.73. Downingtown West graduate Joshua McLemore was second in 22.03. Upper Darby's Gianni Lawrence, Kratz, Bishop Shanahan's Keegan Hughes, and Brown also advanced to the final. That rematch of Laird and McLemore will certainly be one to watch after a really close finish at states.
Cedar Cliff rising senior Grace Gillespie was the top qualifier for the finals in both the 100 meters and 200 meters. Gillespie won her 100 heat in 12.38 and then took her 200 heat in 25.75.
Imhotep's Kristian Marche won his heat of the 100 meters in the 15-16 year old division handily, clocking a 11.04, making him the top seed for the finals.
Look out for more action from the AAU Region 2 Qualifier all this weekend, and remember that you can watch LIVE on MileSplit!