HERE are the full results for the Saturday, July 12, 2014 Chicagoland Throws.

Below are quick highlights of top preps (converted to feet and inches). More detailed highlights will follow.

Girls

SP

1. Raven Saunders 56-04 (50-09, 56-04, F, F, 50-07.25, 53-08.25)
2. Lloydricia Cameron 46-11.5
3. Shaina Burns 46-04.5
4. Ashlie Blake 45-08.25
5. Courtney Mc Cartney 45-05.75

DT

1. Kiana Phelps 149-03
2. Raven Saunders 149-02
3. Lloydricia Cameron 148-06

JT

1. Tairyn Montgomery 163-00 PR (and 162-09)
2. Gabby Kearney 157-08
3. Katelyn Gochenour 156-00 (and tiny 162-0 foul)
4. Emma Fitzgerald 151-02

HT

1. Haley Showalter 184-11
2. Sabrina Gaitan 176-05
3. Lena Giger 176-01
4. Nyla Woods 171-09

Boys

SP

1.  Felipe Valencia 65-07.5 PR
2   Nick Demaline 63-07.5
3.  Luke Lewis 62-08.5
4.  Eric Favors 62-05.5
5. Jack Lembcke 61-10.25

DT

1.  Carlos Davis 194-11
2. Daniel Haugh 194-00
3. Kahlil Davis 182-01
4. Dennis Russell 169-09
5. Jack Lembcke 165-10

JT

1.  Curtis Thompson 217-06
2.  Nick Solfanelli 215-08 PR
3.  Trevor Danielson 198-06 seasonal PR
4.  John Putnam 193-0
5.  Todd Ogden 184-11

HT

1. Colin Minor 232-04 PR (and 227-5)
2. Adam Kelly 216-01
3. Daniel Haugh 214-07

Several of the 31 preps enjoying the competition and camaraderie with the elites at the Chicagoland Throws last weekend (July 11-12, 2014) also dug down deep for big PRs and US top-5 performances ... and the elites competing alongside them frequently put on a show, too! Check below for the best of the best!

Pictured (from top to bottom): Raven Saunders, Colin Minor, Tairyn Montgomery, Nick Solfanelli, Felipe Valencia, Lena Giger, Carlos Davis and Kiana Phelps.

 G-Shot: Another big mark for Saunders

• 56-4 girls’ shot put (#3 all-time performance) by NBN in/out double champ and US Junior champ Raven Saunders (Burke, SC senior)(pictured at right), the 4th meet this year beyond 56 feet (1 indoor, 3 outdoor) for the HSR-setter.  She finished ahead of Lloydricia Cameron (Miami Northwestern, FL senior) at 46-11.5 and Shaina Burns (Prior Lake, MN senior) at 46-4.5.  
• Standing US#2 and USATF runner-up Felicia Johnson (Nike) led the Elites at 61-5, followed by Brittany Smith (unatt.) at 57-0.75 and 2008 NON champ (and 2-time in/out nat’l runner-up) Becky O’Brien (unatt.) at 56-11.5.

B-Hammer: Minor blows past 230

• US#2 232-4 boys’ hammer throw (#14 all-time) by Colin Minor (South Brunswick, NC senior)(pictured at right), who also had a 227-5 in his series.  He was followed by Adam Kelly (Barrington, RI junior) at 216-1 and Throw 1 Deep’s NBNO champ and standing US#1 Daniel Haugh (St. Pius X, GA senior) at 214-7.
• 2012 Olympian and 3-time USATF champ Kibwe Johnson (Nike) paced the Elites with 243-8, followed by 3-time USATF 3rd-place finisher Chris Cralle (Shocker) at 234-5.

G-Javelin: Montgomery over 160 twice

• US#3 163-0 girls’ javelin throw (#19 all-time) by NBNO champ Tairyn Montgomery (Redondo Beach, CA soph)(pictured at right), who also threw 162-9.  She led a 1-3-4 finish by NSAF Project Javelin throwers, as standing US#1 Katelyn Gochenour (Marian Catholic, NE soph) was 3rd at 156-0 (tiny foul at 162-0) and Emma Fitzgerald (Thayer Acad., MA soph) was 4th with US#12 151-2.  Gabby Kearney (Roseburg, OR junior) – who will be training with the Project in Finland – was 2nd at 157-8.
• Rebecka Anderson (Grand Valley/Ontario, CAN) was the only Elite throwing and she hit 144-5.

B-Javelin: Thompson, Solfanelli both top 215

• 217-6 boys’ javelin throw by standing US#1 and US Junior champ Curtis Thompson (Florence Memorial, NJ senior), holding off the US#4 effort at 215-8 of Nick Solfanelli (Scranton Prep, PA junior)(pictured at right).  NSAF Project Javelin throwers Trevor Danielson (Newburg, OR senior) and Todd Ogden (Glacier, MT senior) were 3rd and 5th at 198-6 (seasonal best) and 184-11, respectively, with John Putnam (Massapequa, NY junior) – who has trained in the program – finishing in-between at 4th with 193-0.  NBNO champ John Nizich was unable to compete due to injury.
• USATF champ and 2012 Olympian Sean Furey (unatt.), who was also our FL national champ back in 2000, led the Elites with 260-11.  He was followed by NSAF Project Javelin coach Barry Krammes (Shore AC) at 243-2 and standing US#1 Tim Glover (unatt.) at 240-8.

B-Shot Put: Valencia nails a 65

• US#5 65-7.5 boys’ shot put for Felipe Valencia (Palmview, TX senior)(pictured at right), defeating standing US#1 Nick Demaline (Liberty Center, OH senior) at 63-7.5.  Also over 62 feet were Eric Favors (North Rockland, NY junior) at 62-8.75 and Luke Lewis (Hickory, PA senior) at 62-8.5.
• Curtis Jensen (Illinois State) was the only Elite throwing and he hit 62-3.25.

G-Hammer: Showalter over Gaitan

• 184-11 girls’ hammer throw by standing US#1 and US Junior champ Haley Showalter (Valor Christian, CO junior) reversing her order with Throw 1 Deep’s Sabrina Gaitan of (Sprayberry, GA junior) from NBNO.  Gaitan, who won at Greensboro on her final throw, finished just ahead of Lena Giger (Highland, IL senior) (pictured at right)for 2nd here, with each throwing 176-7 (Gaitan had a better 2nd throw).
• US#1, American record-holder, 2012 Olympian and 2014 USATF champ Amanda Bingson (Nike) paced the Elites at 230-2, followed by Kristin Smith (unatt.) at 224-3 and Brittany Smith (unatt.) at 221-5.

B-Discus: Davis edges Haugh

• 194-11 boys’ discus throw by standing US#1 Carlos Davis (Blue Springs, MO junior)(pictured at lower right), edging Throw 1 Deep’s NBNO champ Daniel Haugh (St. Pius, GA senior) at 194-0.  Khalil Davis, Carlos’ twin brother, was 3rd at 182-1.
• Jared Schuurmans (CVE) topped the Elites with a 199-10, followed by USATF runner-up Bryan Powlen (GBTC) at 199-0 and standing US#2 and 2013 USATF runnerup Russ Winger (Asics) at 198-4.

G-Discus: Phelps wins close battle

• 149-3 girls’ discus throw by standing US#1 Kiana Phelps (Kingsley-Pierson, IA soph) (pictured at lower right), edging shot champ Raven Saunders (Burke, SC senior) at 149-1 and Lloydricia Cameron (Miami Northwestern, FL senior) at 148-6.
• Liz Podominick (NAI), the standing at US#4 and USATF runner-up, topped Elite efforts with 199-2.  She was the 2001 adidas Outdoor shot put champ and a 4-time AOC shot and discus runner-up.  Podominick was followed by Krishna Poonia, a 2-time Olympian and Commonwealth Games champ from India, at 194-1 and Stephanie Brown-Trafton (Nike) – the American record-holder and 2008 Olympic champ, coming back from maternity – at 188-1.

With provisional entries having been announced yesterday, here are Jim Spier's form chart and medal predictions, updated July 19, for the 2014 IAAF World Junior Champs in Eugene, July 22-27:

WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPS FORM CHART/ PREDICTIONS

See bottom of page for photo credits

Event-by-event capsule previews of the women's field events, noting Team USA hopes and leading global contenders for the 2014 IAAF World Junior Championships:

(coming: previews for men's track, women's track, men's field)
 

Women’s Shot Put: Saunders to be tested like never before

WJR: 67-4.75, Astrid Kumbernuss, GDR, 1989
AJR: 57-9, Eileen Vanisi, U. of Texas, 1991
CR: 61-6.75, Cheng Xiaoyan, CHN, 1994

Recent Champs (plus/other top U.S. finishers)
2012: Shanice Craft, GER, 56-3.25 (4-Christina Hillman, 7-Torie Owers)
2010: Qiangian Meng, CHN, 55-7 (6-Brittany Smith, 9-Q/GrpA-Rachel Roberts)
2008: Natalia Duco, CHI, 56-6.5 (10-Chinwe Okoro, 9-Q/GrpA-Rebecca O’Brien)

Recent marks to medal / make final
2012: 54-1 / 47-7.25
2010: 51-8.25 / 48-5.25
2008: 54-3.75 / 49-4.25

Top Contenders (by 2014 IAAF World Ranking)
(including/plus Team USA, in bold)
1. Tianqian Guo, CHN, 59-4
2. Emel Dereli, TUR, 58-10 (59-2.75 in ’13)
3. Raven Saunders, USA/SC HS, 56-8.5
4. Saily Viart, CUB, 55-11
6. Aaliyah Pete, USA/Colo. St., 54-8.75
8. Jiaqi Xu, CHN, 54-1.75
(note: #5 and #7-ranked athletes not entered)

Analysis: 2014 has certainly been a dream season for Raven Saunders (Burke, SC senior), with her well-chronicled dramatic improvement that began last December, her two New Balance Nationals titles, her indoor and outdoor national records – hitting 56-footers when no prep had ever before thrown 55 – and, finally, her recent USATF Junior and Chicagoland (HS) titles.  Before Raven, the historic gold standard in the event for U.S. preps was Michelle Carter, who held the previous records. 
Another of Carter’s great achievements that Saunders would love to match is winning a WJ title, as Carter did in 2004 as a college freshman.  But to say the task is formidable would be an understatement.  Saunders is ranked a solid 3rd in the world, but ahead of her are the 2011 and 2013 World Youth champions, Tianqian Guo of China and Emel Dereli of Turkey.  It’s not just that each has thrown more than two feet beyond Saunders, but that both are proven international veterans.  Interestingly, Guo was the WJ leader going into Barcelona in 2012, but was not picked for the team.  Meanwhile, Dereli finished 8th there as a 16-year-old before her 2013 win in Donetsk.  It should be one of the great matchups of the Championships.
Still, Saunders loves a challenge, and maybe being pushed like this will enable her to rise to the potential many envision for her.  And even if she can win at least bronze, she would join Carter and Laura Gerraughty (2002 bronze) as the only U.S. medalists ever in this event.  Also, with Aaliyah Pete (Colorado State frosh) ranking in the global top 6, Team USA could have its best collective finish ever.

Women’s Discus: Allman's the one to beat

WJR: 244-1, Ilke Wyludda, GDR, 1988
AJR: 198-9, Shelbi Vaughan, TX HS, 2012
CR: 223-10, Ilke Wyludda, GDR, 1988

Recent Champs (plus/other top U.S. finishers)
2012: Anna Ruh, GER, 204-8 (3-Shelbi Vaughan, 8-Alex Collatz)
2010: Yaime Perez, CUB, 183-9 (2-Erin Pendleton, 8-Q/GrpA-Alyssa Hasslen)
2008: Shanqxue Xi, CHN, 180-3 (7-Anna Jelmini, 11-Erin Pendleton)

Recent marks to medal / make final
2012: 197-1 / 162-3
2010: 177-0 / 161-11
2008: 177-11 / 163-10

Top Contenders (by 2014 IAAF World Ranking)
(including/plus Team USA, in bold)
1. Valarie Allman, USA/Stanford, 188-6
2. Claudine Vita, GER, 186-11
3. Yan Liang, CHN, 185-4 (203-5 in ’13)
4. Yuchen Xie, CHN, 183-0 (184-10 in ’13)
5. June Kintana, ESP, 182-7
6. Izabela Da Silva, BRA, 181-6
…
16. Katelyn Daniels, USA/Mich. State, 174-9

Analysis:  While Raven Saunders has deservedly gotten attention from prep fans as the next tremendous international medal hope in the women’s throws, it’s actually last year’s national prep discus leader who tops the global list and has the best chance for gold.  Valarie Allman was a 184-2 performer in 2013 at Silver Creek HS in Colorado, but she struggled to get back to the 180s late in the season.  This year, as a Stanford frosh, she’s been more consistent and, with her first throw at USATF Juniors the other week, strengthened her World #1 with her 188-6 PR.
Three things worth noting: First, if Allman could pull off the victory, it would be the apex of an upward cycle for US discus throwers with Erin Pendleton getting 2nd in 2010 and HSR- and AJR-holder Shelbi Vaughan 3rd in 2012 (also 3rd at 2011 World Youth).  Seilala Sua (2nd in 1996) and Suzy Powell (3rd in 1994) are Team USA’s other two medalists ever in this meet.  Second, one can’t help but noting that in 2012, it took 197-1 (Vaughan) to medal and this year no one has even reached 190.  However, 2012 was the exception in terms of medal requirements; in 2010 and 2008, the winning mark was only in the 180s.
Finally, one wonders about China’s Yan Liang: She has thrown just 185-4 this year after a WJ-leading 203-5 in 2013 (and 198-6 in 2012).  If Liang – who was also 2nd at World Youths in 2011 – returns to form, the rest of the field will be in trouble.  Also, two of the other top contenders against Allman are the 2013 WY gold and silver medalists, Yuchen Xie of China and Claudine Vita of Germany – who are now #2-#4 on the WJ list.  Watch, too, for Tetiana Yureva of the Ukraine, at 179-9 this year, but with a 187-3 PR from last year and having finished 9th in Barcelona.  Not to be forgotten is Allman’s US teammate Katelyn Daniels (Michigan State frosh), who can make the final and maybe the top 6-8 if she can throw close to her 174-9 PR.

Women’s Javelin: New level for Glasmann

WJR: 206-8, Vira Rebryk, UKR, 2008
AJR: 181-2, Haley Crouser, OR HS, 2012
CR:  206-8, Vira Rebryk, UKR, 2008

Recent Champs (plus/other top U.S. finishers)
2012: Sofi Flinck, SWE, 201-5 (11-Haley Crouser, 14-Q/GrpA-Brianna Bain)
2010: Sanni Utriainen, FIN, 186-0 (8-Allison Updike)
2008: Vira Rebryk, UKR, 206-8 (7-Q/GrpA-Karlee McQuillen)

Recent marks to medal / make final
2012: 187-5 / 166-7
2010: 178-11 / 159-0
2008: 192-9 / 167-3

Top Contenders (by 2014 IAAF World Ranking)
(including/plus Team USA, in bold)
1. Sofi Flinck, SWE, 191-8 (203-3 in ’13)
2. Sara Kolak, CRO, 189-7
4. Marie-Therese Obst, NOR, 188-5
5. Marcelina Witek, POL, 188-0
6. Maria Andrejczyk, POL, 185-5
7. Ekaterina Starygina, RUS, 185-3 (192-2 in ’13)
…
19. Megan Glasmann, USA/Utah, 175-0
---  Rebekah Wales, USA/LSU, 166-7
(note: #3-ranked athlete not entered)

Analysis: One of the stronger favorites in these championships will be Sweden’s Sofi Flinck in the women’s javelin – one of a small handful of 2012 champs still active in the junior ranks.  Indeed, Flinck was barely 17 when she triumphed in Barcelona with 201-5, winning by more than two meters and moving up a spot from her silver at the 2011 WYC.  In 2013, she had the six longest throws for Juniors in the world, topped by a 203-3 which is #5 all-time – and she finished 10th in the senior world champs.  While she hasn’t impressed to that level in 2014 yet, it’s hard to imagine she won’t. 
Picking the rest of the medals is a challenge.  World #3 Mackenzie Little of Australia has the experience of claiming the WYC title in 2013, but is not on the entry list.  Russia’s Ekaterina Starygina is W#7 at 185-3, but threw 192-2 last year.  Similarly, Japan’s Kiho Kuze at 177-8 was a 193-6 thrower a year ago.
NSAF Project Javelin Gold alum Megan Glasmann, who has transferred to University of Utah after a tough freshman year at Stanford, was the Pan-Am Junior champ last year as a Park City, UT senior, hitting 176-8.  After not making it up to the 170s and struggling with injury during the spring, she rose like a phoenix to win the USATF Juniors at 175-0.  She should make the final here, but will need probably 5-10 more feet to be a medal contender.  LSU frosh Rebekah Wales will likely need a PR-level through to make the final.  Team USA has never medaled in the WJC jav, with the best finish being 7th by Lyndsay Johnson in 2002.  HSR-holder Haley Crouser was 11th in 2012 after taking 4th at WYC in 2011.

Women’s Hammer: Strong duo for Hungary

WJR: 240-3, Wenxiu Zhang, CHN, 2005
AJR: 223-6, Shelby Ashe, Throw 1 Deep, 2012
CR: 231-8, Alexandra Tavernier, FRA

Recent Champs (plus/other top U.S. finishers)
2012: Alexandra Tavernier, FRA, 231-8 (10-Shelby Ashe, 11-Q/GrpB-DeAnna Price)
2010: Sophie Hitchon, GBR, 216-7 (13-Q/GrpA-Shelby Ashe, 14-Q/GrpB-Lauren Chambers)
2008: Bianca Perie, ROU, 222-11 (12-Q/GrpA-D’Ana McCarty, NM-Q/GrpB-Lauren Chambers)

Recent marks to medal / make final
2012: 220-3 / 194-7
2010: 209-10 / 175-2
2008: 199-5 / 189-8

Top Contenders (by 2014 IAAF World Ranking)
(including/plus Team USA, in bold)
1. Al’ona Shamotina, UKR, 224-6
2. Reka Gyuratz, HUN, 220-10
3. Iliana Korosidou, GRE, 214-4
4. Zsofia Bacskay, HUN, 212-6
5. Katarzyna Furmanek, POL, 209-9
6. Beatrice Nedberg Llano, NOR, 206-11
…
22. Brooke Andersen, USA/Northern Ariz. U., 194-9
26. Haley Showalter, USA/CO HS, 193-5

Analysis:  After golds were won by throwers from France and Great Britain the past two championships, it looks like Eastern Europeans will top the medal stand in 2014.  Al’ona Shamotina of the Ukraine has an unremarkable record in two previous global title meets – NM in qualifying at 2012 WJC and 8th at 2011 WYC – but she leads the world now at 224-6 and has three marks among the world’s 10 best.  She ranked 3rd among Juniors in 2013 and has been improving steadily.  Battling Shamotina will be Hungary’s 1-2 punch of 2013 WYC gold medalist Reka Gyuratz and Zsofia Bacskay.  Actually, Hungary also had the 2013 WYC runner-up in Helga Volgyi, but she hasn’t thrown as well this year, while Bacskay – already at 208-6 with the Jr/Sr hammer at age 15 two years ago – has been steady.  Then there’s Greece’s Iliana Korosidou, 5th in Barcelona two years ago, then beating Gyurtatz (8th).
American hopes were high two years ago when Shelby Ashe entered at World #2 after her AJR at the Juniors.  She was just 10th, though that still ranks as the 2nd-highest finish ever by a U.S. thrower.  Maureen Griffin won bronze in the 1998 WJC.  This year, Haley Showalter (Valor Christian, CO junior) will be one of the youngest throwers in the field and, if she throws in the high 180s or 190s, stands a solid chance of making the final.  Northern Arizona frosh Brooke Andersen has a shot, as well, if she can get back to mid-season form when she was also above 190.

Women’s Triple Jump: Tougher field for Orji

WJR: 47-11.75, Tereza Marinova, BUL, 1996
AJR: 45-11.75, Erica McLain, Stanford, 2005
CR: 47-11.75, Tereza Marinova, BUL, 1996

Recent Champs (plus/other top U.S. finishers)
2012: Ana Peleteiro, ESP, 46-6 (6-Ciarra Brewer, 9-Q/GrpA-Jennifer Madu)
2010: Dailenys Alcantara, CUB, 46-2.75 (9-Andrea Geubelle)
2008: Dailenys Alcantara, CUB, 46-9 (15-Q/GrpA-Ti’Ara Walpool, 13-Q/GrpB-Vashti Thomas)

Recent marks to medal / make final
2012: 45-7.25 / 42-6.25
2010: 45-0.25 / 42-2
2008: 45-1 / 42-11.75

Top Contenders (by 2014 IAAF World Ranking)
(including/plus Team USA, in bold)
1. Ana Peleteiro, ESP, 46-2 (46-6 in ’13)
2. Rong Wang, CHN, 45-10.5 (46-2.75i)
3. Elena Panturoiu, ROU, 45-3.75 (45-8.5i)
4. Rouguy Diallo, FRA, 45-1
5. Liadagmis Povea, CUB, 45-0.5
6. Xiaohong Li, CHN, 44-11.5 (46-1.5i)
…
13. Keturah Orji, USA/NJ HS, 44-1.5 (44-11.5 in ’13)
24. Marshay Ryan, USA, 43-3.75

Analysis:  After Keturah Orji’s amazing 2013 World Youth meet – with a bronze and near-HSR in the triple jump and a silver in the long jump – talk soon turned to not only when Orji would break that 44-11.75 record of Brittany Daniels’, but how well could she do at the 2014 World Juniors?  Now nearly a year later, the Mt. Olive, NJ grad (headed to U. of Georgia) has had a number of 44-footers this year, legal and windy, but the Daniels mark is still out there.  Moreover, winning a WJ medal is looking decidedly more challenging.  With her 44-11.5 last year, Orji was actually ranked tied for 2nd among World Juniors as well as World Youth.  No 18- or 19-year-olds went further.  But with her 44-1.5 legal best in 2014, she’s just #13 – while even 44-11.5 would have her just #6.
Interestingly, one who’s jumped back ahead of Orji is actually the 2012 WJ champ.  Ana Peleteiro of Spain flew out to 46-6 for the win at “home” in Barcelona two years ago, but last year could manage just 43-7.25.  Now she’s over 46 feet again and arguably the favorite to defend.  More consistent is China’s Rong Wang – she won silver in Donetsk with the same best mark as Orji and now is World #2 among Juniors with her new 45-10.5 best.  On the other hand, Romania’s 2013 WY champ Florentina Marincu (45-3.75) has done no better than 43-10 this year and is #17 on the World list.  Another of Orji’s 2013 contemporaries expected here is Nubia Soares of Brazil – 4th in Donetsk and ranked World #8 now.
In any case, it stands to reason that Orji needs that 45-footer she’s been chasing to be in the medal conversation – and don’t be surprised if she rises to the occasion.  Orji’s teammate, Auburn frosh Marshay Ryan, can also make the final if she’s around that 43-foot-mark again.  The best U.S. finish ever in this event at the WJC is 6th by Ciarra Brewer in 2012.  She was also 7th at the 2009 WYC.

Women’s Long Jump: Best chance for WY doubler Marincu

WJR: 23-5.25, Heike Drechsler, GDR, 1983
AJR: 22-3.75, Carol Lewis, USA, 1982
CR: 22-4.5, Fiona May, ITA, 1988

Recent Champs (plus/other top U.S. finishers)
2012: Katarina Johnson-Thompson, GBR, 22-4.25w (10Q/GrpA-Le’Trista Pledger, 10Q/GrpB-Robin Reynolds)
2010: Irisdaymi Herrera, CUB, 21-0.5 (11-Karynn Dunn, 7Q/GrpA-Andrea Geubelle)
2008: Ivana Spanovic, SRB, 21-8.25 (7Q/GrpB-Jamesha Youngblood, 10Q/GrpA-Shakia Forbes)

Recent marks to medal / make final
2012: 21-10.75 / 20-4.25
2010: 20-4.25 / 18-10.5
2008: 21-0.5 / 19-9.75

Top Contenders (by 2014 IAAF World Ranking)
(including/plus Team USA, in bold)
1. Florentina Marincu, ROM, 22-0.25
2. Esa Brume, NGR, 21-11
3. Akela Jones, BAR, 21-6
4. Teresa Carvalho, POR, 21-4.75
5. Yulimar Rojas, VEN, 21-3.25
6. Claudette Allen, JAM, 21-2
…
8. Quanesha Burks, USA/U. of Alabama, 20-11.25
15. Jazmin McCoy, USA/U. of Nebraska, 20-9 (20-11.25w)

Analysis:  Both of the 2013 World Youth Champs’ horizontal double jump stars – double gold medalist Florentina Marincu of Romania and silver/bronze winner Keturah Orji of Team USA – rank higher so far in 2014 among Juniors in the long jump than they do the triple jump.  The difference is that Marincu is the world leader and expected to be here, and Orji – at World #7 – is not in this event because she was 4th at USATF Juniors, less than an inch from making it.
Indeed, Marincu has definitely been stronger here this year and is a slim favorite over Esa Brume of Nigeria, who is inexperienced at this level – as are several others in the World top 6.  On the other hand, World #3 Akela Jones of the Barbados was 6th at the 2011 WY in Lille and jumped in qualifying in Barcelona in ’12.  And Maryna Bekh of the Ukraine, #11 at 20-10.5, was #1 last year at 22-3 and was 5th in Lille and 8th in Barcelona.
At the USATF Juniors, college frosh Jazmin McCoy (Nebraska) and Quanesha Burks (Alabama) nipped top preps Orji and Chyna Ries.  Both McCoy and Burks are green internationally, but should make the final if they’re on their game.  Whether they can get top 6 or better depends on if they can have career days.  Team USA has never medaled in this event, with the best finish being fourth by Julia Yendork in 1990.

Women’s High Jump: Between Gerashchenko and Lake

WJR: 6-7, Olga Turchak, URS, 1986 and Heike Balck GDR, 1989
AJR: 6-4.25, Tanya Hughes, USA/U. of Ariz., 1991
CR: 6-6.75, Alina Astafei, ROM, 1988

Recent Champs (plus/other top U.S. finishers)
2012: Aleissa Trost, ITA, 6-3.25 (11Q/GrpA-Maddie Morrow, 9Q/GrpB-Taylor Burke)
2010: Marija Vukovic, MNE, 6-3.25 (5-Hannah Willms, 8-Q/Grp A-Maya Pressley)
2008: Kimberly Jess, GER, 6-1.25 (10-Shanay Briscoe, 12-Q/GrpA-Jessica Merriweather)

Recent marks to medal / make final
2012: 6-2/5-11.5
2010: 6-2.25/ 5-10
2008: 6-1.25 / 5-10

Top Contenders (by 2014 IAAF World Ranking)
(including/plus Team USA, in bold)
2. Morgan Lake, GBR, 6-4
3. Iryna Gerashchenko, UKR, 6-3.5 (6-4.75i)
T4. Irina Ilieva, RUS, 6-2.75
7. Lin Wang, CHN, 6-2
T8. Erika Furlani, ITA, 6-1.5
T8. Michaela Hruba, CZE, 6-1.5
…
T22. Rachel McCoy, USA/LIU, 6-0
T30. Bailey Weiland, USA/GA HS, 5-11.5

Analysis:  How unfortunate that some of the event’s top talents won’t be in Eugene.  In very few cases is a World #1 missing, but 2013 WY champ Eleanor Patterson of Australia – with a 6-5 best – is not here.  Australia’s #2 jumper, Hannah Joye, will not compete, either.  And, for the 2nd straight WJC, there’s a Nevada high school soph class national record-setter and overall US#1 prep in the world’s top 3 that did not attempt to qualify for Team USA: In 2012, it was Gabby Williams (Sparks HS) at 6-2.25 and in 2014 it’s Vashti Cunningham (Bishop Gorman HS) at 6-3. 
Refocusing on who is going to be here: There’s arguably two favorites: Iryna Gerashchenko of the Ukraine has cleared 6-3.5 outdoors and 6-4.75 indoors, and has a solid championship history with a silver at the 2011 WY, 7th at 2012 WJ and competed in qualifying in the senior World Indoor this past winter.  Great Britain’s Morgan Lake is a prodigiously talented 17-year-old who has cleared 6-4 … as well as scored more than 6,000 points in the heptathlon (see below).  She has a better chance to win here, with fewer great 19-year-olds to worry about.  Also watch out for Erika Furlani of Italy, 2nd to Patterson at WY last year.
As for the U.S. entrants, making the final would be a good goal.  Bailey Weiland came out of Marist HS in Atlanta to become somewhat of a surprise winner at both New Balance Nationals Outdoor and USATF Juniors, and has a best of 5-11.5.  Rachel McCoy, a Californian at Long Island U., was just 5th at Juniors but had the necessary qualifier (6-0) to make it on the team.  The best-ever U.S. finishes are a bronze by Sharon Day in 2004 and 5th by Hannah Wilms in 2010.

Women’s Pole Vault: Freier primed for a medal

WJR: 15-2.25, Angelica Bengtsson, SWE, 2011
AJR: 14-4.5, Natalie Willer, U. of Neb., 2009
CR: 14-9, Angelica Bengtsson, SWE, 2012

Recent Champs (plus/other top U.S. finishers)
2012: Angelica Bengtsson, SWE, 14-9 (6-Emily Grove, 10Q/GrpA-Sydney White)
2010: Angelica Bengtsson, SWE, 13-11.25 (7 tie-Kelsie Ahbe, 7 tie-Shade Weygandt)
2008: Valeriya Volik, RUS, 14-5.25 (4-Rachel Laurent, 8-Leslie Brost)

Recent marks to medal / make final
2012: 13-9.25 / 13-3.25
2010: 13-7.25 / 12-7.5
2008: 13-11.25 / 12-9.5

Top Contenders (by 2014 IAAF World Ranking)
(including/plus Team USA, in bold)
1. Alena Lutkovskaya, RUS, 14-7.5 (14-9i)
2. Eliza McCartney, NZL, 14-5.25
T3. Desiree Freier, USA/TX HS, 14-3.25 (14-6i)
T3. Rebeka Silhanova, CZE, 14-3.25
6. Robeilys Peinado, VEN, 14-1.75 (14-5.25 in ’13)
7. Nina Kennedy, AUS, 14-1.25
…
T11. Bonnie Draxler, USA/WI HS, 13-11.25

Analysis:  Could there be a better capper to 2014 for Desiree Freier than a World Junior medal, or even a championship?  The Justin Northwest, TX senior, headed to Arkansas, is a very strong contender to make the stand and a legit threat to walk away with gold.  Unbeaten in and out, she returned to 14-foot territory at Juniors after a few meets below par, and of course she earlier set the HSRs both indoors and out.  Only the Russian Alena Lutkovskaya has soared higher than the 14-6 Freier did indoors (an outdoor vault that had to be moved inside).  The fact that Freier has the experience of taking 9th in the WYC last year helps, too.
Lutkovskaya is consistent and formidable, though, and it would be an upset if she was beaten.  She was 2nd in that WY vault last summer, losing – in fact – to another contender here: Venezuela’s Robeilys Peinado.  It happens, however, that Peinado has not progressed this year and ranks just #6 for 2014.  The other really strong medal contender is Eliza McCartney of New Zealand – 4th at WY last year and #2 Junior in the world this year.
The other Team USA vaulter also has valuable international experience.  Bonnie Draxler (Wrightown, WI senior) made it to Pan Am Juniors in 2013 (6th place) and has peaked at the right time this year, hitting her 13-11.25 at Juniors.  She should make the final with room to spare and has an outside medal shot.  Rachel Laurent’s fourth in 2008 is the best finish ever by an American.

Women’s Heptathlon: Rodriguez hopes to defend

WJR: 6,542 pts, Carolina Kluft, SWE, 2002
AJR: 6,018 pts, Kendell Williams, USA, 2014
CR: 6,470 pts, Carolina Kluft, SWE, 2002

Recent Champs (plus/other top U.S. finishers)
2012: Yorgelis Rordriguez, CUB, 5,966 (8-Kendell Williams, 13-Erica Bougard)
2010: Dafne Schippers, NED, 5,967 (10-Alex Gochenour, DNF-Ashley Smith)
2008: Carolin Schafer, GER, 5,833 (9-Ryann Krais, DNF-Erin Sampley)

Recent marks to medal / make final
2012: 5,900 / (straight final)
2010: 5,706 / (straight final)
2008: 5,765 / (straight final)

Top Contenders (by 2014 IAAF World Ranking)
(including/plus Team USA, in bold)
1. Yorgelis Rodriguez, CUB, 6,231 pts
2. Nadine Visser, NED, 6,110
3. Morgan Lake, GBR, 6,081
5. Celina Leffler, GER, 5,846
6. Elizaveta Kolokolchikova, RUS, 5,740
7. Emma Stenlof, SWE, 5,711
…
19. Ashlee Moore, USA/AZ HS, 5,418
23. Shaina Burns, USA/MN HS, 5,363

Analysis:  Yorgelis Rodriguez of Cuba won the 2012 WJ hept in Barcelona as a 17-year-old with a 5,966-point total (after a silver at the 2011 WY champs) and returns as one of the rare athletes with a chance to defend.  She’s now improved to 6,231, got great experience taking 12th at the senior worlds last summer, and is the strong favorite.  Behind Rodriguez, however, are another pair of extraordinary talents.  Nadine Visser of The Netherlands was 11th in Barcelona in 2012, improved to 5,774 last year and is now at 6,110.
Perhaps most talented of all, however, is the aforementioned Morgan Lake of GBR.  Following in an increasingly great tradition of British multi-eventers, Lake has already topped 6,000 points (6,081) at age-17 – still a Youth, but competing with the Junior (same as Olympic) implements.  Also a favorite in the high jump, she may not be ready to win here, but a medal is a great possibility.  Also watch closely for Sofia Linde, 4th in Barcelona in 2012 and a 6,081 talent from 2013 (but just 5,701 so far in ’14).
Team USA will be without its potential top gun: U. of Georgia frosh Kendell Williams, the HSR-holder from Kell HS, GA who set her mark while finishing 8th in Barcelona, has improved tremendously this year from her 5,578 prep PR to 6,018 – good for World #4.  But it’s hard to fault her for picking the 100H to focus on, since she’s #1 in the world there and just .03 off the WJR.  Still, Team USA has two rising stars in Ashlee Moore (Hamilton, AZ senior) and Shaina Burns (Prior Lake, MN senior).  Both gave their PRs a big boost at Juniors when they scored 5,418 and 5,363.  Competing against athletes close to their age who can score 5,800-6,200 points will be an eye-opener, but will be great experience that may push them again to PRs and maybe a shot at the top 10.  Seventh by Kendra Reimer in 1998 is the top finish ever from Team USA.

Photo Credits (from top to bottom)
Raven Saunders from Gatorade/USA Today
Valarie Allman from Alan Versaw, ColoradoTrackXC (co.milesplit.com)
Megan Glasmann by SteveU
Haley Showalter by Joy Kamani
Keturah Orji by Walter Pinion
Quanesha Burks by Walter Pinion
Bailey Weiland by Andrew McClanahan, Photorun.net
Desiree Freier by Walter Pinion
Ashlee Moore by SteveU

see bottom of page for photo credits

Event-by-event capsule previews of the men's track events, noting Team USA hopes and leading global contenders for the 2014 IAAF World Junior Championships:

(posted: women's field previews; coming: previews for women's track, men's field)
 

Men’s 100 Meters: Bromell poised for gold

WJR: 9.97, Trayvon Bromell, USA/Baylor, 2014
AJR: 9.97, Trayvon Bromell, USA/Baylor, 2014
CR: 10.05, Adam Gemili, GBR, 2012

Recent Champs (plus/other top U.S. finishers)
2012: Adam Gemili, GBR, 10.05 (2-Aaron Ernst, 4-Tyreek Hill)
2010: Dexter Lee, JAM, 10.21 (2-Charles Silmon, 4-Michael Granger)
2008: Dexter Lee, JAM, 10.40 (3-Terrell Wilks, DQ-SF2-Antonio Sales)

Recent marks to medal / make final
2012: 10.28 / 10.43
2010: 10.28 / 10.71
2008: 10.45 / 10.59

Top Contenders (by 2014 IAAF World Ranking)
(including/plus Team USA, in bold)
1. Trayvon Bromell, USA/Baylor, 9.97 (9.77w)
3. Yoshihide Kiryu, JAP, 10.05 (10.01 in 2013)
4. Zharnel Hughes, AIA, 10.12
5. Jevaughn Minzie, JAM, 10.16
6. Michael O’Hara, JAM, 10.19
6. Jalen Miller, USA/Ole Miss, 10.19

Analysis:  With Trayvon Brommel and Trentavis Friday, the USA could have had a chance to achieve a level of supremacy in men’s short sprints – at least at the Junior level – that it hasn’t had in some time.  With Brommel and either Jalen Miller (Ole Miss frosh) or Kendal Williams (Stanton Prep, FL senior), there’s still a great chance to claim gold and possibly a medal of another color.  Americans have won gold just three times here in 14 championships, in 1986, 1988 and 2004 – the year Ivory Williams and Demi Omole fashioned a 1-2 finish. 
So Bromell could be the first U.S. sprinter to top the 100 podium in 10 years.  He was a 10.27 dasher as a St. Petersburg Gibbs, FL senior in 2013, with a tantalizing 9.99w at altitude (Great Southwest) to his credit.  As a Baylor frosh, however, he’s ascended to the level of consistency in the 10.00-10.05 range with PRs of 9.97 – the new World Junior Record as he won the NCAA champs – and 9.77w.  Friday delivered a stunner in the USATF Juniors semis, hitting a HSR 10.00, but he false-started the final while Bromell won in 10.07.
The provisional entries have both Kendal Williams and Jalen Miller – 3rd and 4th in the Juniors final at 10.27 and 10.29 – entered.  Miller actually has a 10.19 PR and Williams is also in the 200, where he was 2nd to Friday (see below), so it seems likely that Miller will get a chance.
Given all that, no assumptions should be made that the Americans have got it in the bag.  Japan has a stunner of their own in Yoshihide Kiryu, who just missed the WJR with his 10.01 last year and has done 10.05 so far in 2014.  In many years, he would be the sprint story of the Championships and he may still be.  Powerful Jamaica will counter with the duo of Jevaughn Menzie and Michael O’Hara – at 10.16 and 10.19.  O’Hara was 4th in the World Youth 100 last year (and won the 200), while Menzie will be running his first global meet.  Another major medal contender is Zharnel Hughes of Anguilla, who was a neophyte two years ago in Barcelona, but is now a seasoned 10.12 performer.

Men’s 200 Meters: Friday hopes to break U.S. drought

WJR: 19.93, Usain Bolt, JAM, 2004
AJR: 20.13, Roy Martin, TX HS, 1985
CR: 20.28, Andrew Howe, ITA, 2004

Recent Champs (plus/other top U.S. finishers)
2012: Delanno Williams, TKS, 20.48 (2-Aaron Ernest, 3-Tyreek Hill)
2010: Shota Iizuka, JPN, 20.67 (3-SF1-Oliver Bradwell, 5-SF3-Eric Harris)
2008: Christophe Lemaitre, FRA, 20.83 (4-Curtis Mitchell, 6-Antonio Sales)

Recent marks to medal / make final
2012: 20.54 / 21.06
2010: 21.00 / 21.12
2008: 20.96 / 21.02

Top Contenders (by 2014 IAAF World Ranking)
(including/plus Team USA, in bold)
1. Zharnel Hughes, AIA, 20.32
2. Trentavis Friday, USA, 20.33
3. Jevaughn Minzie, JAM, 20.37
4. Michael O’Hara, JAM, 20.50
5. Kendal Williams, USA, 20.55
8. Yuri Koike, JPN, 20.61

Analysis: At least as much as the 100, this is a fascinating event, for so many reasons – and with huge storylines for American fans.  Even more so than the century, Team USA has struggled in this event with no golds since 1994 and a medal drought from 2004 through 2010 before the silver-bronze effort of Aaron Ernest and Tyreek Hill in Barcelona. 
Enter Trentavis Friday.  While the Cherryville, NC senior false-started himself out of the 100 picture at the USATF Juniors – after a World #2 and HSR 10.00 in the prelims – he blasted a redemptive (and thoroughly eye-popping) 20.04w in the 200.  Friday may sit at #2 on the WJ half-lap list at 20.33 (legal times), .01 behind Zharnel Hughes of Anguilla, but anyone who saw him a few weeks ago in Eugene would be hard-pressed not to pick him to win the first American 200 gold in 20 years.
But make no mistake, Friday – also the dominating NBNI and NBNO champ – will have to be at the top of his game to win.  Likely to be doubling back from the 100 will be Hughes and the Jamaican duo of Jevaughn Minzie and Michael O’Hara.  The former is also under 20.40 this year legally, while the latter won World Youth gold last summer.  Then there’s U.S. teammate Kendal Williams, who was 2nd in both dashes at Juniors but will likely run in this event and the 4x1, with Jalen Miller running the 100.  The Stanton Prep, FL senior has bests of 20.55 and 20.46w and, especially if fresh, could help give America two medals here again.  And, the meet record of 20.28 and AJR of 20.13 are in real danger.

Men’s 400 Meters: Cedenio eyes sub-45

WJR: 43.87, Steve Lewis, USA, 1988
AJR: 43.87, Steve Lewis, USA, 1988
CR: 44.66, Hamdan Al-Bishi, KSA, 2000

Recent Champs (plus/other top U.S. finishers)
2012: Luguelin Santos, DOM, 44.85 (2-Arman Hall, 3-Aldrich Bailey)
2010: Kirani James, GRN, 45.89 (3-Errol Nolan, 5-Josh Mance)
2008: Marcus Boyd, USA, 45.53 (3-O’Neal Wilder)

Recent marks to medal / make final
2012: 45.52 / 46.49
2010: 46.36 / 47.02
2008: 45.76 / 47.13

Top Contenders (by 2014 IAAF World Ranking)
(including/plus Team USA, in bold)
1. Machel Cedenio, TTO, 45.23
2. Michael Cherry, USA, 45.37
3. Tyler Brown, USA/Eastern Mich. U., 45.74
4. Alexander Lerionka Sampao, KEN, 45.84A
6. Abbas Abubaker, BRN, 45.93
7. Berand Koekemoer, RSA, 45.97A

Analysis:  The past two championships have seen two of the all-time Junior 400 greats capture titles: Kirani James of Grenada in 2010 and Luquelin Santos of the Dominican Republic in 2012; they now stand #2 and #3 on the all-time Junior list.  Now Machel Cedenio of Trinidad and Tobago, 5th in Barcenlona behind Santos two years ago, may be poised to become the next great, young 1-lapper.  He ran 45.93 last year and has improved to World #1 45.23 this year.  Cedenio may hope to emulate countryman Renny Quow, the 2006 WJ champ.
Team USA has been more successful here than in the short dashes, winning six times with the last being Marcus Boyd’s 2008 victory.  The last time, in fact, that an American did not medal was in 2000.  World #2 Michael Cherry – a Florida State frosh who was the 2013 NBN champ both in and out – looked ready to lead Team USA to Eugene, but he was 3rd by .01 at USATF Juniors.  He’s still entered, but the top two at Juniors and more likely to start are Tyler Brown of Eastern Michigan and Lamar Bruton of Ohio State.  They ran 45.74 and 46.11 ahead of Cherry a few weeks ago here; Bruton was on the Pan Am Junior team last year while Brown is simply a fast-rising talent who ran “just” 47.08 as a prep last year.
There are three other entrants globally who have beaten 46 this year, but keep your eyes open as well for those who did LAST year – especially 2013 World Youth champ Michael Manley of Jamaica, 45.89 last year but just 46.24 this year.  Also, Ali Khamis Khamis of Bahrain hit 45.65 in 2013 and Nobuya Koto of Japan 45.69 – even if both are yet to beat 46 in 2014.

Men’s 800 Meters: Kipketer looks for WY/WJ double

WJR: 1:42.69, Abubaker Kaki, SUD, 2008
AJR: 1:44.9h, Jim Ryun, U. of Kansas, 1966
CR: 1:43.79, Nijel Amos, BOT, 2012

Recent Champs (plus/other top U.S. finishers)
2012: Nijel Amos, BOT, 1:43.79 (7-SF2-Shaquille Walker, 6-H1-Tanner Sork)
2010: David Mutinda Mutua, KEN, 1:46.41 (2-Cas Loxsom, 3-Robby Andrews)
2008: Abubaker Kaki, SUD, 1:45.60 (6-SF3-Elijah Greer, 8-H2-Donte Holmes)

Recent marks to medal / make final
2012: 1:44.79 / 1:47.77
2010: 1:47.00 / 1:48.38
2008: 1:47.57 / 1:49.25

Top Contenders (by 2014 IAAF World Ranking)
(including/plus Team USA, in bold)
2. Alfred Kipketer, KEN, 1:45.67 (1:44.2h)
3. Joshua Tiampati Masikonde, KEN, 1:45.85
5. Nikolaus Franzmair, AUT, 1:46.78
8. Mamush Lencha, ETH, 1:46.88
9. Andreas Almgren, SWE, 1:46.99
10. Jena Umar, ETH, 1:47.00
…
19. Tre’Tez Kinnaird, USA/Indiana U., 1:47.99
27. Myles Marshall, TX HS, 1:48.43

Analysis: The 2010 and 2012 World Junior 800s were groundbreaking, but in very different ways.  The 2-lapper four years ago in Moncton saw Cas Loxsom and Robby Andrews win the first-ever medals for Team USA (silver and bronze); in fact, they were only the 3rd and 4th Americans ever to make the final.  That year, no one broke 1:46.  In 2012, it took a historically fast 1:44.79 to medal as Nijel Amos of Botswana broke the CR with a 1:43.79.
2014 might not be quite as torrid, but it should be fast – and Americans, as has been most often the case, will be hard-pressed to contend.  The favorite is Alfred Kipketer of Kenya, World #2 at 1:45.67 – but with a 1:44.2 hand time that is unsurpassed – and the reigning World Youth champ.  Given that four Kenyans have broken 1:46 this year – with Kipketer and Joshua Tiampati Maskikonde (1:45.85) the two entered – and no one else has bettered 1:46.7, it’s hard to pick against a 1-2 finish for the African nation.
Can Americans Tre’Tez Kinnaird (Indiana frosh) and Myles Marshall (Kingwood, TX junior) become the 5th and 6th Americans to make the final?  Kinnaird has the experience of representing Team USA at the 2011 World Youths and making the semis.  Marshall, who also won the Youth Olympic Trials back in April, is not quite as experienced – but he’s gaining that experience oh so fast and has talent to burn.  His 1:48.43 at Juniors just nipped his father John’s family prep PR (1:48.44) – the same John Marshall who later made the 1984 U.S. Olympic team with a 1:43.92.

Men’s 1500 Meters: No Kwemoi, but KEN and MAR will duke it out

WJR: 3:28.81, Ronald Kwemoi, KEN, 2014
AJR: 3:36.1h, Jim Ryun, U. of Kansas, 1966
CR: 3:35.53, Abdalaati Iguider, MOR, 2004

Recent Champs (plus/other top U.S. finishers)
2012: Hamza Driouch, QAT, 3:39.04 (7-H1-Isaac Yorks, 11-H2-Austin Mudd)
2010: Caleb M. Ndiku, KEN, 3:37.30 (12-SF2-Elias Gedyon, 6-SF3-Peter Callahan)
2008: Imad Touil, ALG, 3:47.40 (8-Evan Jager, 5-H2-Duncan Phillips)

Recent marks to medal / make final
2012: 3:40.60 / 3:46.37
2010: 3:38.91 / 3:44.05
2008: 3:47.65 / 3:47.71

Top Contenders (by 2014 IAAF World Ranking)
(including/plus Team USA, in bold)
3. Hassan Ghachoui, MAR, 3:38.56
5. Abdi Waiss Mouhyadin, DJI, 3:40.02
6. Oussama Nabil, MAR, 3:40.07
7. Thiago Andre, BRA, 3:40.59
11. Shaun Wylllie, GBR, 3:41.43
...
25. Patrick Joseph, USA/Va. Tech, 3:43.70
--- Grant Fisher, USA/MI HS, 3:46.71

Analysis:  It would be quite a thrill for the fans in Eugene if they could see the world’s top Junior in the 1,500.  That would be the remarkable Ronald Kwemoi, the latest in an endless line of prodigal Kenyans, who ran a jaw-dropping 3:28.81 for 3rd at the Monaco Diamond League this past Friday.  But no, he won’t be at the World Juniors, obviously ready to compete at the next level.  Similarly, four of the other Kenyans in the WJ top 10 are not among those who run here and, in fact, the WJ list is only moderately useful in handicapping this event.
The Kenyans who will be in Eugene are very good, though.  Hillary Cheruiyot Ngetich has only run 3:43.10 outdoors, but also hit 3:40.26 indoors and 3:35.87 last year.  Two years ago in Barcelona, he was the silver medalist.  Jonathan Kiplimo Sawe is at 3:42.59 this year, but 3:38.61 last year.  Meanwhile, the top performers in the field this year are Hassan Ghachoui of Morocco at 3:38.56, Abdi Waiss Mouhyadin of Djibouti at 3:40.02, and Ghachoui’s teammate, Oussama Nabil at 3:40.07.  If you’re thinking Kenya-Morocco dual meet, you may be right.
Meanwhile, how about Team USA?  Can Grant Fisher wow us like he did last summer at the World Youths?  The Grand Blanc, MI rising senior followed his surprising 9th-place finish in Donetsk with an unbeaten 2013-14 among preps, including a 4:02.02 mile best (3:46.71 at 1,500).  His only defeat at all was to Patrick Joseph (Virginia Tech soph) at Juniors, as the collegian outkicked him, 3:49.76 to 3:50.51.  It’s possible that Joseph with his 3:43.70 PR and Fisher, with his WY experience, could make the final – but expecting much more is probably too much.  The best-ever finishes by Team USA were fifths by Jason Pyrah (1988) and Gabe Jennings (1998).  Fisher, however, will still be eligible for this meet in 2016.

Men’s 3000 Meter Steeplechase: Kenya continues dominance

WJR: 7:58.66, Saif Saaeed Shaheen, KEN, 2001
AJR: 8:33.8h, John Gregorek, Georgetown, 1979
CR: 8:06.10, Conseslus Kipruto, Kenya, 2012

Recent Champs (plus/other top U.S. finishers)
2012: Conseslus Kipruto, KEN, 8:06.10 (11-Edward Owens, 10-H2-Darren Fahy)
2010: Jonathan M. Ndiku, KEN, 8:23.48 (10-Jared Berman, 15-H1-Dakota Peachee)
2008: Jonathan M. Ndiku, KEN, 8:17.28 (9-Dylan Knight, 10-Curtis Carr)

Recent marks to medal / make final
2012: 8:30.14 / 8:56.15
2010: 8:37.02 / 8:55.77
2008: 8:25.14 / 8:55.28

Top Contenders (by 2014 IAAF World Ranking)
(including/plus Team USA, in bold)
2. Titus Kipruto Kibiego, KEN, 8:22.46
3. Barnabas Kipyego, KEN, 8:24.10
4. Meresa Kahsay, ETH, 8:26.08
7. Soufiane El Bakkali, MAR, 8:32.66
8. Tumisang Monnatlala, RSA, 8:38.70
13. Ali Messaouidi, ALG, 8:43.87
…
--- Bryce Miller, USA/U. Mo.-Kansas City, 9:01.37
--- Bailey Roth, USA/CO HS, 9:03.92

Analysis:  John Kibet Koech, a Kenyan-born athlete now representing Bahrain, is this year’s top steeplechaser at 8:19.99, with six races at 8:26 or better.  But he’s staying at the senior level where he’s been competing all season, so it’s likely that the Kenyan entries actually representing Kenya – Titus Kipruto Kibiego and Barnabas Kipyego – will give their country its 14th gold medal in 15 World Junior Championships.  Kibiego won bronze in the World Youth 1,500 last summer, but moved up successfully with his 8:22.46 at the Kenyan trials - #2 on the WJ list.  Neither should threaten the 8:06.10 CR from 2012 that countryman Conseslus Kipruto – who became history’s #2 Junior steepler in 2013 – put up in Barcelona, but they should roll just the same.
Ethiopia’s Meresa Kahsay, the only other entry under 8:30, is the favorite for bronze.  South Africa and Morocco have multiple athletes who could compete for at least the top 4-8 places, but have each entered just a single athlete: Soufiane El Bakkali and Tumisang Monnatlala, respectively – both sub-8:40 talents.
U.S. distance fans should watch with significant interest to see how prep star Bailey Roth can fare in his second global championship.  As a Coronado, CO junior in 2013, he made a stunning big-meet debut to win NBNO (2k ST) and went on to win the Youth Trials and take 7th at the WYC.  A relatively quiet senior year followed until he blasted an HSR 5:41.67 2kST to win again at NBNO last month, then debuted at 3kST at USATF Juniors with a 9:03.92 – despite a fall.  Recent history shows he’ll have to break 9:00 to make the final, so his work will be cut out for him – but the potential is there.  Roth would still be a junior next year, but will likely have to settle for the Pan Am Jrs if he wants to rep Team USA.  UMKC frosh Bryce Miller has run 9:01 and was close behind Roth at Juniors, so he has a shot at making the finals, too.  The best U.S. finish ever was fifth by Chris Dugan in 1998.

Men’s 5000 Meters: Letoyie and Kipyeko bring in sub-13:20s

WJR: 12:52.61, Eliud Kipchoge, KEN, 2002
AJR: 13:25.46, German Fernandez, Okla. State, 2009
CR: 13:08.57, Abreham Cherkos, KEN, 2008

Recent Champs (plus/other top U.S. finishers)
2012: Muktar Edris, ETH, 13:38.95 (12-Kirubel Erassa, 13-Kyle King)
2010: David K. Bett, KEN, 13:23.76 (11-Trevor Dunbar)
2008: Abreham Cherkos, ETH, 13:08.57 (11-Matt Centrowitz, 16-Ryan Collins)

Recent marks to medal / make final
2012: 13:40.52 / (straight final)
2010: 13:28.92 / (straight final)
2008: 13:11.97 / (straight final)

Top Contenders (by 2014 IAAF World Ranking)
(including/plus Team USA, in bold)
1. Moses Mukono Letoyie, KEN, 13:19.26
5. Phillip Kipyeko, UGA, 13:29.54 (13:16.92 in ’13)
10. Yasin Haji, ETH, 13:32.20
12. Fredrick Kipkosgei Kiptoo, KEN, 13:33.6h
20. Tsegay Tuemay, ERI, 13:45.98 (13:20.89 in ’13)
23. Soufiane El Bakkali, MAR, 13:47.76
…
--- Colby Gilbert, USA/U. of Washington, 14:07.13
--- Brian Barraza, USA/U. of Houston, 14:13.54

Analysis:  If the low number of highly ranked athletes entered in the meet surprises you, remember that countries like Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, Eritrea and Morocco dominate the lists and you can only enter two athletes per country.  Also, the selection meets don’t always produce the fastest times and some of those selected haven’t had a chance to burn one in good conditions yet.
That said, it happens that the two fastest entries also have championship experience to rely on that makes them reasonable favorites.  Uganda’s Phillip Kipyeko was 6th in the 2012 WJ race in Barcelona, then lowered his PR to 13:16.92 last year.  This year, his best is 13:29.54, which still ranks him 2nd among entries.  Kenyan Moses Mukono Letoyie was 8th in Barcelona and leads entries in terms of 2014 marks with a 13:19.26.  It’s also interesting to note that in 2012, there had been three incredible Junior performers between 12:47 and 13:03 (none of whom raced World Juniors); this year, no one has been nearly that fast and the field more accurately reflects the best of what’s out there.  Of course, it should also be noted that Ronald Kwemoi of Kenya is WJ#2 with a 13:21.53 PR and, given his recent WJR at 3:28.81 for 1,500, can probably approach 13 flat.
Given that a time like 13:40-13:50 could possibly place well into the top 8, one laments that outstanding collegians like Stanford frosh (and 2013 NBNO 2M champ while in HS) Sean McGorty with a 13:37.64 PR and Colorado frosh Ben Saarel (sub-8:50 3,200 as a prep) at 13:48.97 didn’t extend their seasons.  They might have been able to match or better the all-time U.S. best finishes of 9th in this event (Eric Mastalir 1986 and Galen Rupp 2004).  Instead, it should be a great learning experience (and, who knows, maybe better) for Washington frosh Colby Gilbert (14:07.13) and U. of Houston frosh Brian Barraza (14:13.54).

Men’s 10000 Meters: Ugandan has only sub-28

WJR: 26:41.75, Samuel Wanjiru, KEN, 2005
AJR: 28:15.82, Galen Rupp, OR, 2005
CR: 27:30.85, Josphat Bett Kipkoech, KEN, 2008

Recent Champs (plus/other top U.S. finishers)
2012: Yigrem Demelash, ETH, 28:16.07 (11-Jacob Kildoo, 15-Ryan Pickering)
2010: Dennis C. Masai, KEN, 27:53.88 (6-Parker Stinson, 16-Graham Bazell)
2008: Josphat Bett Kipkoech, KEN, 27:30.85 (17-Donn Cabral, 19-Dan Dunbar)

Recent marks to medal / make final
2012: 28:30.47 / (straight final)
2010: 28:14.55 / (straight final)
2008: 28:07.98 / (straight final)

Top Contenders (by 2014 IAAF World Ranking)
(including/plus Team USA, in bold)
1. Joshua Cheptegei, UGA, 27:56.26
3. Tsegaye Mekonnen, ETH, 28:15.5h
6. Yihunilign Adane, ETH, 28:30.4h
7. Elvis Kipchoge Cheboi, KEN, 28:33.73
8. Nicholas Mboroto Kosimbei, KEN, 28:37.58
9. Abdallah Kibet Mande, UGA, 28:42.1h
…
24. Brendan Shearn, USA/U. of Penn, 29:49.04
--- Jonathan Green, USA/Georgetown U., 30:54.62

Analysis:  If the list of top six entries make the 10k appear like a Uganda-Ethiopia-Kenya tri-meet, well, that’s probably what this event will be – with storylines worth following for each country.  In Joshua Cheptegei, Uganda has the only sub-28 runner this year, and a chance to win gold for the 2nd time in meet history (Boniface Kiprop, 2004).  In Tsegaye Mekonnen, Ethiopia has both an athlete whose been to WJs before (5th in the 2012 5,000) and who has extremely intriguing potential after an eye-popping WJ best 2:04:32 marathon in Dubai early this year.
And, finally, in Elvis (Elvis?) Kipchoge Cheboi and Nicholas Mboroto Kosimbei, Kenya has two athletes who they hope will take their country back to the top of the medal stand they enjoyed the previous two championships (2008, 2010) before Ethiopian Yigrem Demelash won in Barcelona.
Team USA has had just two top-10 finishes here, which is why it was such a thrill to see Texas prep Parker Stinson take 6th in the 2010 race – the highest U.S. finish and best time ever in the event at 29:32.23.  Collegians Brendan Shearn (Penn frosh) and Jonathan Green (Georgetown frosh) will probably need at least 29:45 to get into the top 10.

Men’s 10000 Meter Racewalk: Matsunaga consistent under 40:00

WJR: 38:46.4h, Viktor Burayev, RUS, 2000
AJR: 41:23.14, Tyler Sorenson CA, 2011
CR: 39:35.01, Stanislav Emelyanov, RUS, 2008

Recent Champs (plus/other top U.S. finishers)
2012: Eider Arevalo, COL, 40:09.74 (13-Tyler Sorensen)
2010: Valery Filipchuk, RUS, 40:43.17 (7-Trevor Barron, 15-Tyler Sorensen)
2008: Stanislav Emelyanov, RUS, 39:35.01 (No USA)

Recent marks to medal / make final
2012: 40:16.87 / (straight final)
2010: 40:50.37 / (straight final)
2008: 40:29.57 / (straight final)

Top Contenders (by 2014 IAAF World Ranking (road))
(including/plus Team USA, in bold)
2. Daisuke Matsunaga, JPN 39:45 (road), 39:18.71 (track)
3. Nikolay Markov, RUS, 39:55 (road)
4. Diego Garcia, ESP, 40:10 (road)
5. Gang Xu, CHN, 40:34 (road)
6. Rui Wang, CHN, 40:36 (road)
8. Paolo Yurivilca, PER, 40:47 (road)
…
--- Anthony Peters, USA/Elgin Sharks, 45:54

Analysis: Most instructive in handicapping this race are probably the World Cup road results from early May, where China’s Wenkui Gao won in 39:40 and Japan’s Daisuke Matsunaga was 2nd at 39:45.  Gao is not entered here, but Matsunaga also tops the world list on the track with the only sub-40 of the year at 39:18.71 and also walked 39:08.23 last year – so he gets the favorite tag. 
Nikolay Markov of Russia was 3rd at the World Cup at 39:55, ahead of the 40:10 from Spain’s Diego Garcia – the 2013 World Youth bronze medalist.  Russian Maxim Krasnov won silver in that World Youth race and is his country’s other entry here.  He was DQ’d at the World Cup.  China’s entries, Gang Xu and Rui Wang, figure to be top contenders as well.
2010 and 2012 were glory days for U.S. walkers.  At Moncton four years ago, Trevor Barron and Tyler Sorensen were seventh and 15th, with Barron setting the American Junior Record.  Sorensen reset that mark in 2011 at World Youths, where he was fifth, then overcame injury to finish 13th in Barcelona.  This year, Anthony Peters is the U.S. entry.  He has some experience after finishing 29th at the World Cup, so will be looking to improve.

Men’s 110 Meter Hurdles: Great Belocian-Omoregie duel at hand

WJR: 13.12, Liu Xaing, CHN, 2002
AJR: 13.08, Wayne Davis, NC HS, 2009
CR: 13.18, Yordan L. O’Farrill, CUB, 2012

Recent Champs (plus/other top U.S. finishers)
2012: Yordan L. Farrill, CUB, 13.18 (6-Dondre Echols, 4-SF3-Joshua Thompson)
2010: Pascal Martinot-Lagarde, FRA, 13.52 (5-Caleb Cross, 4-SF2-Jonathan Cabral)
2008: Konstantin Shabanov, RUS, 13.27 (2-Booker Nunley, 4-SF2-Ron Brookins)

Recent marks to medal / make final
2012: 13.29 / 13.62
2010: 13.59 / 13.77
2008: 13.51 / 13.62

Top Contenders (by 2014 IAAF World Ranking)
(including/plus Team USA, in bold)
1. Wilhelm Belocian, FRA, 13.15
2. David Omoregie, GBR, 13.17
3. Tyler Mason, JAM, 13.25
4. Taio Kanai, JPN, 13.33
5. Nick Anderson, USA/U. of Kentucky, 13.37
6. Benjamin Sedecias, FRA, 13.40
T6. Isaiah Moore, USA/NC HS, 13.40
…
8. Theophile (Misana) Viltz, USA/CA HS, 13.42

Analysis:  A great battle for European and global Junior supremacy is shaping up between France’s Wilhelm Belocian and Great Britain’s Davis Omoregie.  They stand 1-2 on the yearly list at 13.15 and 13.17 (#3 and #4 all-time Juniors) and each has a second mark under 13.30 as well.  Belocian won European Juniors last year at 13.18, was 3rd in Barcelona (13.29) and won bronze at the 2011 WY, too.  Omoregie is a more recent bloomer and will be in his first global championship, improving from 13.45 to 13.17 this year.
Jamaica’s Tyler Mason, the Carifta Games champ this year, is at 13.25 and very capable of winning it all, too.  France has a shot at a second medal if WJ#6 Benjamin Sedecias can break through.
The last American to medal was Booker Nunley in 2008; the last to win was Aries Merritt in 2004.  The entry list has three Americans listed after the very close finish at the USATF Juniors that saw U. of Kentucky’s Nick Anderson nip Misana Viltz (Long Beach Milikan, CA senior) and Isaiah Moore (Cummings, NC senior), 13.37 to 13.42 and 13.44.  Moore is the U.S. prep leader at 13.40 with his NBNO victory and made the World Youth final last year.  He was not named to the team originally, so one wonders if he might be replacing Viltz or Anderson for some reason.  In either case, both Americans should make the final and at least one could medal – but it will probably take a PR to do so.

Men’s 400 Meter Hurdles: Hyde a big favorite

WJR: 48.02, Danny Harris, USA, 1984
AJR: 48.02, Danny Harris, USA, 1984
CR: 48.51, Kerron Clement, USA, 2004

Recent Champs (plus/other top U.S. finishers)
2012: Eric Futch, USA, 50.24 (3-SF2-Gregory Coleman)
2010: Jehue Gordon, TRI, 49.30 (7-SF2-Sheroid Evans, 4-H5-Steven White)
2008: Jeshua Anderson, USA, 48.68 (2-Johnny Dutch)

Recent marks to medal / make final
2012: 50.47 / 51.11
2010: 50.22 / 51.22
2008: 49.56 / 51.48

Top Contenders (by 2014 IAAF World Ranking)
(including/plus Team USA, in bold)
1. Jaheel Hyde, JAM, 49.49
2. Tim Holmes, USA/Baylor, 49.90
3. Kenneth Selmon, USA/GA HS, 50.13
4. Guozhong Wang, CHN, 50.61
5. Khalifah Rosser, USA, 50.62
6. Jose L. Gaspar, CUB, 50.65

Analysis: Few events in the Championships have more clear-cut medal favorites than the men’s 400H.  In the role of favorite is the supremely talented Jamacian, Jaheel Hyde.  The 17-year-old wunderkind is probably his country’s top male athlete here and one of the biggest young stars of the meet.  After winning the World Youth 110H last year, he hopes to become Jamaica’s first gold medalist in this event at WJ. 
While Hyde will be very difficult to beat, Team USA has a great 1-2 punch to battle him and win a pair of medals.  USATF Jr champ Tim Holmes was the NBNO 400H runner-up and 110H 3rd-place finisher last year at St. Petersburg Lakewood, FL, and this year has gotten down to 49.90 and was 4th at the NCAAs.  And after winning World Youth bronze last year, Kenny Selmon (Pace Academy, GA senior) won this year’s NBNO 400H crown and was 2nd behind Holmes at Juniors at 50.13.  Khalifah Rosser, the Pan Am Juniors champ last year and 3rd at Juniors, is also listed in the entries and if for some reason wound up running would be a medal contender.
Team USA has a great history in this event, including gold in 2012 and 1-2 sweeps in 2006 and 2008.

Men’s 4x100 Meter Relay: Americans could chase WJR

WJR: 38.66, Team USA, 2004
AJR: 38.66, Team USA, 2004
CR: 38.66, Team USA, 2004

Recent Champs
2012: USA, 38.67
2010: USA, 38.93
2008: USA, 38.98

Recent marks to medal / make final
2012: 39.02 / 39.94
2010: 39.72 / 40.07
2008: 39.70 / 40.40

Top Contenders (by 2014 IAAF World Ranking)
2. Jamaica, 39.38
3. Japan, 39.49
5. Thailand, 39.74
6. Chinese Taipei, 39.91
7. Great Britain, 39.97
T9. Nigeria, 40.06
T9. Trinidad & Tobago, 40.06

Analysis: The current world list is only moderately relevant, with many countries – most notably the U.S., not having raced a full-strength team yet.  What is relevant is that while Jamaica has long since passed the U.S. as the typical favorite at the senior WC and Olympic levels, the Americans still dominate at the Junior level.  Team USA is favored to win for the sixth time in the last seven Championships, especially if Trentavis Friday – the new 100 HSR-setter who false-started the USATF Junior final but won the 200 – is named to join Trayvon Bromell on the squad. 
With Aaron Ernest and Tyreek Hill leading the way, the Americans came within .01 of their WJR in 2012 with a 38.67.  Could they break the 2004 mark this time around?  Joining Bromell and, hopefully, Friday will be Jalen Miller (Ole Miss frosh), who may also run the open 100; Kendal Williams (Stanton Prep, FL senior), who was 2nd in both dashes and will contest one or both; Terry Jernigan (East Ridge, FL senior), who has run 10.27; and Michael Wells (Cleveland NJROTC Acad., MO senior) who has run 10.49.
The competition, however, is hardly going to hand it over to them.  Jamaica, which ran 38.97 for silver two years ago and won in 1998 and 2006, will be tough as ever with Jevaughn Minzie and Michael O’Hara leading the way.  And 2012 bronze medalist Japan, 39.02 in Barcelona, could be a sub-39 threat with their 10.01 man Yoshihide Kiryu.

Men’s 4x400 Meter Relay: Another USA win expected

WJR: 3:01.09, Team USA, 2004
AJR: 3:01.09, Team USA, 2004
CR: 3:01.09, Team USA, 2004

Recent Champs
2012: USA, 3:03.99
2010: USA, 3:04.76
2008: USA, 3:03.86

Recent marks to medal / make final
2012: 3:06.32 / 3:07.88
2010: 3:06.49 / 3:08.32
2008: 3:06.47 / 3:09.23

Top Contenders (by 2014 IAAF World Ranking)
1. Trinidad & Tobago, 3:06.02
2. Nigeria, 3:06.21
3. Jamaica, 3:07.71
4. Germany, 3:07.74
6. Thailand, 3:08.89
7. Belgium, 3:09.60

Analysis:  Team USA has won six in a row in this event and 12 of 14 overall.  That trend shouldn’t change in Eugene.  This American team might not have quite the talent of some of the past quartets, but with four in the 45.3 to 46.2 range – Michael Cherry (Florida State frosh), Tyler Brown (Eastern Mich. frosh), Lamar Bruton (Ohio State frosh), Josephus Lyles (T.C. Williams, VA soph), plus Miles Parish (Arizona frosh) and Ricky Morgan (Forest Park, VA senior) in the relay pool – they should get the job done.
Trinidad and Tobago, with a bronze from 2012 and top 400 star Machel Cedeni capable of a sub-45 carry, might be good choice as a top challenger.  Others to watch closely are Nigeria, Jamaica, Germany and South Africa.

Photo credits (from top to bottom)
Trayvon Bromell by Joy Kamani
Trentavis Friday by Walter Pinion
Michael Manley by Joy Kamani
Alfred Kipketer by Vic Sailah, Photorun.net
Grant Fisher by Joy Kamani
Bailey Roth by Walter Pinion
Moses Mukono Letoyie by Vic Sailah, Photorun.net
Elvis Kipchoge Cheboi by Vic Sailah, Photorun.net
Wilhelm Belocian by Joy Kamani
Kenny Selmon by Walter Pinion
2012 US 4x1 by Joy Kamani
2012 US 4x4 by Joy Kamani

Event-by-event capsule previews of the men's track events, noting Team USA hopes and leading global contenders for the 2012 IAAF World Junior Championships:

Women’s 100 Meters: Whitney, Asher-Brown top US-UK duel

WJR: 10.88, Marlies Gohr, GDR, 1977
AJR: 11.03, English Gardner, U. of Oregon, 2012
CR: 11.12, Veronica Campbell-Brown, JAM, 2000

Recent Champs (plus/other top U.S. finishers)
2012: Athonique Strachan, BAH, 11.20 (5-Jennifer Madu, 3SF2-Dezerea Bryant)
2010: Jodie Williams, GBR, 11.40 (2-Takeia Pinckney, 4-Ashton Purvis)
2008: Jeneba Tarmoh, USA, 11.37 (5-Shayla Mahan)

Recent marks to medal / make final
2012: 11.45 / 11.68
2010: 11.56 / 11.78
2008: 11.52 / 11.60

Top Contenders (in order of 2014 IAAF Outdoor Ranking)
(including/plus Team USA, in bold)
1. Kaylin Whitney, USA/FL HS, 11.10
2. Dina Asher-Smith, GBR, 11.14
3. Ariana Washington, USA, 11.22
4. Desiree Henry, GBR, 11.23
5. Angela Tenorio, ECU, 11.25
8. Jonielle Smith, JAM, 11.32

Analysis: East Ridge, FL soph Kaylin Whitney – already long regarded as one of the U.S.’s top sprint prodigies in recent years – took her season from very, very good to legendary 2-1/2 weeks ago at the USATF Juniors.  Her PRs of 11.17 (heats) and 11.10 elevated her to the status of fastest HS girl and World Youth in history.  While she’s just a 16-year-old 10th-grader, her style and demeanor are of someone 18 or 19 years old.  While this is Whitney’s first international competition, she seems ready for it.
But while the American is #1 on the World Junior list, she’s hardly an overwhelming favorite.  In fact, it would be most accurate to describe the 100 as a potentially electrifying dual meet between the U.S. and the U.K.  Great Britain has their own superstar in Dina Asher-Smith, who has a PR of 11.14 and has been consistent between 11.15-11.25.  They also have Desiree Henry, who has clocked 11.23.  Henry actually has better big meet creds, with the World Youth 200 title in 2011 and a 4th at the same distance at the 2012 World Juniors in Barcelona (Asher-Smith 7th). 
These British 18-year-olds are definitely a threat for 1 or 2 medals … but Team USA also has a great duo with Ariana Washington (Long Beach Poly, CA senior) being both fast (11.22 PR) and extremely experienced (2013 World Youth silver).  At least one more dasher who can’t be ignored: Ecuador’s Angela Tenorio, a 11.25 performer who traded silver and bronze 100 and 200 runs with Washington in Donetsk last year. 
This shapes up as a killer final.  The last American to win was Jeneba Tarmoh in 2008, but in 2012 no U.S. runner was higher than 5th.  The meet record of 11.12 is within reach of Whitney and Asher-Smith, at least.

Women’s 200 Meters: Whitney favored here, too

WJR: 22.18, Allyson Felix CA, 2004
AJR: 22.11A, Allyson Felix CA, 2003
CR: 22.53, Anthonique Strachen, BAH, 2012

Recent Champs (plus/other top U.S. finishers)
2012: Anthonique Strachen, BAH, 22.53 (2-Olivia Ekpone, 3-Dezerea Bryant)
2010: Stormy Kendrick, USA, 22.99 (5-Ashton Purvis)
2008: Sheniqua Ferguson, BAH, 23.24 (5-Tiffany Townsend, 5-SF3-Ashton Purvis)

Recent marks to medal / make final
2012: 23.15 / 23.57
2010: 23.27 / 23.51
2008: 23.52 / 23.67

Top Contenders (in order of 2014 IAAF Outdoor Ranking)
(including/plus Team USA, in bold)
1. Kaylin Whitney, USA, 22.49
2. Dina Asher-Smith, GBR, 22.74
3. Brittany Brown, USA, 22.95
4. Jada Martin, USA, 23.02
5. Ariallis J. Gandulla, CUB, 23.19
6. Shannon Hylton, GBR, 23.24

Analysis: Even after her 100 meter HSR at USATF Juniors, Kaylin Whitney (East Ridge, FL soph) entered the 2nd day of the meet as someone who was hardly a 200 slam dunk favorite, let alone a potential World favorite.  She did have a wind-aided (barely) 22.80 to her credit, but her legal best was several 10ths slower.  But after a 23.22 prelim, Whitney exploded in the final to a 22.49 – a time topped only be an altitude-aided Allyson Felix mark in U.S. prep history.  It also rocketed her up to World #1, by a significantly bigger margin than in the 100.  She has a shot at the meet record, no doubt.
Great Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith is still a huge force here, but with a 22.74 best, she has a little ground to make up.  Whitney, meanwhile, will have a fast teammate in LSU frosh Jada Martin at 23.02 (2nd at USATF Juniors and expected to run, even though Brittany Brown is also entered), while Asher-Smith is joined by Shannon Hylton.  Two big names not in the top 6 on the outdoor list this year are the previously mentioned (100) Ecuadorian Angela Tenorio – 23.13 last year – and Sweden’s 2013 World Youth champ Irene Ekelund, who hit 22.92 in 2013.  Neither is as fast this year but could get there this week.
Team USA last won gold in 2010, and went silver-bronze in 2012.

Women’s 400 Meters: Baisden fast, with lots of experience

WJR: 49.42, Grit Breuer, GER, 1991
AJR: 49.89, Sanya Richards, Nike, 2004
CR: 50.50, Ashley Spencer, USA/U. of Ill., 2012

Recent Champs (plus/other top U.S. finishers)
2012: Ashley Spencer, USA/U. of Ill., 50.50 (3-Erika Rucker)
2010: Shaunae Miller, BAH, 52.52 (4-Stacy Ann Smith, 7-Regina George)
2008: Folasade Abugan, NGR, 51.84 (2-Jessica Beard, 7-Lanie Whittaker)

Recent marks to medal / make final
2012: 51.10 / 52.70
2010: 53.17 / 53.59
2008: 52.36 / 53.78

Top Contenders (in order of 2014 IAAF Outdoor Ranking)
(including/plus Team USA, in bold)
1. Kendall Baisden, USA/U. of Texas, 50.46
2. Shakima Wimbley, USA/U. of Miami, 51.68
3. Gilda Casanova, CUB, 52.28
4. Genet Lira, ETH, 52.40
5. Olivia Baker, USA, 52.46
6. Yana Glotova, RUS, 52.79

Analysis: There’s a couple of key storylines here, and both include U.S. favorite Kendall Baisden, the Texas frosh.  On paper, the event looks like an American blowout, with Baisden and Shakima Wimbley (Miami frosh) the only two under 52 seconds and with Baisden way out under 50.50.  But Olivia Baker, the Columbia, NJ senior, is the likely U.S. #2 with her 52.46 runner-up finish at Juniors.  And Baisden’s time was two months ago at the friendly altitude of Lubbock – she’s still a consistent 51-52 runner that still earns her the favorite’s role – but 50.46 would be a lot to ask.
That said, Baisden is carving out an amazing career, now on her fourth Team USA.  She earned a World Youth berth in 2011, World Junior (4x4) in 2012 and Pan Am Junior last year.  Amazingly, while she was 2nd or 3rd in those USATF Junior and Youth meets to get on those teams, the last year she won prior to 2014 was actually when she was a freshman at Detroit Country Day in 2010 – and too young to make it to Moncton.
So expect Baisden to win and Baker – 2013 World Youth silver medalist – to fight it out not too far behind for the next two medals with Cuba’s Gilda Casanova and – surprise – Ethiopia’s Genet Lira.  Yes, Ethiopia – with Lira and Tegest Tamangnu in the 100 and 200 – is moving up in the sprint ranks!  By the way, Baisden’s Texas teammate, Ashley Spencer, won the last WJ champs 400 in 2012.

Women’s 800 Meters: Diago explods into limelight

WJR: 1:54.01, Pamela Jelimo, KEN, 2008
AJR: 1:58.21, Ajee Wilson, USA, 2013
CR: 2:00.06, Elena Mirela Lavric, ROM, 2008

Recent Champs (plus/other top U.S. finishers)
2012: Ajee Wilson, USA/NJ HS, 2:00.91 (5SF3-Danielle Aragon)
2010: Elena M. Lavric, ROU, 2:01.85 (5-Ajee Wilson, 4SF1-Laura Roesler)
2008: Elena M. Lavric, ROU, 2:00.06 (8H4-Sarah McCurdy, 9H2-Camilla Dancer

Recent marks to medal / make final
2012: 2:03.09 / 2:03.18
2010: 2:02.51 / 2:04.33
2008: 2:02.05 / 2:05.43

Top Contenders (in order of 2014 IAAF Outdoor Ranking)
(including/plus Team USA, in bold)
1. Sahily Diago, CUB, 1:57.74
3. Zeyituna Mohammed, ETH, 2:01.55
5. Georgia Wassall, AUS, 2:01.78
7. Anita Hinriksdottir, ISL, 2:02.70 (2:01.81i, 2:00.49 in ’13)
10. Georgia Griffith, AUS, 2:04.05
11. Dureti Edao, ETH, 2:04.13 (2:03.25 in ’13)
…
13. Sabrina Southerland, USA/Georgetown, 2:04.21 (2:03.59i in ’13)
15. Raevyn Rogers, USA, 2:04.40 (2:03.32 in ’13)

Analysis:  One of the more stunning stories of Junior improvement this year has been that of Cuba’s Sahily Diago from a 2:01 performer last year as a 17-year-old to an overwhelmingly WJ-leading 1:57.74 this year.  That’s’ actually the #2 time overall in the world and also an “Area” Junior record.  She also has a 1:58.14 to her credit, but is also fairly inexperienced in major meets – though she did get some international circuit races under her belt this spring/summer.  Still, she’s one of the biggest favorites of the meet, especially with so many of this year’s fastest (Jessica Judd, Mary Cain, etc.) not competing here for various reasons.
After Diago, the competition is pretty wide open.  Australia and Ethiopia each have solid duos, with the former going with “the Georgias” Wassall (2:01.78 PR) and Griffith (2:04.05) and the Ethiopians with Zeyituna Mohammed (2:01.55) and Dureti Edao (2:03.25 in ’13).  And though she’s just 7th on the list this year, the uber-experienced internationalist Anita Hinriksdottir of Iceland should be taken seriously, with a 2:00.49 PR from last year – as well as the 2013 World Youth title and a 4th from Barcelona in 2012.
Both Americans have a good shot at the final, too, though matching countrywoman Ajee Wilson’s career with a 5th in 2010 and victory two years ago is daunting.  Raevyn Rogers (Kincaid School, TX senior) is the reigning World Youth bronze medalist with her 2:03.22 PR, a mark she’s still looking to surpass this year.  Sabrina Southerland comes of a long and mostly successful season at Georgetown after a fine career at Benjamin Cardozo, NY.  Between them, they’ve won the last three NBNO 800 titles (Rogers 2012, 2014 and Southerland 2013), while Southerland’s career PR came in the NBNI race in 2013.

Women’s 1500 Meters: Ethiopians, U.S. could dominate

WJR: 3:51.34, Yinglai Lang, CHN, 1997
AJR: 4:04.62, Mary Cain, USA/NY HS, 2013
CR: 4:04.96, Faith Chepngetich Kipyego, KEN, 2012

Recent Champs (plus/other top U.S. finishers)
2012: Faith Chepngetich Kipyego, KEN, 4:04.96 (6-Mary Cain, 10H3-Hannah Meier)
2010: Tizita Bogale, ETH, 4:08.06 (4-Jordan Hasay, 7-H1-Rachel Schneider)
2008: Stephanie Twell, GBR, 4:15.09 (4-Jordan Hasay, 6-Alex Kosinski)

Recent marks to medal / make final
2012: 4:08.28 / 4:18.30
2010: 4:11.04 / 4:18.90
2008: 4:17.06 / 4:21.73

Top Contenders (in order of 2014 IAAF Outdoor Ranking)
(including/plus Team USA, in bold)
1. Dawit Seyaum, ETH, 3:59.53
2. Gudaf Tsegay, ETH, 4:02.83
3. Alexa Efraimson, USA, 4:07.05
4. Sofia Ennaoui, POL, 4:07.34
5. Senbere Teferi, ETH, 4:08.49
6. Elise Cranny, USA, 4:10.95

Analysis: To encounter a World Junior women’s 1,500 list where the U.S. representation (3 athletes) is 2nd only to Ethiopia (5 athletes) is a pretty exhilarating sight for an American distance fan.  Of course, only two from each nation may represent here, but the home team here could be a factor here like never before – even without its fastest woman.  Many hoped that 4:04 (2013) performer Mary Cain, 6th in this meet two years ago, would battle the Ethiopians in this race.  Cain chose the 3,000, but Team USA has nearly as great chance at a medal with prep megastar Alexa Efraimson. 
After taking 3rd in the World Youth 1,500 last year, Efraimson has had a banner junior year at Camas, WA, with her 4:07.05 PR in the New York Diamond League race propelling her to the medal level.  She could win the first medal ever for Team USA in this event.  Then in Elise Cranny (Niwot, CO senior), the Americans have a 2nd runner who can make the final and compete in the top six or so, if not better – and together they could better the 4-6 finish by Jordan Hasay and Alex Kosinski in 2008.
It would be an upset, though, if anyone but the Ethiopian pair won gold or silver.  Dawit Seyaum was 2nd in that same Diamond League race where Efraimson was 10th, her 3:59.53 PR towering over the field.  She was 2nd ahead of Efraimson in Donetsk last year, but has improved even more dramatically in 2014.  Gudaf Tesgay, with three performances between 4:02 and 4:05, is nearly as formidable.
And while Kenya doesn’t have any entries with times under 4:12, don’t think Sheila Chepngetich Keter and Winfred Mbithe won’t be in the running for medals, too.

Women’s 3000 Meters: Cain moves up

WJR: 8:28.83, Zola Budd, GBR, 1985
AJR: 8:57.27, Ceci Hopp, Stanford, 1982
CR: 8:46.86, Zhang Linli, CHN, 1992

Recent Champs (plus/other top U.S. finishers)
2012: Mercy Chebwogen, KEN 9:08.88 (6-Aisling Cuffe, 9-Lindsay Crevoiserat)
2010: Mercy Cherono, KEN, 8:55.07 (9-Jordan Hasay, 10-Emily Sisson)
2008: Mercy Cherono, KEN, 8:58.07 (6-Laurynne Chetelat)

Recent marks to medal / make final
2012: 9:09.43 / (straight final)
2010: 8:55.33 / (straight final)
2008: 9:03.76 / (straight final)

Top Contenders (in order of 2014 IAAF Outdoor Ranking)
(including/plus Team USA, in bold)
4. Lilian Kasait Rengeruk, KEN, 8:53.41
6. Sofia Ennaoui, POL, 8:59.44
8. Etagegne Woldu, ETH, 9:02.17
10. Nozomi Musembi Takamutsu, JPN, 9:10.08 (9:08.22 in ’13)
11. Nao Yamamoto, JPN, 9:10.39
14. Gabriela Stafford, CAN, 9:13.10
…
16. Mary Cain, USA, 9:15.81 (9:04.51i in ’13)
--- Stephanie Jenks, USA, 9:24.67

Analysis:  For Mary Cain fans, the 1,500’s loss is the 3,000’s gain.  The distance wunderkind, just graduated from Bronxville HS in NY, had not raced longer than a mile in more than a year before the USATF Juniors – where she decided to forge an adventure at twice the distance where she had finished 6th in the 2012 World Juniors.  With her 9:15.81, she looked well within herself and there’s no reason to think she can’t at least 10-15 seconds faster, given decent conditions.  She could challenge one of the oldest American Junior records on the books, the 8:57.27 by Ceci Hopp in 1982.
But of course, battling for medals is the thing – the first medal in this event for an American, actually – and she should be able to do that, too, especially given the somewhat watered-down nature of this field.  Only four of the World’s top 10 have entered here, led by WJ#4 and 2013 World Youth champ Lilian Kasait Rengeruk of Kenya.  Poland’s Sofia Ennaoui, also high on the 1,500 list, has run 8:59.44.  The 2014 list can be deceptive, though.  The second Ethiopian and Kenyan entries have run 9:00.06 and 9:15.8 in previous years, and Burundi’s Ruth Jebet has clocked 9:09.8.
The second American, Stephanie Jenks, just completed her soph year and would do well to temper her inclination to go out too fast and aim for a top 8-10 finish and sub-9:20.

Women’s 3000 Meter Steeplechase: Bahrainian hopes to break Kenyan string

WJR: 9:20.37, Birtukan Adamu, ETH, 2011
AJR: 10:00.08, Shelby Greany, Providence, 2010
CR: 9:31.35, Christine Kambua Muyanga, KEN, 2008

Recent Champs (plus/other top U.S. finishers)
2012: Daisy Jepkemei, KEN, 9:47.22 (5-Brianna Nerud, 8H2-Courtney Frerichs)
2010: Purity C. Kirui, KEN, 9:36.34 (10-Shelby Greany, 12-Eleanor Fulton)
2008: Christine K. Muyanga, KEN, 9:31.35 (6-H2-Elizabeth Graney, 9-H1-Rebecca Wade

Recent marks to medal / make final
2012: 9:50.58 / 10:28.27
2010: 9:43.71 / 10:35.58
2008: 9:37.81 / 10:23.88

Top Contenders (in order of 2014 IAAF Outdoor Ranking)
(including/plus Team USA, in bold)
1. Ruth Jebet, BRN, 9:27.90
3. Buzuayehu Mohamed, ETH, 9:40.26
4. Rosefline Chepngetich, KEN, 9:43.25
5. Daisy Jepkemei, KEN, 9:53.02 (9:47.22 in ’13)
6. Kate Spencer, AUS, 9:53.15
7. Zulema Arenas, PER, 9:55.23
…
28. Hope Schmelzle, USA/Purdue, 10:23.38
--- Elinor Purrier, USA/New Hampshire, 10:24.46

Analysis: Topping the list of contenders is Bahrain’s Ruth Jebet, who has improved 25 seconds this year to 9:27.90.  While she is Kenyan-born, she could break her home country’s stranglehold on the event.  Daisy Jepkemei of Kenya is actually the defending champ, but has not broken 9:50 this year while others have figuratively streamed past.  She was beaten in her Trials by Rosefline Chepngetich, a 9:43.25 performer who claimed the World Youth gold over the 2kST distance in 2013.
Leading Ethiopian hopes is Buzuayehu Mohamed at 9:40.26, while other top contenders include Kate Spencer of Australia and Zulema Arenas of Peru, both with sub-10 marks.  As for Americans, there aren’t strong contenders in the 10-flat range like we had with Brianna Nerud (5th in ’12) and Shelby Greany the past two championships.  Purdue’s Hope Schmelzle and New Hampshire’s Elinor Purrier will be pushed to make the final and finish in the top 10.

Women’s 5000 Meters: Another great Ethiopia-Kenya battle

WJR: 14:30.88, Tirunesh Diababa, ETH, 2004
AJR: 15:36.95, Molly Huddle, Notre Dame, 2003
CR: 15:08.06, Genzeba Dibaba, ETH

Recent Champs (plus/other top U.S. finishers)
2012: Buze Diriba, ETH, 15:32.94 (4-Cayla Hatton, 8-Allison Woodward)
2010: Genzebe Dibaba, ETH, 15:08.06 (6-Emily Sisson)
2008: Sule Utura, ETH, 16:15.59 (11-Catherine White, 12-Ashley Higginson)

Recent marks to medal / make final
2012: 15:36.74 / (straight final)
2010: 15:17.39 / (straight final)
2008: 16:27.96 / (straight final)

Top Contenders (in order of 2014 IAAF Outdoor Ranking)
(including/plus Team USA, in bold)
1. Alemetu Haroye, ETH, 14:52.67
2. Agnes Jebet Tirop, KEN, 15:00.19 (14:50.36 in ’13)
3. Kate Spencer, AUS, 15:32.29
4. Alemitu Hawi, ETH, 15:35.3
5. Gotytom Gebreslase, ETH, 15:40.4 (15:11.12 in ’13)
6. Maki Izumida, JPN, 15:50.26 (15:38.22 in ’13)
…
--- Maggie Schmaedick, USA/Oregon, 16:18.24

Analysis:  A great battle shapes up between Ethiopia’s Alemetu Haroye and Kenya’s Agnes Jebet Tirop – the WJ #1-2 and both candidates to break the meet record.  Haroye is fastest on the watch this year, but Tirop has the best overall PR and not only the experience of winning bronze in Barcelona two years ago, but edging Haroye for 2nd at the World Junior XC in 2013.  Kenya’s #2 will be inexperienced Loice Chemnung (15:53.0A), while Ethiopia will put either Alemitu Hawi (faster this year) or Gotytom Gebreslase (faster career PR) on the line.
Top athletes to watch outside of that rivalry include Australia’s Kate Spencer and Japan’s Maki Izumida.  Team USA had some fantastic finishes with Emily Sisson (6th with HSR in 2010) and Cayla Hatton (4th in 2012) the past two championships.  Maggie Schmaedick of Oregon was just 5th in the USATF Juniors – in very hot conditions where no one broke 17:00 – and was the only entrant with a qualifier from earlier in the year at 16:18.24.

Women’s 10000 Meter Racewalk: Drahotova favored

WJR: 42:59.48, Elena Lashmanova, RUS, 2011
AJR: 49:43.85, Maria Michta, CW Post, 2005
CR: 43:24.72, Tatiana Mineeva, RUS, 2008

Recent Champs (plus/other top U.S. finishers)
2012: Ekaterina Medvedeva, RUS, 45:41.74 (No USA
2010: Elena Lashmanova, RUS, 44:11.90 (No USA)
2008: Tatyana Mineeva, RUS, 43:24.72 (No USA)

Recent marks to medal / make final
2012: 45:44.46 / (straight final)
2010: 45:56.15 / (straight final)
2008: 44:24.10 / (straight final)

Top Contenders (in order of 2014 IAAF Outdoor Ranking)
(including/plus Team USA, in bold)
3. Anezka Drahotova, CZE, 43:40
4. Na Wang, CHN, 44:17
7. Oxana Golyatkina, RUS, 45:16 (44:21.03 in ’13)
8. Yuanyuan Ni, CHN, 45:21 (44:31.53 in ’13)
9. Laura Gardia-Caro, ESP, 45:29
12. Olga Shargina, RUS, 45:59
...
--- Katharine Newhoff, USA, 52:33.06

Analysis:  Czech Anezka Drahotova, who has already competed successfully at the senior level (7th in 2013 World Champs over 20K) is the favorite here.  She was beaten by a pair of Chinese walkers at the World Cut in May, but they aren’t the two Chinese athletes entered here.  Drahotova, whose sister is also entered for their country, was 6th in Barcelona in 2012 (WJC) and in Lille (WYC) in 2011, but has improved significantly in the past two years.
Na Wang amd Yuanyuan Ni ARE the two Chinese entered here and both will contend for medals.  The Russian pair of Oxana Golyatkina and Olga Shargina will also be in the mix, hoping to continue the run of WJ champions for their country.  Team USA’s entry, Katharine Newhoff, is seeded in the bottom three.

Women’s 100 Meter Hurdles: Williams, Hall for US 1-2

WJR: 12.84, Aliuska Lopez, CUB, 1987
AJR: 12.87, Kendell Williams, USA/U. of Ga., 12.87
CR: 13.02, Susanna Kallur, SWE, 2000

Recent Champs (plus/other top U.S. finishers)
2012: Morgan Snow, USA, 13.38 (DQ-fell in final-Dior Hall)
2010: Isabelle Pedersen, NOR, 13.30 (6-Evonne Britton, 5SF1-Donique’ Flemings)
2008: Teona Rodgers, USA, 13.40 (6H2-Vashti Thomas)

Recent marks to medal / make final
2012: 13.43 / 13.64
2010: 13.46 / 13.76
2008: 13.49 / 13.56

Top Contenders (in order of 2014 IAAF Outdoor Ranking)
(including/plus Team USA, in bold)
1. Kendell Williams, USA/U. of Georgia, 12.87
2. Dior Hall, USA/CO HS, 13.00
5. Yasmin Miller, GBR, 13.34
10. Sarah Missinne, BEL, 13.39
11. Nadine Visser, NED, 13.40 (13.21 in ’13)
13. Nicole Setterington, CAN, 13.43

Analysis:  If there’s any event where the USA appears to be an overwhelming favorite for a 1-2 sweep, it’s the women’s 100 hurdles, where superior talent and significant experience put Kendell Williams and Dior Hall firmly in the drivers’ seat.  Williams’ prep career as a heptathlon HSR-setter and do-everything jumper and hurdler – with double digit NBN indoor and outdoor titles – has been well-chronicled.  Like Kendall Baisden in the 400 and 4x4, she’s wearing a Team USA vest for the 4th time, having taken 11th in the hept and 2nd in the 100H at 2011 WY, 8th in the hept at 2012 WJ, and winning the Pan Am Junior hept last year.  But in her frosh year at UGA, she’s improved dramatically – especially in the hurdles where she’s suddenly gone from a very good 13.24 to the AJR of 12.87, just .03 off the ancient WJR.  What a thrill it would be if she could get that mark …
… Or if Dior Hall (Denver Science & Tech/George Washington, CO senior) could finally get Candy Young’s 1979 HSR of 12.95.  Pushed to the max by Williams at USATF Juniors, the 2-time NBNI champ and 60mH HSR-holder clocked a career-best 13.00, #2 all-time prep.  She was 2nd at the 2013 World Youth 100H and made Team USA for Barcelona in 2012 as well – before a fall ended her medal bid.
The rest of the field will likely fight it out for bronze.  Nadine Visser of The Netherlands, also in the heptathlon, went 13.21 last year – better than anyone else besides the Americans have done this year.  Yasmin Miller of Great Britain and Sarah Missinne of Belgium are both under 13.40.  Frances’s Heolise Kane, at 13.55 this year, went 13.36 in 2013.

Women’s 400 Meter Hurdles: Redemption for Little

WJR: 54.40, Xing Wang, CHN, 2005
AJR: 54.70, Lashinda Demus, USA, 2002
CR: 54.70, Lashinda Demus, USA ,2002

Recent Champs (plus/other top U.S. finishers)
2012: Janieve Russell, JAM, 56.62 (3-Kayla Barber, DNF/fell(final)-Shamier Little)
2010: Vera Rudakova, RUS, 57.16 (2-Evonne Britton, 7-Cristina Holland)
2008: Takecia Jameson, USA, 56.29 (7H2-Kori Carter)

Recent marks to medal / make final
2012: 57.63 / 57.82
2010: 57.35 / 59.18
2008: 57.08 / 58.04

Top Contenders (in order of 2014 IAAF Outdoor Ranking)
(including/plus Team USA, in bold)
1. Shamier Little, USA/Texas A&M, 55.07
3. Shona Richards, GBR, 56.79
4. Jade Miller, USA/Harvard, 57.22 (57.21 in ’13)
5. Tia-Adana Belle, BAR, 57.58
6. Joan Medjid, FRA, 57.69 (57.34 in ’13)
7. Tetyana Melnyk, UKR, 58.18

Analysis: Somewhat similar to Dior Hall, Shamier Little couldn’t be blamed for having a chip on her shoulder about the 2012 World Juniors and huge motivation for redemption – due to a fall over a hurdle that killed her medal hopes.  Unlike Hall, Little doesn’t have a teammate like Kendell Williams ahead of her, possibly standing in the way of a gold medal run.  Little, after her stunning freshman year at A&M, is an NCAA champ and has crushed her PR down to 55.07, within .37 of Lashinda Demus’ AJR and meet record.  And … she is more than a second and half ahead of the rest of the world.
The pecking order is pretty clear after that, too, with Shona Richards from the U.K the favorite for silver and Harvard frosh Jade Miller tabbed to join Little on the medal stand with a bronze.  Three others under 58 include Tia-Adana Belle of Barbados – the World Youth runner-up last year – and Joan Medjid of France and Tetyana Melnyk of the Ukraine.
If there wasn’t a minimum age limit to run at the Worlds, Team USA might have an even better chance at two medals – say gold and silver – since Union Catholic, NJ frosh Sydney McLaughlin was 2nd at USATF Juniors behind Little with a 55.63.  Team USA won Team USA won golds in this event in 2002 (Demus) and 2008 (Takecia Jameson).

Women’s 4x100 Meter Relay: Whitney, Washington make US hard to beat

WJR: 43.29, Team USA, 2006
AJR: 43.29, Team USA, 2006
CR: 43.40, Jamaica, 2002

Recent Champs
2012: USA, 43.89
2010: USA, 43.44
2008: USA, 43.66

Recent marks to medal / make final
2012: 44.29 / 45.02
2010: 44.09 / 45.41
2008: 44.61 / 44.45

Top Contenders (in order of 2014 IAAF Outdoor Ranking)
1. Jamaica, 44.16
2. Trinidad and Tobago, 44.23
4. Great Britain & N.I., 44.66
6. Germany, 44.84
8. Nigeria, 45.13
10. Netherlands, 45.21

Analysis:  Team USA has won the last five titles and seven of the last nine (having not run as a unit yet, they’re not on the list).  With talent like Kaylin Whitney and Ariana Washington, there’s no reason to think the streak won’t continue – as long as they hang on to the stick.  In Whitney, Team USA has the world’s fastest and reason to think they can take a run at the 43.29 WJR from 2006.  Washington brings not just speed but also valuable experience from last year’s World Youth relay.  The relay pool for the Americans also includes blazing talent like Whitney’s 11.31 Florida rival Teahna Daniels (First Academy, FL junior) – the last girl to beat Whitney – 2013 World Youth 100 champ Ky Westbrook (Chandler, AZ senior) and 100/200 standouts Jada Martin of LSU and Brittany Brown of Iowa.
Great Britain should be the toughest challengers, with stars like Dina Asher-Smith and Desiree Henry.  They ran 43.81 last year.  Jamaica will be a top contender per usual and others to watch should be France, Trinidad & Tobago, Germany, Nigeria and Brazil.

Women’s 4x400 Meter Relay: Baisden, Baker lead USA

WJR: 3:27.60, Team USA, 2004
AJR: 3:27.60, Team USA, 2004
CR: 3:27.60, Team USA, 2004

Recent Champs
2012: USA, 3:30.01
2010: USA, 3:31.20
2008: USA, 3:30.19

Recent marks to medal / make final
2012: 3:36.42 / 3:37.90
2010: 3:32.24 / 3:38.96
2008: 3:34.20 / 3:37.84

Top Contenders (in order of 2014 IAAF Outdoor Ranking)
3. Nigeria, 3:37.68
5. Jamaica, 3:38.20
9. Great Britain, 3:40.32
10. India, 3:40.53

Analysis:  The lists are of little value, with so few squads having a recent entry time.  Team USA has been dominant here, as well, winning the last six titles.  Obviously, 400 entries and medal contenders Kendall Baisden and Olivia Baker will lead the way – both with tremendous relay experience, whether it’s Baisden with her three Team USA relay medals or Baker with hers from 2013 WY and all those victories with Columbia.  They’ll be joined in the pool by Shakima Wimbley, Felecia Majors, Aaliyah Barnes and Ailyanna Stiverne.  While this team might not be fast enough to challenge that 2004 WJR, they should be around 3:30 and that’ll be likely enough to win.
Nigeria, besides hitting 3:37 this year also has a 3:31.21 from 2013.  Poland hit 3:32.63 in 2013, so they could be tough.  Jamaica, Japan, Great Britain, India, Germany and Canada are all possible medal contenders.

The World Juniors starts today (Tuesday) at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon marking the first time this incredible competition has been hosted here in the USA.  Arguably one of the most exciting events on the IAAF calendar, the meet draws athletes from around the world from places well known and some many Americans may never have heard of.  Its a great competition and cultural exchange.

We have a full crew here as we normally do at each World Junior competition. Here's how you can keep up with us this week.

Jim Spier's blog which he will update periodically throughout each session with event-by-event analysis.

Follow us on twitter- Paul Limmer will tweet instant results and analysis

Like us on Facebook - Steve Underwood's popular video interviews of athletes and Joy Kamani's daily photo albums.

Pre and post event analysis by Steve Underwood on our website.  Check out his pre-event analysis of the fields already posted accompanied by predictions.

Start lists are posted each day.

Other News

Applications are now open for two spots in our Project Triple Jump and Project Kultan Keihas (Javelin Gold).  Applications must be in by August 15th and selections will be made by September 1st.

Jim Spier will be updating this blog periodically throughout the competition here in Eugene with analysis after each session and often after each event is completed. More recent entries will be posted at the top of this blog so scroll down if you miss any. We'll drop them down in chronological order at the end of each day.  Indepth analysis and video interviews by Steve Underwood and photo albums by Joy Kamani will also be posted on our website, and Facebook Page.  Paul Limmer will be tweeting throughout on TweetingTrack.  Follow us and don't miss a single piece of the explosive action here at Hayward Field this week.

Day 1 Review

It was a very special first day yesterday, capped off by a sensational Men’s 10,000 meters.

Some observations:

- There are two 20x20 tents solely dedicated to vaulting poles.  I can imagine the logistical nightmare of getting poles from all corners of the globe to Eugene in a timely manner. 

- There a 15x30 tent only for the basket crew.

- Then there are all of the other mammoth tents (size noted are approximations):  medical (30x100), tent containing each individual country’s medical staff (50x200:  each has an area assigned); volunteer tent (30x80); media (50x200). 

- As expected, this event is a college coach’s recruiting paradise.  You name the Division I university and their coaches are present.

Recap of U.S. athletes:

- Women
o 100m: Kaylin Whitney and Ariana Washington both advanced to the semi finals
o 800m: Sabrina Southerland advanced to the semi finals; Raevyn Rogers did not.
o Pole Vault:  Desiree Freier and Bonnie Draxler both advanced to the finals
o Long Jump: Jazmin Mc Coy and Quanisha Burks both advanced to the finals.
o Hammer:  Brooke Andersen and Haley Showalter did not advance to the finals
o Javelin:  Rebekah Wales and Megan Glasmann did not advance to the finals
o Heptathlon:  Ashlee Moore completed day 1 with 3331 points in 11th place; Shaina Burns was disqualified in the 200 meters and has 2520 points (she would have been in 4th overall after day 1 had she not been disqualified; she will continue with the second days competition nonetheless).

- Men
o 100m: Trayvon Bromell and Kendal Williams advanced to the semi finals
o 1500m: Grant Fisher and Patrick Joseph did not advance to the final
o 10000m:  Brendan Shearn finished 15th in 30:24.30 (as compared to his 29:49.04 best) and Jonathan Green finished 24th in 31:15.69 (as compared to his 30:54.62 best)
o 110m Hurdles:  Misana Viltz and Nick Anderson both advanced to the semi finals
o Decathlon: Harrison Williams completed day 1 with 4302 points for 10th place; Gabe Moore is in 12th  with 4010 points.

Day 2 Morning

(this morning's photos are courtesy of PhotoRun.com)

Decathlon 110m Hurdles

Gabe Moore moved up to 11th place with a 14.82 performance, now with 4881 points.  Harrison Williams remains in 10th after hurdling 14.37 (4949 points).  The leaders after 6 events:

Cedric Dubler  Australia 5293
Roman Kondratyev Russia  5205
Karsten Warholm Norway 5195
Jiri Sykora  Czech Repub 5151
Evgeniy Likhanov Russia  5146

Men’s Long Jump Qualifying

Kenneth Fisher (Bethune-Cookman) had jumps of 22-4.5, 22-10.5 and 22-1.75 and will not advance to the final.  Travonn White (Central Arizona JC) finished fifth overall with a jump of 24-7.25 and will advance to the final.

Women’s 10,000m Racewalk Final

A meet world junior record for Anezka Drahotova of the Czech Republic at 42:47.25.  American
Katharine Newhoff was last (32nd) with a personal best of 51:40.42.

Decathlon Discus

Gabe Moore finished 6th in his group, throwing a personal best of 147-11.  He moves up to 8th place with 5650 points. Harrison Williams could manage only 115-1.  His total is now 5524 points for 12th place.   The leaders after 7 events:

Jiri Sykora  Czech Republic 5991
Cedric Dubler  Australia  5922
Roman Kondratyev Russia   5820
Tim Nowak  Germany  5785
Karsten Warholm Sweden  5780

Women’s 400 Qualifying

The first 4 in each of the 5 heats automatically qualify and the next 4 fastest times advance to the semi final.

No problem for Kendall Baisden (Texas) in winning heat 1 in 53.28.  Also no problem for Stanford-bound Olivia Baker (Columbia, Maplewood, NJ) with 54.09.  Maddie Price (Menlo, Atherton, CA), representing Canada, was second in her heat at 53.86 to advance to the final.

The were 5 disqualifications in the 5 heats for running inside the line.  We suspect there will be protests filed.

Heptathlon Long Jump

Shaina Burns got a PB of 17-8 for 665 points.  Adding the 778 she would have gotten had she not been DQd in the 200m yesterday, her total would be 3963 and be ranked 16th .  However, it is actually 3185 at this point. 

With her jump of 19-2.75 Ashlee Moore moved into 6th place with a total point score of 4138.

The leaders after five events:

Morgan Lake  Great Britain  4640
Nadine Visser  Netherlands  4498
Yorgelis Rodriguez Cuba   4469
Celina Leffler  Germany  4302
Emma Stenlof  Sweden  4214

Men’s 400m Hurdle Qualifying

The first 2 in each of the 8 heats automatically qualify and the next 8 fastest times advance to the semi final.

Kenny Selmon (Pace Academy, Atlanta, GA) and Tim Holmes (Baylor), both won their heats, Selmon in 52.15 and Holmes in 52.03.  The leader was the favorite, Jaleel Hyde of Jamaica at 51.60.

Women’s 800m Semi Finals

Sabrina Southerland (Georgetown), the only American in the semis, was never in her race, finishing last in 2:08.76.  Favorite Sally Diago (Cuba) was the leader at 2:03.60.

Day 1 Tuesday Morning Session

Heptathlon Hurdles

Heat 2 saw Yorgelis Rodriguez (Cuba), the defending champion and US Junior champ and Oregon signee Ashlee Moore (Hamilton, Chandler, AZ).  Rodriguez started poorly and finished well back.  Nadine Visser of the Netherlands won in a meet record 13.24, well ahead of the 2002 former record by Sweden’s Carolina Kluft set in 2002.  Moore got a PB in second at 13.59.  She gained 1037 points for her effort and sits in 2nd place after the 1st event.  Visser is the leader with
1089 points.

Heat 3 had the overall favorite Morgan Lake (Great Britain) and US athlete Shaina Burns (South, Lakeville, MN).  Morgan Lake was third and Shaina ran 14.58, slightly off her 14.44 PR.  Shaina had a PR last weekend at the Chicagoland throws shot put, with a put over 46 feet.

Women’s Javelin Qualifying

Auto qualifying is 173-11 (or top 12).  

Sofi Flinck (Sweden) is defending champion and easily qualified on her first throw at 183-10.  Rebekah Wales (LSU), fourth at the Chicagoland throws last year could manage 154-2, finishing in 11th after group A qualifying, and is unlikely to make the final.

Megan Glasmann (ex of Stanford, now at U of Utah), former Kultan Keihas javelin project member, could manage only 163-0 and finished 16th overall.

Decathlon 100 meters

Heat 3 saw both Americans, Harrison Williams (University, Memphis, TN) and Gabe Moore (Freeport, FL) going 1-2, with Williams at 10.75 and Moore at 10.98, both PRs.  Williams won the 2013 New Balance Nationals Outdoor decathlon and Moore was this year’s New Balance National Indoor pentathlon champ.  Williams sits in second after the 1st event with 917 points behind the leader Karsten Warholm of Norway at 963 (as a result of his PR 10.55).

Men’s 110m Hurdles, Round 1

Misana Viltz (Millikan, Long Beach, CA) won his heat in 13.59.  Wellington Zaza, the 2013 New Balance Nationals Outdoor champion (Garnet Valley, PA), now at Central Arizona JC and representing Liberia, qualified as well in third at 13.66.  Nick Anderson (U of Kentucky) also won his heat in 13.61.  Viltz was the fourth fastest qualifier overall with favorite one of the favorites, David Omoregie (Great Britain) leading the qualifiers at 13.24.

Men’s 1500m Qualifying

The first 3 in each of the first 3 heats automatically qualifier and the next 3 fastest advance to Thursday’s final.

Grant Fisher (Grand Blanc, MI) stayed with the pack for 2 laps and then looked flat for the rest of the race.   He ran 3:49 for 9th (equivalent of a 4:06 mile) and did not qualify.

Patrick Joseph (Virginia Tech) ran a very intelligent race but could not keep up with the top finishers in the last 100 meters, finishing fifth in 3:49.00.

Interestingly, only four Africans (including two Kenyans and no Ethiopians) made it to the final.

Women’s Pole Vault Qualifying

Both Americans qualified, but it wasn’t easy.  Bonnie Draxler (Wrightstown, WI).  Both qualified, ultimately at 13-5.25.  Draxler opened at 12-3.5, then missed twice at 12-9.5 before making 13-1.5 and her second attempt and clearing 13-5.25 on her first attempt.  Desiree Freier (Northwest, Justin, TX) made her American fans nervous.  She passed all the way to 13-5.25, missed twice, and finally cleared on her third attempt.  Eleven cleared 13-5.25 and 3 cleared 13-1.5, so there will be a 14-woman final.

Women’s Heptathlon High Jump

Ashlee Moore cleared 5-8 for a personal best of 5-7 to move into 13th place overall with 1753 points.  Morgan Lake was sensational, the 17 year old Great Britain competitor set a world youth record in the high jump of 6-4.25 (!) to take the lead.  She has 2096 points over the Netherlands’ Nadine Visser at 1980 points.

Men’s Decathlon Long Jump

Gabe Moore jumped 23-0, now with 1681 points, placing him 17th after 2 event.  Harrison Williams did not fare as well, jumping only 22-3.75 with a total of 1684 points, just ahead of Moore at 16th.   The favorite, Jiri Sykora (Czech Republic) is leading with 1934 points, having long jumped a phenomenal 26-2.25.

Women’s 800m Qualifying

The first 3 in each of the 4 qualifying heats and those with the next 4 fastest times advance to the semi-finals.

Raevyn Rogers (Kinkaid, Houston, TX), looked great as she and two others separated themselves from the pack at the 200m mark.  At 320 meters, Rogers got clipped from behind and almost fell down but maintained her lead.  Just past the first lap did she start to lose contact and slowly faded to finish 6th overall in 2:08.01, not making the final.  We will see if the U.S. coaches protest.

Sabrina Southerland (Georgetown and Cardozo, Queens, NY) ran a great race never less than third the entire race to finish in that position at 205.84.  She will advance to the semi finals.

Men’s 100m Qualifying

The first 3 in each of the 7 qualifying heats and those with the next 3 fastest times advance to the semi-finals.

Kendal Williams (Stanton Prep, Jacksonville, FL) had an awesome start and ran to a PR 10.23 in winning heat 5 of 7.  That moves him into #3 U.S. high school for the year and is the fastest qualifier thus far.  That is until Trayvon Bromell (Baylor) won heat 6 in 10.13.  Both automatically qualified for the semis.

Day 1 Evening

Decathlon Shot Put

(The 26-2.25 reported earlier for Jiri Sykora was reported by the results system at the meet was in error.  The actual distance was 24-1.25.  The actual leader was Cedric Dublr of Austria with 25-4.75.  And the leader after two events was Karsten Warholm of Norwayw with 1905 points; Sykora was 5th with 1776 points).

Sykora took the shot at 50-10.25 to lead after three events (2596 points).  Evgeniy Likhanov of Russia is second, 6 points back.

Decathlon High Jump

Gabe Moore finished 12th overall at 6-5.5, a PB.  His total score at this point is 3149 for 12th place overall.  Harrison Williams did not have a good day, managing only 6-4.25 for a total score of 3133, 13th.

Men’s 400m Round 1

Lamar Bruton (Ohio State), stuck in lane 8, led for 300 meters then faded, hanging on for second and qualifying to the semifinals.  Tyler Brown (Eastern Michigan) had no issues in winning his heat, running 46.45 and advancing.  The class of the field was favorite Machel Cedenio of Trinidad and Tobago, 5th with 100m to go in his heat, but then cruising to the win in 46.60.

Heptathlon Shot Put

What do you make of someone who can high jump 6-4.25 and throw the shot 46-6?  That’s the making of a potential World Junior Champion named Morgan Lake (Great Britain).  She not only won the high jump earlier but also won the shot put.  Shaina Burns had a good day throwing 44-7, though a foot and a half off her personal best.  She moves into 7th with 2520 points.  Lake is leading with 2901 points, well ahead of 2012 Junior champ Yorgelis Rodriguez of Cuba with  2694.   Ashlee Moore threw only 32-4.75 for 2449 points total and 13th place.

Women’s 100m Round 1

Ariana Washington (Poly, Long Beach, CA) did not get a good start but managed to maintain for a close win, running (for her) a pedestrian 11.67).

In a bit of a surprise, Angela Tenorio of Ecuador, last year’s World Youth silver medallist in the 200m, false started.  High schooler Brenessa Thompson (Medgar Evers, Brooklyn, NY) representing Guyana finished fourth in her heat, running 11.71.

Out fast in her heat was one of the favorites, Dina Asher-Smith (Great Britain), winning in 11.18.

Kaylin Whitney (Eastridge, Clermont, FL) did not look the way she did a few weeks ago at the US Junior champs, barely winning her heat in 11.48.

Women’s Long Jump Qualifying
 
Both Americans qualified.  Jazmin Mc Coy (Nebraska) finished 5th overall with a jump of 20-3.5.  Quanesha Burks (Alabama) qualified in 9th at 20-1.  It only took 19-9.5 to make the 12 woman final.  Nadia Akpana Assa of Norway led the field with a jump of 20-11.75.  (Florentina Marencu of Romania, the 2013 World Youth champ with a best of 22-0.5 did not show and Ese Brume of Nigeria, with a best of 21-11, jumped only 17-0!  Those two were medal favorites).

Womens Hammer Qualifying

It was not a good day for Brooke Andersen (Northern Arizona) who had only one legal throw (179-3) and finished 11th overall in the group of 12.  She did not advance.  Haley Showalter (Valor Christian, Highlands Ranch, CO) had a worse day, fouling three times.

Heptathlon 200m

Shaina Burns, from lane 8, got a PB in her heat, running 26.26.  But later it was found that she ran inside her lane and, unfortunately, was disqualified.   Ashlee Moore ran well, clocking 25.05.

The standings after day 1 show Morgan Lake (Great Britain) leading with 3821 points.  Ashlee Moore is in 11th with 3331 points.  Shaina Burns, with the DQ, is in 23rd place with 2520 points.  She would have had 3498 points and would have been in 4th place after day 1.

Decathlon 400m

Gabe Moore and Harrison Williams, competing in the same heat, ran decently with Williams at 48.21 and Moore with 49.01.  Williams totaled 4032 points after the first day for 10th place.  Gabe Moore has 4010 points for 12th.

Men’s 10,000m Final

This was one of the most exciting races I have ever seen.  Not so much for the times or the competition, though those were exceptional. It was the atmosphere.  No one from the rather large crowd left before the 10000m like I have seen at so many events.  They cheered and clapped throughout the race.  There was the University of Oregon percussion and brass ensemble on the infield with a specially composed piece just for this race.  Then there was the race itself.  Two Japanese took the race out early, leading by as much as 200 meters a mile into the race.  But the pack of east Africans steadily move up so that, with more than half the race to go, they took over the lead.  Then it was the race between two Kenyans and the Ugandan Joshua Cheptegei.  Cheptegei separated himself from the Kenyans with 250 meters to go and won in 28:32.86.  Americans Brendan Shearn (30:24.30) and Jonathan Green (31:15.69) finished 15th and 24th, respectively.

Getting there

This is my 13th World Junior Championship, having missed the first one in Athens in 1986.

I must admit that I was not that thrilled at having the meet in Eugene as I have always looked forward to experiencing a new country.  But my opinion has changed.

After being in Eugene a few weeks ago for the USATF Junior Championships, I began to change my mind.  The venue is spectacular and the fans are enthusiastic and knowledgeable.  And, to put it simply, “they know how to run a meet in Eugene”.

So I left early Sunday morning for the flight from Raleigh-Durham to San Francisco where I would meet Joy Kamani.  Joy is COO of the NSAF and would be our photographer on site.  We continued on to Eugene where we met the NSAF’s tweeter-in-charge and friend of almost 50 years, Paul Limmer.  Joy came in from Houston and Paul from JFK in New York. 

Steve Underwood, master of the video interview, had his early morning flight cancelled, so he would spend much of his day writing event previews in the Delta Clubs in  Detroit (his departure city) and Chicago.  He finally arrived at 11pm on Sunday night (2am his time), having spent a good 24 hours awake.

Hayward Field

Paul, Joy and I left the hotel soon after we arrived from the airport in the early afternon to get our credentials.  It is about a half mile walk from the hotel to Hayward Field. 

Credentialing was scheduled for the Matthew Knight Center, the large basketball and multi-purpose arena on campus.  But it had moved to somewhere else, and we knew not where.  We were guided to proper site, the law building, directly across from Hayward Field, where we had our photos taken and credentials issued.

We wandered across the street to Hayward Field to see what was transpiring.  The timing people (and others) were in the process of setting up.  (It is my understanding that Seiko brings in may dozens of workers to operate the meet).

We saw John Blackburn, our Director of Officials and NSAF board member, instructing other officials at the shot put area, the discipline he will oversee at the meet.

We then went to the area outside the first turn where the vendors’ tents are set up.  There we saw giant plexiglass displays of the various world’s regions (North America, South America, Asia, Oceania, Europe, etc).  On those displays were the participating countries and the name of each athlete and their date of birth!  Those displays are truly special, and was evidence of the immense planning, skill and creativity of the organizing committee. 

What is eerily missing is any evidence of Nike.  The University of Oregon is cradle of that corporation but, since adidas is one of the IAAF’s title sponsors, the adidas brand must prevail at this meet.  And it certainly does, with no sign of ANY competitor’s existence.  We suspect things will be back to normal just after the end of the meet on Sunday night.

Monday

After an uneventful morning with a bit of exercise, we met Steve Underwood and wandered over to the campus to get him credentialed. 

At 11:30am we attended the introductory press conference with IAAF President Lamine Diack, as well as Tracktown USA director (and former U of Oregon coach) Vin Lananna and others.  That was followed by a press conference with leading athletes, including Americans Mary Cain and Trayvon Bromell.

Then came lunch (buffet at an Indian restaurant) and an uneventful afternoon back at the hotel. 

We later headed back to Hayward for the photo briefing.  It is about an hour session and concerns where to go and not go during the event and who gets to be on the infield. 

This is the largest photo group I have ever seen at one of these meets.  In short, only 11 of the 30 or so photographers will be allowed on the field at any one time.  So there will be a lot of rotating in and out.

It was good to see Olaf (Austria) and Yannis (Greece), IAAF press stewards.  We had some interesting conversations with them.  They have become friends over the years, and we appreciate their cooperation and expertise.

It was then dinner and back to the hotel.  We can’t wait for the meet to begin!  Day 1 morning will include with heptathlon and decathlon starts, as well as qualifying in the women’s javelin, pole vault and 800 meters, and men’s 1500 meters, 110m Hurdles and 100 meters!  What a great morning!

Event-by-event capsule previews of the men's field events, noting Team USA hopes and leading global contenders for the 2012 IAAF World Junior Championships:

Men’s High Jump: Favorite not really clear cut

WJR: 7-9.25, Dragutin Topic, YUG, 1990 and Steve Smith, GBR, 1992
AJR: 7-7, Andra Manson, Team USA/TX, 2002
CR: 7-9.25, Dragutin Topic, YUG, 1990 and Steve Smith, GBR, 1992

Recent Champs (plus/other top U.S. finishers)
2012: Andreil Churyla, BLR, 7-4.25 (T7Q/GrpA-Dartis Willis, 15Q/GrpB-Trey McRae)
2010: Mutaz E. Barshim, QAT, 7-6.5 (2-David Smith, 11-Q/Grp A-Maalik Reynolds)
2008: Bohdon Bondarenko, UKR, 7-05 (10-Q/GrpA-Erik Kynard, 11-Q/GrpB-Ryan Fleck)

Recent marks to medal / make final
2012: 7-4.25 / 7-0.25
2010: 7-3 / 7-0.25
2008: 7-3 / 7.0.25

Top Contenders (in order of 2014 IAAF Outdoor Ranking)
(including/plus Team USA, in bold)
1. Andrei Skabeika, BLR, 2.26
T2. Chris Kandu, GBR, 2.24
T2. Danil Lysenko, RUS, 2.24
4. Christoffe Bryan, JAM, 2.23
T5. Tobias Poyte, GER, 2.22
T5. Sanghyeok Woo, KOR, 2.22
T7. Mikhail Akimenko, RUS, 2.21 (2.24i)
T7. Dmitri Nabokau, BLR, 2.21
…
19. Landon Bartel, USA/MO HS, 7-1
--- Jonathan Wells, USA/IL HS, 7-0 (7-1.75i)

Analysis: Three former World Youth and Junior medalists are in the field, but the favorite is Andrei Skabeika of Belarus – at least if you consider he’s the only man in the field to clear 7-5.  At 7-4.25 are Chris Kandu of Great Britain and Danil Lysenko of Russia.  Lysenko also has a teammate, Mikhail Akimenko, who’s at 7-3 outdoors but did 7-4.25 indoors.  All are international championship neophytes.
As far as the more experienced trio of contenders: Korea’s Woo Sanghyeok was the 2013 World Youth champ (7-3.25 PR), 3-time Penn Relays champ Christoffe Bryan was the WY bronze winner (7-3.75 PR), and Falk Wendrich of Germany the WJ silver winner two years ago – he’s at 7-2.5 this year but has a 7-4.25 PR.
Team USA includes Grant Community, IL senior Jonathan Wells, the USATF Jr champ at 6-10.75 (but with a PR of 7-2), and Landon Bartel (Southern Boone, MO senior) – 2nd with just 6-8.75 at Juniors, but the holder of a 7-1 qualifier as well.  Both would do extremely well to make the final.  David Smith was the last medalist for Team USA with silver in 2010, while the last gold was captured by Andra Manson in 2002.

Men’s Pole Vault: King hopes for 18', 2nd-ever U.S. medal

WJR: 19-0.25, Maksim Tarasov, URS, 1989 and Raphael Holzdeppe, GER, 2008
AJR: 18-8.75, Lawrence Johnson, U. Tenn., 1993
CR: 18-8.75, German Chiaraviglio, ARG, 2006

Recent Champs (plus/other top U.S. finishers)
2012: Thiago da Silva, BRA, 18-2.25 (8-Nikita Kirillov, T11Q-GrpB-Casey Bowen)
2010: Anton Ivakin, RUS, 18-0.5 (7-Kyle Ballew, 8-Q/Grp B-Mark Thomas)
2008: Raphael Holzdeppe, GER, 18-0.25 (7-Joe Berry, 10-Maston Wallace)

Recent marks to medal / make final
2012: 18-2.25 / 16-6.75
2010: 17-6.5 / 16-6.75
2008: 17-4.5 / 16-4.75

Top Contenders (in order of 2014 IAAF Outdoor Ranking)
(including/plus Team USA, in bold)
1. Alex Chappell, FRA, 18-1.25
T2. Bokai Huang, CHN, 17-8.5
T2. Harry Coppell, GBR, 17-8.5
T2. Oleg Zernikel, GER, 17-8.5
T2. Devin King, USA/LA HS, 17-8.5 (17-10.5i)
T7. Adam Hague, GBR, 17-6.5
T7. Eirik Greibrokk Dolve, NOR, 17-6.5
T7. Cole Walsh, USA/Oregon, 17-6.5

Analysis:  The eyes of U.S. prep fans will be firmly fixed on Devin King, to see if the Sumner, LA senior can help get an American back on the medal stand and achieve his long-sought goal of an 18-footer.  Devin rocked The Armory back in March with a HSR 17-10.5 at New Balance Nationals Indoor (NBNI) and then won our outdoor champs (NBNO) with a meet record 17-8.5 in June.  At USA Juniors he lost for the first time this year, but it was to a collegian – as Oregon frosh (Brophy Prep AZ alum) Cole Walsh and King each went 17-6.5, but Walsh won on misses.  Both are good candidates to battle for the medals, possibly gold. 
And King, you’ll remember, competed for the U.S. at World Youths last summer.  Amazingly, the only American medalist ever in this event was Rocky Danners in Santiago in 2000 – the year the meet was in October.
Frenchman Alex Chappell is the leading contender for gold, being the only 18-footer in the field at 18-1.5 and having some consistency in that range.  He’s improved eight inches this year.  The 1-2 finishers from that World Youth champs, where King was 6th, are here: Brit Harry Coppell and China’s Bokai Huang.  Really, anyone in the top 8 or better could pull off a win.

Men’s Long Jump: White wants nothing less than gold

WJR, 27-4.75, Sergey Morgunov, RUS, 2012
AJR: 27-4.5, Randy Williams, Team USA, 1972
CR: 26-11, James Stallworth, Team USA, 1990

Recent Champs (plus/other top U.S. finishers)
2012: Sergey Morgunov, RUS, 26-6.5 (3-Jarrion Lawson, 6Q-GrpB-Jarrett Samuels)
2010: Luvo Manyonga, RSA, 26-2.75 (6-Justin Hunter, 15-Q/Grp B-Carlton Lavong)
2008: Marquise Goodwin, USA, 25-04.75 (7-Christian Taylor)

Recent marks to medal / make final
2012: 25-0.75 / 24-9
2010: 25-0.5 / 24-6.25
2008: 24-11 / 23-11.5

Top Contenders (in order of 2014 IAAF Outdoor Ranking)
(including/plus Team USA, in bold)
1. Jianan Wang, CNH, 26-7
2. Travonn White, USA, 26-4.5
3. Qing Lin, CHN, 26-2.75
4. Duwayne Boer, RSA, 25-10.75
T5. Shamar Rock, BAR, 25-8.75
7. Lucas Marcelino Dos Santos, BRA, 25-7.5
…
9. Kenneth Fisher, USA/Bethune-Cookman, 25-6.25

Analysis:  This represents one of the better opportunities for an American man to win a field event medal – especially if Travonn White can duplicate his Hayward magic from three weeks ago.  He had only two fair jumps in the competition, but the Central Arizona College freshman’s final attempt hit a monster PR 26-4.5.  And the Mountain Pointe, AZ alum is confident he can do it again here and become the first American to win since Marquise Goodwin did it in 2008.
Two Chinese bounders stand in White’s way: Jianan Wang and Qing Lin – both big-time 26-footers.  Both Chinese have experience in IAAF championships – Lin being the 2011 World Youth champ – while White does not … but White has won at Hayward, so maybe it evens out.  Duwayne Boer of South Africa, Shamar Rock of Barbados and Lucas Marcelino dos Santos of Brazil are other key contenders.  The other American, Kenneth Fisher of Bethune-Cookman, is close to the top group on the list and should make the final and possibly contend, as well.

Men’s Triple Jump: Young superstar Martinez is overwhelming favorite

WJR: 57-5, Volker Mai, GDR, 1985
AJR: 56-4.75, Will Claye, U. of Okla., 2009
CR: 55-11, Yoelbi Quesada, CUB, 1992

Recent Champs (plus/other top U.S. finishers)
2012: Pedro Pichardo, CUB, 55-1 (10Q-GrpA-Felix Obi, 12Q-GrpB-Jarrion Lawson)
2010: Aleksey Fedorov, RUS, 54-8.75 (3-Omar Craddock, 8-Marquis Dendy)
2008: Teddy Tamgho, FRA, 56-10.25 (6-Austin Davis, 8-Christian Taylor)

Recent marks to medal / make final
2012: 53-8.5 / 51-8.25
2010: 53-3 / 50-10.25
2008: 54-5.25 / 51-1

Top Contenders (in order of 2014 IAAF Outdoor Ranking)
(including/plus Team USA, in bold)
1. Lazaro Martinez, CUB, 56-6.75
2. Max Hess, GER, 53-9.25
3. Miguel Van Assen, SUR, 53-7
4. Yaoqing Fang, CHN, 53-6.5
5. Levon Aghasyn, ARM, 53-5.5
9. Andy Diaz, CUB 53-0.75
…
25. Hayden McClain, USA/Oklahoma, 51-9.25
--- John Warren, USA/VA HS, 51-3

Analysis:  Lazaro Martinez of Cuba is one of the huge, young sensations of this championship, with a jaw-dropping best of 56-6.75 – and with tremendous consistency as well.  His top eight meets this year are better than anyone else has done – and he’s just 16!  He’s already won the World Youth champ, hitting his 2013 PR of 54-6.75 in Donetsk.  Even that would be better than any Junior in 2014.  He’s simply amazing and, if he won, would follow four previous WJ champs from his country –which obviously has a great TJ tradition.
Max Hess of Germany, Miguel Van Assen of Surinam, Fang Yaoqing of China, Levon Aghasyan of Armenia and Martinez’s teammate – Andy Diaz – are a closely bunched group of contenders for silver and bronze.  Yaoqing won silver behind Martinez at WY last summer.
U.S. fans are still lamenting the absence of Castro Valley CA senior and rising Oregon Duck Nate Moore – who blasted a windy 53-7 at the USATF Juniors, but lacked a wind-legal qualifier for this meet.  Carrying American hopes instead are Oklahoma frosh Hayden McClain (2nd USA Jrs) and John Warren (4th), a recent grad from Prince George, VA.  Both had the qualifier and are high-51-footers who will hope to make the final.  Warren is a 2013 CSI alum and won the NBNO triple jump in June.

Men’s Shot Put: Days, Jr. looks for 2nd IAAF medal

WJR: 75-5.5, Jacko Gill, NZL, 2012
AJR: 67-9, Sean Shields, Team USA, 2002
CR: 72-10, Jacko Gill, NZL, 2012

Recent Champs (plus/other top U.S. finishers)
2012: Jacko Gill, NZL, 72-10 (10-Stephen Mozia, 10Q-GrpA-Nick Scarvelis)
2010: Jacko Gill, NZL, 68-1.5 (4-Nick Vena, 12-Hayden Baillio)
2008: David Storl, GER, 69-02 (8-Q/GrpB-Dan Block, 9-Q/GrpA-Eric Plummer)

Recent marks to medal / make final
2012: 69-4.25 / 62-10
2010: 66-1 / 61-11
2008: 65-4.75 / 60-10.75

Top Contenders (in order of 2014 IAAF Outdoor Ranking)
(including/plus Team USA, in bold)
1. Mostafa Amr Ahmed Ahmed Hassan, EGY, 71-6
2. Konrad Bukowiecki, POL, 70-2.25
3. Braheme Days, Jr., USA/UCLA, 69-5.25
5. Patrick Muller, GER, 67-3.5 (67-8.25i)
T7. Henning Prufer, GER, 65-3.25 (67-7i)
T7. Denzel Comenentia, NED, 65-3.25
…
14. Amir Ali Patterson, USA/CA HS, 63-7

Analysis:  Braheme Days, Jr. knows what it is to be on a medal stand in an IAAF championship; he did so with a bronze in Lille at the 2011 World Youths.  He also knows what it’s like to win a title, as he did many times as a Bridgetown, NJ prep – at NBN indoor and outdoor meets.  He’s ranked 3rd coming in here, with a 69-5.25 best after his win at USATF Juniors.  Don’t bet against him for a medal, possibly gold.  Don’t bet either against the competitive verve of Amir Ali Patterson (Crespi, CA senior), who repped Team USA at World Youth last year and hit a 63-7 on his final throw to make the team and get the standard at Juniors.  That was surprisingly close to his PR with the lighter prep shot.  The last U.S. gold (and medal of any color) in this event was by Chris Carter in 2006.
The man to beat overall has to be Mostafa Amr Ahmed Ahmed Hassan of Egypt, who’s hoping to make African history in this event with a victory.  He’s more than a foot ahead of the field.  Konrad Bukowiecki of Poland has progressed two meters with the 6 kg shot this year after taking 5th in Donetsk last year, making him the silver favorite.  Two Germans will also contend strongly as well: The two that beat Bukowiecki and went 1-2 at World Youths last year, Patrick Muller and Henning Prufer.

Men’s Discus: Skagestad, Markovic are favorites

WJR: 230-1, Mykyta Nesterenko, UKR, 2008
AJR: 214-4, Mason Finley, Team USA/CO, 2009
CR: 220-10, Margus Hunt, EST, 2006

Recent Champs (plus/other top U.S. finishers)
2012: Federic Dacres, JAM, 206-0 (7-Dalton Rowan, 11Q/GrpA-Rodney Brown)
2010: Andrius Gudzius, LTU, 209-3 (10-Andrew Evans, 10Q/Grp A-Alex Rose)
2008: Gordon Wolf, GER, 203-05 (12Q/GrpB-Brian Bishop, 15Q/GrpA-Geoffrey Tabor)

Recent marks to medal / make final
2012: 202-0 / 186-3
2010: 200-5 / 186-11
2008: 200-2 / 175-11

Top Contenders (in order of 2014 IAAF Outdoor Ranking)
(including/plus Team USA, in bold)
1. Sven Martin Skagestad, NOR, 215-5
2. Martin Markovic, CRO, 214-5
3. Domantas Poska, LTU, 209-5
4. Matthew Denny, AUS, 208-10
5. Henning Prufer, GER, 207-2
6. Ola Stunes Isene, NOR, 206-11
…
9. Kord Ferguson, USA/KS prep, 201-0
13. Ryan Njegovan, USA/St. Francis Coll., 195-11

Analysis:  Matt Denny of Australia was the World Youth champ in 2013, but hasn’t quite reached the top of the list with the heavier discus here, yet.  He’s definitely among the medal contenders, though.  Sven Martin Skagestad of Norway and Martin Markovic of Croatia are the guys to beat right now, though.  Skagestad is in his first global championship, while Markovic was 4th and 9th in the WY shot and discus, respectively, last year.  Henning Prufer of German, doubling as he did at WY last year, is also a threat here.  Skagestad’s teammate, Ola Stunes Isene, rounds out the top six on the list.
Ottawa KS grad Kord Ferguson, the Great Southwest and USATF Junior champ, leads U.S. hopes and has a good chance to make the final and possibly contend for a medal.  Ditto on Ryan Njegovan, if he can perhaps get closer to 200.

Men’s Javelin: Youth champ Muhar looking for gold again

WJR: 277-10, Zigismunds Sirmais, LAT, 2011
AJR: 255-4, Sam Crouser, USA/OR HS, 2010
CR: 272-6, John Robert Oosthuizen, RSA, 2006

Recent Champs (plus/other top U.S. finishers)
2012: Keshorn Walcott, TRI, 258-0 (12Q/GrpA-Devin Bogert, 12Q/GrpB-Sean Keller)
2010: Till Woschler, GER, 270-9 (5-Joseph Zimmerman, 13-Q/Grp A-Derek Eager)
2008: Rober Szpak, POL, 255-11 (9Q/GrpA-Luke Laird)

Recent marks to medal / make final
2012: 250-3 / 226-0
2010: 250-8 / 222-9
2008: 247-1 / 222-1

Top Contenders (in order of 2014 IAAF Outdoor Ranking)
(including/plus Team USA, in bold)
1. Matija Muhar, SLO, 247-3
2. Pieter Kriel, RSA, 243-7
3. Shu Mori, JPN, 243-5
T4. Ioannis Kiriazis, GRE, 241-8
T4. Raul Stefan Rusu, ROU, 241-8
7. Norbert Rivasz-Toth, HUN, 240-8
…
--- Curtis Thompson, USA/NJ HS, 224-10

Analysis:  It’s fairly simple: With an improvement of more than five meters with the heavier jav in 2013, last year’s World Youth champ – Matija Muhar of Slovenia – is this year’s World Junior favorite, too.  He turned 18 years old on the first day of these championships and is knocking on the door of 250 feet – a significant number (if you’re American).  Several others, in the 241-243 range, hope to pull an upset.  Norbert Rivasz-Toth of Hungary was 2nd to Muhar in Donetsk, and is within seven feet of him now.
Curtis Thompson, the USATF champ after getting edged at NBNO, got here with his 224-10 qualifier when he set a New Jersey state record.  He might get into the final with that mark, but will need to improve several feet to contend.  No American has ever medaled in this event here.

Men’s Hammer: El-Seify goes for repeat

WJR: 280-9, Ashraf Amgad El-Seify, QAT, 2012
AJR: 265-0, Conor McCullough, Team USA/Princeton, 2010
CR: 280-9, Ashraf Amgad Elseify, QAT, 2012

Recent Champs (plus/other top U.S. finishers)
2012: Ashraf Amgad El-Seify, QAT, 280-9 (11-Rudy Winkler, 11Q/GrpB-Matthias Tayala)
2010: Conor McCullough, USA, 265-0 (10-Justin Welch)
2008: Walter Henning, USA, 252-4 (2-Conor McCullough)

Recent marks to medal / make final
2012: 249-10 / 235-10
2010: 251-6 / 219-2
2008: 247-5 / 229-5

Top Contenders (in order of 2014 IAAF Outdoor Ranking)
(including/plus Team USA, in bold)
1. Ashraf Amgad El-Seify, QAT, 277-9
2. Bence Pasztor, HUN, 263-5
3. Ilya Terentyev, RUS, 256-8
4. Igor Evseev, RUS, 255-5
5. Maksim Mitskou, BLR, 253-9
6. Matija Greguric, CRO, 251-0
…
--- Charles Ionata, USA/Wake Forest, 222-1
--- Clarence Gallop, USA/Charleston Southern, 222-0

Analysis:  Ashraf Amgad El-Seify of Qatar falls in that rare category of reigning World Junior champs, having won with 280-9 in Barcelona.  This year, he’s “only” at 277-9, but that’s still good for a 14-foot edge on the field.  He’s one of the surest bets for a title here.  Similarly, Bence Pasztor of Hungary is the returning silver medalist from that 2012 meet and at 263-5 is almost seven feet up on the #3 contender.  He also won the 2011 World Youths.  A pair of Russians, Ilya Terentyev and Igor Evseev, are the top hopes for bronze.
Team USA had stunning glory in 2008 and 2010 as Walter Henning and Conor McCullough won back to back titles.  Admittedly, they didn’t have to contend with a 280-footer like Elseify, but they were the nation’s two best young throwers in history.  Charles Ionata of Wake Forest and Clarence Gallop of Charleston Southern, seeded near the bottom, will hope to just make the final.

Jim Spier will be updating this blog periodically throughout the competition here in Eugene with analysis after each session and often after each event is completed. More recent entries will be posted at the top of this blog so scroll down if you miss any. We'll drop them down in chronological order at the end of each day.  Indepth analysis and video interviews by Steve Underwood and photo albums by Joy Kamani will also be posted on our website, and Facebook Page.  Paul Limmer will be tweeting throughout on TweetingTrack.  Follow us and don't miss a single piece of the explosive action here at Hayward Field this week.

Day 3 Morning Session

Day 2 Review

Recap of U.S. athletes:

- Women
o 100m: Kaylin Whitney finished 3rd  and Ariana Washington 7th
o 400m: Kendall Baisden and Olivia Baker both advance to the semi finals
o 800m: Sabrina Southerland did not advance to the finals
o 5000m: Maggie Schmaedick finished 12th
o Long Jump: Jazmin Mc Coy finished 6th and Quanisha Burks 5th .
o Heptathlon:  Ashlee Moore finished 13th, #5 all-time High School, and Shaina Burns 21st (6 events scored)

- Men
o 100m: Kendal Williams 1st and Trayvon Bromell 2nd
o 400m:  Tyler Brown and Lamar Bruton advanced to the finals
o 110m Hurdles:  Nick Anderson advanced to the final, Misana Viltz did not
o 400m Hurdles:  Tim Holmes and Kenny Selmon advanced to the semi finals
o High Jump:  Landon Bartel and Jonathan Wells did not advance to the finals.
o Long Jump:  Trayvon White advanced to the final, Kenneth Fisher did not.
o Decathlon: Harrison Williams finished 6th with a High School record of 7760 points; Gabe Moore finished 8th with 7619 points, #3 all-time high school.
• High School top 4 (with Junior implements)
• Harrison Williams
• Gunnar Nixon
• Gabe Moore
• Curtis Beach
-
Day 3 Morning

Women’s Discus Qualifying

Auto qualifying is 170-7 or the top 12.

Katelyn Daniels (Michigan State) finished 8th in her group at 158-9 and will not likely advance.

Valerie Allman (Stanford) got the auto qualifier on her first throw (171-9).

Women’s 3000m Steeplechase Qualifying

Hope Schmelze (Purdue) didn’t have quite it today.  The 2014 US Junior leader could manage only 10:41.38 for 14th place, well off her 10:33.38 lifetime best.  On the other hand, U.S. Junior champ Elinor Purrier (New Hampshire) ran the race of her life, finishing 6th in 10:08.33, 16 seconds better than her prior best.  She is now #6 all-time U.S. Junior.  She will advance to Saturday’s final.  Amy-Eloise Neale (Great Britain), former Washington high schooler, finished 5th in her heat and will qualify for the finals.

Men’s Shot Put Qualifying

Auto qualifying is 63-2 or the top 12.

Braheme Days (UCLA) fouled on his first attempt then got and auto qualifier (64-4) on his second attempt.  Amir Ali Patterson (Crespi, Encino, CA) finished 11th overall in 61-11.5 and will advance to the final.  The leader is Mostafa Hassan of Egypt at 65-1.25.

Men’s 200m Qualifying

Top 2 and next 6 fastest times advance to the semi finals

Zharnel Hughes (Anguilla) easily won his heat (20.87).  (Hughes had beaten World Junior 100m champ Kendal Williams at the 2013 Caribbean Scholastic Invitational 100m).

A stroll for Trentavis Friday (Cherryville, NC), shutting it down with 40 meters to do, and running 20.60.

Kendal Williams finished 3rd in his heat, not looking especially himself.  He ran 21.16 and will likely make the final.

Men’s Hammer Throw Qualifying

Auto qualifying is 244-5 for top 12.

Charlie Ionata (Wake Forest) got a life time best (229-5) in finishing 10th in his group. He did not advance.  Clarence Gallop (Charleston Southern) threw 216-4 and also did not advance.

Men’s Pole Vault Qualifying

Auto qualifying 17-2.75 or top 12

Cole Walsh (Oregon) who got a PR (17-6.5) to qualify at the USATF Junior champs could manage only 16-4.75 and will not advance.  Devin King (Sumner, Kentwood, LA) made the final with a clearance of 16-8.75.  He was one of 4 to clear that height and advanced on fewer misses.  Nine others cleared 17-0.75.

Women’s 200m Qualifying

No problem for Jada Martin (LSU), even from lane 8, as she won her heat in 23.62.  And also no problem for Kaylin Whitney, the 100m bronze medalist from last night, as she ran the fastest time thus far at 23.31.

Women’s Triple Jump Qualifying

Auto qualifying is 43-7.75 or top 12.

Keturah Orji (Mt. Olive, Flanders, NJ) wasted no time in getting the auto qualifier, jumping 44-2 on her first jump.

Marshay Ryan (Auburn) qualified 10th overall with a jump of 43-4.25w

Men’s 400m Hurdles Semi Finals

First 2 and next 2 fastest advance to the finals.

Tim Holmes (Baylor) ran an evenly paced race to win semi 1 in 50.80.

Kenny Selmon (Pace Academy, Atlanta, GA) looked comfortable leading through 8 hurdles.  Then as Ali Khamis Khamis (Bahrain) came up on him to his right, he hit the ninth hurdle, throwing him off balance.  He failed to qualify.  Khamis had the fastest qualifier overall, running 49.93 for his country’s national junior record.

Women’s 400m Hurdles Qualifying

Top 4 in each heat and next 4 fastest times advance to the semi finals

Jade Miller (Harvard) led the entire way in winning her heat in 57.85.

Shamier Little (Texas A+M) had a similar strategy in winning in 57.94.

Day 2 Evening

Heptathlon Javelin

Ashlee Moore got a life time best of 129-1 to move her into 7th place overall (4793 points).  Shaina Burns did likewise, throwing 129-10, now totaling 3844 points (4622 if not for DQ in 200m – and she would be in 15th place).

The leaders with one event to go:

Morgan Lake  Great Britain  5339
Yorgelis Rodriguez Cuba   5201
Nadine Visser  Netherlands  5142
Celina Leffler  Germany  4961
Emma Stenlof  Sweden  4840

According to Steve Underwood, Ashlee Moore has a chance to break Kendell Williams high school record:

Here is the top 5 all-time high school heptathlon list:

5578  Kendell Williams  2012
5533  Shana Woods   2006
5522  Ryann Krais   2008
5493  Kendra Reimer  1998
5411  Gayle Hunter   2004

Ashlee has a best of 2:29 in the 800m.  Currently with 4793 points, here are the point values (and final totals) for Ashlee for various 800m times:

2:35  632 points  5425 #5 all-time
2:30  693 points  5486 #5 all-time
2:28  718 points  5511 #4 all-time
2:26  744 points  5537 #2 all-time
2:24  770 points  5563 #2 all-time
2:22.82 786 points  5579 HS record

Decathlon Pole Vault

Gabe Moore got a personal best at 14-1.25 and is no win 10th with 6352 points.  Harrison Williams, in one of his better events, cleared 16-0.75 to finish second.  He moves up to 8th with 6404 points.

The leaders after 8 events:

Cedric Dubler  Australis  6771
Jiri Sykora  Czech Republic 6722
Roman Kondratyev Russia   6610
Tim Nowak  Germany  6604
Mathias Ako  France   6493

Mens 110m Hurdles semi-finals

First 2 and next 2 fastest times in the three heat advance to the final.

Nick Anderson (Kentucky) was well back from the leader (as was the rest of the field) but maintained his form to advance to the final, finishing second in 13.68.  Medal favorite William Belocian (France) won in 13.23.  Misana Viltz (Millikan, Long Beach, CA) was 5th in his heat in 14.02 and did not advance.

Women’s 100m Semi Finals

First 2 and next 2 fastest times in the three heat advance to the final.

Ariana Washington (Poly, Long Beach, CA) was left in the blocks like the rest of the field in her heat by Dina Asher-Smith (Great Britain).  Asher-Smith won in 11.31 with Washington second in 11.73, just edging Vitoria Cristina Rosa of Brazil in 11.75.  Had Washington not finished second, she would not have made the final.

Kaylin Whitney (Eastridge, Clermont, FL) got all she wanted from Pole Ewa Swoboda, but pulled away to win her heat, 11.44 to 11.51.

Men’s 100m Semi Finals

Trayvon Bromell (Baylor) was not leading at 50 meters, but pulled away ever so slightly to win in 10.29, only .02  over runnerup Levi Cadogan of Barbados.

Kendal Williams (Stanton Prep, Jacksonville, FL) won, but by the slightest of margins over Andre Azonwanna of Canada, 10.49 to 10.50.  (Azonwanna was second to Trentavis Friday in the 60 meters at the 2014 New Balance Nationals Indoor).

Women’s Hammer Final

Won by favorite Al’ona Shamotina of the Ukraine with a throw of 216-8.

Men’s High Jump Qualifying

Auto qualifier is 7-2.25 (or top 12).

Landon Bartel (Southern Boone County, Ashland, MO) managed only 6-8.75 and did not advance to the final.  Jonathan Wells (Grant, Fox Lake, IL) jumped high enough to qualify (6-10.75), but did not advance because of misses.

Men’s 400m Semi Finals

Tyler Brown (Eastern Michigan) looked like he wasn’t going to auto qualify, but put on a burst of speed in the last 80 meters to win.  He clocked 45.97 and will advance.

Lamar Bruton (Ohio State), like Tyler Brown, appeared to be in trouble with 100 meters to go.  But he steadily gained on the field to take second to favorite Machel Cedenio (Trinidad and Tobago) 45.90 to 46.67.

Heptathlon 800 Meters

Shaina Burns ran a gutty race, leading for the first lap, but ultimately finishing last though running a credible 2:26.43.   Even without a point in the 200 meters se still scored a total of 4582 points.  Without the DQ she would have scored 5360 points, which would have been #7 all-time high school.

Ashlee Moore did not improve on her personal best, running 2:31.57.  She did score a total of 5466 points, #5 all-time.

Decathlon Javelin

Harrison Williams got a PB in the javelin (184-9) to move into 6th place with a total score of 7086 points.  He’s on track to get the national high school record with junior implements with a decent 1500m.  The national record if 7748, set by Gunnar Nixon in 2010.  Williams will have to run 4:42.68 for 664 points for the national record.

Gabe Moore also got a personal best in the javelin, throwing 171-5 moving him into 8th with a score of 6974.

The leaders after nine events:

Jiri Sykora  Czech Republic 7468
Cedric Dubler  Australia  7413
Tim Nowak  Germany  7338
Roman Kondratyev Russia   7164
Evgeniy Likhanov Russia   7152

Women’s 5000m Final

The usual: medals going to Kenyans and Ethiopians.  American Maggie Schmaedick (Oregon) finished 12th in 16:19.01, less than a second off her PB.

Decathlon 1500m

Harrison Williams did it!  Got a PB in the 1500m by a second to get the national record with the junior implements.  His 4:41.01 got him 674 points for a total of 7760, breaking Gunnar Nixon’s record by 12 points. He finished 6th.  Gabe Moore also got a PB of 4:45.68 for a total of 7619 points.  That’s #3 all-time high school with the junior implements.

Women’s Long Jump

Negative winds hindered this event.  Quanisha Burks was 5th at 19-9.75 and Jazmin Mc Coy 6th 19-8.75.  Akesa Jones of Barbados, who just finished her freshman year at Oklahoma Baptist U, won with a jump of 20-9.75.  She will be transferring to Kansas State U in the fall.

Women’s 100m Final

Dina Asher-Smith showed in the rounds that she was the one to beat and she was.  She led from 0 meters, running 11.23 with -1.0 wind.  Angela Tenorio (Ecuador) who had to run a special qualifier yesterday, got the bronze in 11.39, and Kaylin Whitney (US) had to come on strong at the end to get 3rd in 11.45.  Ariana Washington was 7th in 11.64.

Men’s 100m Final

Kendal Williams had to run the fastest race of his life to win.  And he did.  In a major upset, Williams beat world junior record holder Trayvon Bromell who finished second.  Williams ran 10.21 to Bromell’s 10.28.  Japan’s Yoshihide Kiryu, who had run 10.01 earlier in the season, finished third in 10.34.  Ironically, Kendal Williams would not even have been on the team had Trentavis Friday not false-started in the Junior champs (Friday had run 10.01 in the prelims).

Day 1 Review

It was a very special first day yesterday, capped off by a sensational Men’s 10,000 meters.

Some observations:

- There are two 20x20 tents solely dedicated to vaulting poles.  I can imagine the logistical nightmare of getting poles from all corners of the globe to Eugene in a timely manner. 

- There a 15x30 tent only for the basket crew.

- Then there are all of the other mammoth tents (size noted are approximations):  medical (30x100), tent containing each individual country’s medical staff (50x200:  each has an area assigned); volunteer tent (30x80); media (50x200). 

- As expected, this event is a college coach’s recruiting paradise.  You name the Division I university and their coaches are present.

Recap of U.S. athletes:

- Women
o 100m: Kaylin Whitney and Ariana Washington both advanced to the semi finals
o 800m: Sabrina Southerland advanced to the semi finals; Raevyn Rogers did not.
o Pole Vault:  Desiree Freier and Bonnie Draxler both advanced to the finals
o Long Jump: Jazmin Mc Coy and Quanisha Burks both advanced to the finals.
o Hammer:  Brooke Andersen and Haley Showalter did not advance to the finals
o Javelin:  Rebekah Wales and Megan Glasmann did not advance to the finals
o Heptathlon:  Ashlee Moore completed day 1 with 3331 points in 11th place; Shaina Burns was disqualified in the 200 meters and has 2520 points (she would have been in 4th overall after day 1 had she not been disqualified; she will continue with the second days competition nonetheless).

- Men
o 100m: Trayvon Bromell and Kendal Williams advanced to the semi finals
o 1500m: Grant Fisher and Patrick Joseph did not advance to the final
o 10000m:  Brendan Shearn finished 15th in 30:24.30 (as compared to his 29:49.04 best) and Jonathan Green finished 24th in 31:15.69 (as compared to his 30:54.62 best)
o 110m Hurdles:  Misana Viltz and Nick Anderson both advanced to the semi finals
o Decathlon: Harrison Williams completed day 1 with 4302 points for 10th place; Gabe Moore is in 12th  with 4010 points.

Day 2 Morning

(this morning's photos are courtesy of PhotoRun.com)

Decathlon 110m Hurdles

Gabe Moore moved up to 11th place with a 14.82 performance, now with 4881 points.  Harrison Williams remains in 10th after hurdling 14.37 (4949 points).  The leaders after 6 events:

Cedric Dubler  Australia 5293
Roman Kondratyev Russia  5205
Karsten Warholm Norway 5195
Jiri Sykora  Czech Repub 5151
Evgeniy Likhanov Russia  5146

Men’s Long Jump Qualifying

Kenneth Fisher (Bethune-Cookman) had jumps of 22-4.5, 22-10.5 and 22-1.75 and will not advance to the final.  Travonn White (Central Arizona JC) finished fifth overall with a jump of 24-7.25 and will advance to the final.

Women’s 10,000m Racewalk Final

A meet world junior record for Anezka Drahotova of the Czech Republic at 42:47.25.  American
Katharine Newhoff was last (32nd) with a personal best of 51:40.42.

Decathlon Discus

Gabe Moore finished 6th in his group, throwing a personal best of 147-11.  He moves up to 8th place with 5650 points. Harrison Williams could manage only 115-1.  His total is now 5524 points for 12th place.   The leaders after 7 events:

Jiri Sykora  Czech Republic 5991
Cedric Dubler  Australia  5922
Roman Kondratyev Russia   5820
Tim Nowak  Germany  5785
Karsten Warholm Sweden  5780

Women’s 400 Qualifying

The first 4 in each of the 5 heats automatically qualify and the next 4 fastest times advance to the semi final.

No problem for Kendall Baisden (Texas) in winning heat 1 in 53.28.  Also no problem for Stanford-bound Olivia Baker (Columbia, Maplewood, NJ) with 54.09.  Maddie Price (Menlo, Atherton, CA), representing Canada, was second in her heat at 53.86 to advance to the final.

The were 5 disqualifications in the 5 heats for running inside the line.  We suspect there will be protests filed.

Heptathlon Long Jump

Shaina Burns got a PB of 17-8 for 665 points.  Adding the 778 she would have gotten had she not been DQd in the 200m yesterday, her total would be 3963 and be ranked 16th .  However, it is actually 3185 at this point. 

With her jump of 19-2.75 Ashlee Moore moved into 6th place with a total point score of 4138.

The leaders after five events:

Morgan Lake  Great Britain  4640
Nadine Visser  Netherlands  4498
Yorgelis Rodriguez Cuba   4469
Celina Leffler  Germany  4302
Emma Stenlof  Sweden  4214

Men’s 400m Hurdle Qualifying

The first 2 in each of the 8 heats automatically qualify and the next 8 fastest times advance to the semi final.

Kenny Selmon (Pace Academy, Atlanta, GA) and Tim Holmes (Baylor), both won their heats, Selmon in 52.15 and Holmes in 52.03.  The leader was the favorite, Jaleel Hyde of Jamaica at 51.60.

Women’s 800m Semi Finals

Sabrina Southerland (Georgetown), the only American in the semis, was never in her race, finishing last in 2:08.76.  Favorite Sally Diago (Cuba) was the leader at 2:03.60.

Day 1 Tuesday Morning Session

Heptathlon Hurdles

Heat 2 saw Yorgelis Rodriguez (Cuba), the defending champion and US Junior champ and Oregon signee Ashlee Moore (Hamilton, Chandler, AZ).  Rodriguez started poorly and finished well back.  Nadine Visser of the Netherlands won in a meet record 13.24, well ahead of the 2002 former record by Sweden’s Carolina Kluft set in 2002.  Moore got a PB in second at 13.59.  She gained 1037 points for her effort and sits in 2nd place after the 1st event.  Visser is the leader with
1089 points.

Heat 3 had the overall favorite Morgan Lake (Great Britain) and US athlete Shaina Burns (South, Lakeville, MN).  Morgan Lake was third and Shaina ran 14.58, slightly off her 14.44 PR.  Shaina had a PR last weekend at the Chicagoland throws shot put, with a put over 46 feet.

Women’s Javelin Qualifying

Auto qualifying is 173-11 (or top 12).  

Sofi Flinck (Sweden) is defending champion and easily qualified on her first throw at 183-10.  Rebekah Wales (LSU), fourth at the Chicagoland throws last year could manage 154-2, finishing in 11th after group A qualifying, and is unlikely to make the final.

Megan Glasmann (ex of Stanford, now at U of Utah), former Kultan Keihas javelin project member, could manage only 163-0 and finished 16th overall.

Decathlon 100 meters

Heat 3 saw both Americans, Harrison Williams (University, Memphis, TN) and Gabe Moore (Freeport, FL) going 1-2, with Williams at 10.75 and Moore at 10.98, both PRs.  Williams won the 2013 New Balance Nationals Outdoor decathlon and Moore was this year’s New Balance National Indoor pentathlon champ.  Williams sits in second after the 1st event with 917 points behind the leader Karsten Warholm of Norway at 963 (as a result of his PR 10.55).

Men’s 110m Hurdles, Round 1

Misana Viltz (Millikan, Long Beach, CA) won his heat in 13.59.  Wellington Zaza, the 2013 New Balance Nationals Outdoor champion (Garnet Valley, PA), now at Central Arizona JC and representing Liberia, qualified as well in third at 13.66.  Nick Anderson (U of Kentucky) also won his heat in 13.61.  Viltz was the fourth fastest qualifier overall with favorite one of the favorites, David Omoregie (Great Britain) leading the qualifiers at 13.24.

Men’s 1500m Qualifying

The first 3 in each of the first 3 heats automatically qualifier and the next 3 fastest advance to Thursday’s final.

Grant Fisher (Grand Blanc, MI) stayed with the pack for 2 laps and then looked flat for the rest of the race.   He ran 3:49 for 9th (equivalent of a 4:06 mile) and did not qualify.

Patrick Joseph (Virginia Tech) ran a very intelligent race but could not keep up with the top finishers in the last 100 meters, finishing fifth in 3:49.00.

Interestingly, only four Africans (including two Kenyans and no Ethiopians) made it to the final.

Women’s Pole Vault Qualifying

Both Americans qualified, but it wasn’t easy.  Bonnie Draxler (Wrightstown, WI).  Both qualified, ultimately at 13-5.25.  Draxler opened at 12-3.5, then missed twice at 12-9.5 before making 13-1.5 and her second attempt and clearing 13-5.25 on her first attempt.  Desiree Freier (Northwest, Justin, TX) made her American fans nervous.  She passed all the way to 13-5.25, missed twice, and finally cleared on her third attempt.  Eleven cleared 13-5.25 and 3 cleared 13-1.5, so there will be a 14-woman final.

Women’s Heptathlon High Jump

Ashlee Moore cleared 5-8 for a personal best of 5-7 to move into 13th place overall with 1753 points.  Morgan Lake was sensational, the 17 year old Great Britain competitor set a world youth record in the high jump of 6-4.25 (!) to take the lead.  She has 2096 points over the Netherlands’ Nadine Visser at 1980 points.

Men’s Decathlon Long Jump

Gabe Moore jumped 23-0, now with 1681 points, placing him 17th after 2 event.  Harrison Williams did not fare as well, jumping only 22-3.75 with a total of 1684 points, just ahead of Moore at 16th.   The favorite, Jiri Sykora (Czech Republic) is leading with 1934 points, having long jumped a phenomenal 26-2.25.

Women’s 800m Qualifying

The first 3 in each of the 4 qualifying heats and those with the next 4 fastest times advance to the semi-finals.

Raevyn Rogers (Kinkaid, Houston, TX), looked great as she and two others separated themselves from the pack at the 200m mark.  At 320 meters, Rogers got clipped from behind and almost fell down but maintained her lead.  Just past the first lap did she start to lose contact and slowly faded to finish 6th overall in 2:08.01, not making the final.  We will see if the U.S. coaches protest.

Sabrina Southerland (Georgetown and Cardozo, Queens, NY) ran a great race never less than third the entire race to finish in that position at 205.84.  She will advance to the semi finals.

Men’s 100m Qualifying

The first 3 in each of the 7 qualifying heats and those with the next 3 fastest times advance to the semi-finals.

Kendal Williams (Stanton Prep, Jacksonville, FL) had an awesome start and ran to a PR 10.23 in winning heat 5 of 7.  That moves him into #3 U.S. high school for the year and is the fastest qualifier thus far.  That is until Trayvon Bromell (Baylor) won heat 6 in 10.13.  Both automatically qualified for the semis.

Day 1 Evening

Decathlon Shot Put

(The 26-2.25 reported earlier for Jiri Sykora was reported by the results system at the meet was in error.  The actual distance was 24-1.25.  The actual leader was Cedric Dublr of Austria with 25-4.75.  And the leader after two events was Karsten Warholm of Norwayw with 1905 points; Sykora was 5th with 1776 points).

Sykora took the shot at 50-10.25 to lead after three events (2596 points).  Evgeniy Likhanov of Russia is second, 6 points back.

Decathlon High Jump

Gabe Moore finished 12th overall at 6-5.5, a PB.  His total score at this point is 3149 for 12th place overall.  Harrison Williams did not have a good day, managing only 6-4.25 for a total score of 3133, 13th.

Men’s 400m Round 1

Lamar Bruton (Ohio State), stuck in lane 8, led for 300 meters then faded, hanging on for second and qualifying to the semifinals.  Tyler Brown (Eastern Michigan) had no issues in winning his heat, running 46.45 and advancing.  The class of the field was favorite Machel Cedenio of Trinidad and Tobago, 5th with 100m to go in his heat, but then cruising to the win in 46.60.

Heptathlon Shot Put

What do you make of someone who can high jump 6-4.25 and throw the shot 46-6?  That’s the making of a potential World Junior Champion named Morgan Lake (Great Britain).  She not only won the high jump earlier but also won the shot put.  Shaina Burns had a good day throwing 44-7, though a foot and a half off her personal best.  She moves into 7th with 2520 points.  Lake is leading with 2901 points, well ahead of 2012 Junior champ Yorgelis Rodriguez of Cuba with  2694.   Ashlee Moore threw only 32-4.75 for 2449 points total and 13th place.

Women’s 100m Round 1

Ariana Washington (Poly, Long Beach, CA) did not get a good start but managed to maintain for a close win, running (for her) a pedestrian 11.67).

In a bit of a surprise, Angela Tenorio of Ecuador, last year’s World Youth silver medallist in the 200m, false started.  High schooler Brenessa Thompson (Medgar Evers, Brooklyn, NY) representing Guyana finished fourth in her heat, running 11.71.

Out fast in her heat was one of the favorites, Dina Asher-Smith (Great Britain), winning in 11.18.

Kaylin Whitney (Eastridge, Clermont, FL) did not look the way she did a few weeks ago at the US Junior champs, barely winning her heat in 11.48.

Women’s Long Jump Qualifying
 
Both Americans qualified.  Jazmin Mc Coy (Nebraska) finished 5th overall with a jump of 20-3.5.  Quanesha Burks (Alabama) qualified in 9th at 20-1.  It only took 19-9.5 to make the 12 woman final.  Nadia Akpana Assa of Norway led the field with a jump of 20-11.75.  (Florentina Marencu of Romania, the 2013 World Youth champ with a best of 22-0.5 did not show and Ese Brume of Nigeria, with a best of 21-11, jumped only 17-0!  Those two were medal favorites).

Womens Hammer Qualifying

It was not a good day for Brooke Andersen (Northern Arizona) who had only one legal throw (179-3) and finished 11th overall in the group of 12.  She did not advance.  Haley Showalter (Valor Christian, Highlands Ranch, CO) had a worse day, fouling three times.

Heptathlon 200m

Shaina Burns, from lane 8, got a PB in her heat, running 26.26.  But later it was found that she ran inside her lane and, unfortunately, was disqualified.   Ashlee Moore ran well, clocking 25.05.

The standings after day 1 show Morgan Lake (Great Britain) leading with 3821 points.  Ashlee Moore is in 11th with 3331 points.  Shaina Burns, with the DQ, is in 23rd place with 2520 points.  She would have had 3498 points and would have been in 4th place after day 1.

Decathlon 400m

Gabe Moore and Harrison Williams, competing in the same heat, ran decently with Williams at 48.21 and Moore with 49.01.  Williams totaled 4032 points after the first day for 10th place.  Gabe Moore has 4010 points for 12th.

Men’s 10,000m Final

This was one of the most exciting races I have ever seen.  Not so much for the times or the competition, though those were exceptional. It was the atmosphere.  No one from the rather large crowd left before the 10000m like I have seen at so many events.  They cheered and clapped throughout the race.  There was the University of Oregon percussion and brass ensemble on the infield with a specially composed piece just for this race.  Then there was the race itself.  Two Japanese took the race out early, leading by as much as 200 meters a mile into the race.  But the pack of east Africans steadily move up so that, with more than half the race to go, they took over the lead.  Then it was the race between two Kenyans and the Ugandan Joshua Cheptegei.  Cheptegei separated himself from the Kenyans with 250 meters to go and won in 28:32.86.  Americans Brendan Shearn (30:24.30) and Jonathan Green (31:15.69) finished 15th and 24th, respectively.

Getting there

This is my 13th World Junior Championship, having missed the first one in Athens in 1986.

I must admit that I was not that thrilled at having the meet in Eugene as I have always looked forward to experiencing a new country.  But my opinion has changed.

After being in Eugene a few weeks ago for the USATF Junior Championships, I began to change my mind.  The venue is spectacular and the fans are enthusiastic and knowledgeable.  And, to put it simply, “they know how to run a meet in Eugene”.

So I left early Sunday morning for the flight from Raleigh-Durham to San Francisco where I would meet Joy Kamani.  Joy is COO of the NSAF and would be our photographer on site.  We continued on to Eugene where we met the NSAF’s tweeter-in-charge and friend of almost 50 years, Paul Limmer.  Joy came in from Houston and Paul from JFK in New York. 

Steve Underwood, master of the video interview, had his early morning flight cancelled, so he would spend much of his day writing event previews in the Delta Clubs in  Detroit (his departure city) and Chicago.  He finally arrived at 11pm on Sunday night (2am his time), having spent a good 24 hours awake.

Hayward Field

Paul, Joy and I left the hotel soon after we arrived from the airport in the early afternon to get our credentials.  It is about a half mile walk from the hotel to Hayward Field. 

Credentialing was scheduled for the Matthew Knight Center, the large basketball and multi-purpose arena on campus.  But it had moved to somewhere else, and we knew not where.  We were guided to proper site, the law building, directly across from Hayward Field, where we had our photos taken and credentials issued.

We wandered across the street to Hayward Field to see what was transpiring.  The timing people (and others) were in the process of setting up.  (It is my understanding that Seiko brings in may dozens of workers to operate the meet).

We saw John Blackburn, our Director of Officials and NSAF board member, instructing other officials at the shot put area, the discipline he will oversee at the meet.

We then went to the area outside the first turn where the vendors’ tents are set up.  There we saw giant plexiglass displays of the various world’s regions (North America, South America, Asia, Oceania, Europe, etc).  On those displays were the participating countries and the name of each athlete and their date of birth!  Those displays are truly special, and was evidence of the immense planning, skill and creativity of the organizing committee. 

What is eerily missing is any evidence of Nike.  The University of Oregon is cradle of that corporation but, since adidas is one of the IAAF’s title sponsors, the adidas brand must prevail at this meet.  And it certainly does, with no sign of ANY competitor’s existence.  We suspect things will be back to normal just after the end of the meet on Sunday night.

Monday

After an uneventful morning with a bit of exercise, we met Steve Underwood and wandered over to the campus to get him credentialed. 

At 11:30am we attended the introductory press conference with IAAF President Lamine Diack, as well as Tracktown USA director (and former U of Oregon coach) Vin Lananna and others.  That was followed by a press conference with leading athletes, including Americans Mary Cain and Trayvon Bromell.

Then came lunch (buffet at an Indian restaurant) and an uneventful afternoon back at the hotel. 

We later headed back to Hayward for the photo briefing.  It is about an hour session and concerns where to go and not go during the event and who gets to be on the infield. 

This is the largest photo group I have ever seen at one of these meets.  In short, only 11 of the 30 or so photographers will be allowed on the field at any one time.  So there will be a lot of rotating in and out.

It was good to see Olaf (Austria) and Yannis (Greece), IAAF press stewards.  We had some interesting conversations with them.  They have become friends over the years, and we appreciate their cooperation and expertise.

It was then dinner and back to the hotel.  We can’t wait for the meet to begin!  Day 1 morning will include with heptathlon and decathlon starts, as well as qualifying in the women’s javelin, pole vault and 800 meters, and men’s 1500 meters, 110m Hurdles and 100 meters!  What a great morning!

Jim Spier will be updating this blog periodically throughout the competition here in Eugene with analysis after each session and often after each event is completed. More recent entries will be posted at the top of this blog so scroll down if you miss any. 

Video interviews by Steve Underwood and photos by Joy Kamani and our partners at PhotoRun.com will also be posted on our website, and Facebook Page.  Paul Limmer will be tweeting throughout on TweetingTrack.  Follow us and don't miss a single piece of the explosive action here at Hayward Field this week.

Day 4 Morning Session

Women’s Shot Put Qualifying

Auto qualifying 51-10 or top 12

Raven Saunders (Burke, Charleston, SC) got the auto qualifier on her second throw, putting 54-10.75.  She threw 51-3.75 on her first attempt.  She is the leading qualifier overall for tomorrow’s

In a scandalous turn of events, Aaliyah Pete was denied entry because of a “clerical error”.  See the complete press release at usatf.org.

Men’s Discus Qualifying

Auto qualifying 193-7 or top 12

Ryan Njegovan (St. Francis (Il)) got the auto qualifier on his third throw – 196-6 – which is also a personal best.  He was the second best qualifier in his group.

Kord Ferguson (Ottawa, KS) got the auto qualifier on his first throw (194-3), so both Americans will advance to tomorrow’s final.

Men’s 10000m Racewalk Final

A meet record for Daisuke Matsunaga of Japan at 39:27.19.  Anthony Peters of the US was 28th, , more than 6 minutes back,  in 45:31.86, a personal best.

Men’s Triple Jump Qualifying

Auto qualifying 52-2 or top 12.

Favorite Lazaro Martinez (Cuba) got the auto qualifier on his first attempt, jumping 54-6.75

Hayden Mc Clain (Oklahoma) finished 19th in qualifying (49-6.25w) and John Warren (Prince George, VA) was 24th (48-3.25).  Both will not advance.

Women’s 100m Hurdle Round 1

First four in each heat and those with the next 4 fastest times advance to the semi finals.

Kendell Williams (Georgia) made it look easy in winning her heat in 13.00, the fastest overall qualifier.  Dior Hall (George Washington, Denver, CO) won her heat in 13.29 to qualify third overall.

Men’s 3000m Steeplechase Qualifying

First 5 in each of the two heats and next 5 fastest times advance to the finals.

We thought Bailey Roth (Coronado, Colorado Springs, CO) could get the national record but not necessarily in the trials.  Though finishing 7th in his heat, he still ran 8:48.60, breaking a 35 year old national record held by Jeff Hess (South, Eugene, OR) – 8:50.1 in 1979.

Bryce Miller (Missouri-Kansas City) ran a nice race, albeit clobbering the final hurdle, but would not have qualified anyway since all of the time qualifiers came out of the first heat.  Nonetheless, he ran 9:06.17 to finish 7th.

Women’s High Jump Qualifying

Auto qualifying is 6-0.75 or top 12

Bailey Weiland (Marist, Atlanta, GA), the New Balance Nationals Outdoor champion jumped 5-8.75 and did not advance.

Rachel Mc Coy (Chaffey JC) got a lifetime best of 6-0.75 to advance to the finals.

Women’s 1500m Qualifying

First 4 in each of the 2 heats and next 4 fastest advance to the finals.

Alexa Efraimson (Camas, WA), though running in lane 2 seemingly for the entire race, qualified among the top 4, running 4:16.87.

Unlike Alexa, Elisa Cranny (Niwot, CO) ran in lane 1 the entire way finishing 4th and qualifying in 4:15.21.

Men’s 800m Qualifying

First 3 in each of the 6 heats and those with the next 6 fastest times advance t the semi finals.

Myles Marshall (Kingwood, TX) looked good for 500 meters but could keep up with the leaders when they surged.  He could not respond and finished last in 1:53.98.

Tretez Kinnaird (Indiana) stayed with world junior leader Alfred Kipketer (Kenya) for the entire race, finishing third in 1:50.07 and advancing.

Men’s Javelin Qualifying

Auto qualifying 236-3 or top 12.

Day 3 Review

Recap of U.S. athletes:

- Women
o 200m: Kaylin Whitney and Jada Martin both advanced to the final
o 400m: Kendall Baisden and Olivia Baker both advanced to the finals
o 3000m: Mary Cain won the 3000m in #2 American Junior all-time 8:58.48, breaking the Kenyan streak dating back to 2000.  Stephanie Jenks was 15th
o 3000m Steeplechase:  Elinor Purrier got a monster PR (10:08.33 - #6 all-timr American Junior) to move on to the final.  Hope Schmelze finished 29th overall and did not advance
o 400m Hurdles:  Jade Miller and Shamier Little both advanced to the semis
o Pole Vault:  Desiree Freier finished second in the pole vault in a high school record 14-7.25.
o Triple Jump:  Keturah Orji and Marshay Ryan advanced to the final, Orji with a high school leading mark of 44-2, achieving it on her first attempt.
o Discus:  Valerie Allman got an auto qualifier on her first throw to advance to the final; Katelyn Daniels did not advance.

- Men
o 200m: Trentavis Friday advanced to the final with the fastest qualifier (20.35).  Kendal Williams did not advance.
o 400m:  Lamar Bruton finished 6th and Tyler Brown 8th.
o 110m Hurdles:  Nick Anderson finished 8th
o 400m Hurdles:  Tim Holmes advanced to the finals; Kenny Selmon did not.
o Long Jump:  Trayvon White finished 4th
o Shot Put:  Braheme Days finished 3rd; Amir Ali Patterson finished 7th.

Observations:

- I have been to 13 of these World Junior Championships, and this is the best one yet. The organization, enthusiastic crowds and the amazing athletes make this event special
- Highlights for me were the massive Mary Cain victory in the 3000m.  It is rare, indeed, so see an American pulling away from the Kenyans (or any other group at this distance.  Also, Desiree Freier’s gutsy performance, equaling the high school record, then breaking it twice before near misses at 14-9.
- The Japanese men are having a terrific meet: 3rd in the 100m, 2nd and 7th in the 400m, and have qualified 2 in the 200m final.  They should, obviously, have some good relays.

- Each year for the past 8 years (except for this year), we have taken a group of underclassmen to Puerto Rico to compete in the Caribbean Scholastic Invitational (CSI).  Here are some the athletes from that meet who are present here in Eugene (and a few others)

o 2010:
Women’s 100:
1. Olivia Ekpone  11.82
Women’s 200:
1. Ekpone   24.22
Women’s 800:
1. Claudia Francis  2:10.85
2. Kelsey Margey  2:12.04
Women’s 100m Hurdles:
1. Kendell Williams  13.74
Women’s High Jump
1. Kendell Williams  5-7
2. Akela Jones (BAR) 5-5
Women’s Shot Put
1. Brea Garrett  42-8.25
Men’s High Jump:
_3 Gunnar Nixon  6-4.75

o 2011:
Mens 400: Arman Hall (US) over Luquelin Santos (DOM), 46.95 to 47.29

o 2012:
Women’s 100:
1. Ky Westbrook  11.90
2. Chyna Ries  11.92
3. Nelda Huggins (BVI) 12.04
4. Deajah Stevens  12.17
5. Jada Martin  12.30
Women’s 200:
1. Huggins   24.57
2. Grace Claxton (PUR) 24.67
3. Martin   24.73
4. Westbrook   24.76
Women’s 100m Hurdles:
1. Dior Hall   13.52
Women’s 400m Hurdles:
1. Shamier Little  61.26
Women’s Long Jump:
1. Ries   18-9.75
Men’s 200:
1. Devon Allen  21.21
Men’s 110m Hurdles:
1. Allen   13.41w
Men;s 2000m Steeplechase:
1. Bailey Roth  6:18.95
o 2013:
Men’s 100m:
1. Zharnel Hughes (Anguilla) 10.52
2. Kendal Williams  10.59
Men’s 400m:
1. Ricky Morgan  47.50
Men’s Triple Jump:
1. John Warren  48-4

Day 3 Evening Session

Women’s Pole Vault Final

Desiree Freier (Northwest, Justin, TX) put on a gutsy performance, breaking the high school record twice and finishing second.  She jumped 14-7.25, making 3 gallant attempts at 14-9.  Bonnie Draxler (Wrightstown, WI) was 11th at 12-11.5.

Women’s 200m Semi Finals

Jada Martin ran well in her heat but finished second to 100m silver medalist Angela Tenorio (Ecuador).  She advanced to the final.

Kaylin Whitney got all she wanted from Cuban Aarialis Gandulla, but managed to hang on for the win and advance to the final.

Men’s 200m Semi Finals

Kendal Williams looked spent from last night’s win.  He had gotten lane one as a result of this morning’s third place qualifying round finish.

Trentavis Friday showed that he is the one to beat, easily winning his heat in 20.35.

Men’s Shot Put

Konrad Bukowiecki (Poland) won the event on his first throw (69-5.5), then improved to 72-4.5 for the world junior lead and #3 all-time world junior.  Braheme Days got the bronze (65-7.75) and Amir Ali Patterson finished 7th (63-0).

Women’s 400m Semi Final

It appeared that Olivia Baker had gone out too fast, but maintained her form for 400 meters to win in 53.08.  Kendall Baisden got a challenge from Laura Muller of Germany but prevailed to win in 52.52.  The fastest time was the winner of the third heat, Gilda Casanova (Cuba) in 52.45.

Men’s 110m Hurdles Final

Wilhelm Belocian (France) set a world junior record in a stunning 12.99.  Nick Anderson got a bad start and finished 8th in 13.93.

Men’s 400m Final

The favorite, Machel Cedenio (Trinidad and Tobago) won easily with a world leading 45.13.  Lamar Bruton was 6th in 46.75 and Tyler Brown 8th in 47.30.

Women’s 800m Final

Wambui at 2:00.49 (a 3 second PR) to Diago’s 2:02.11.

Men’s Long Jump

It was an all Asian medal group with Jianan Wang of China winning in 26-6.25, followed by Qing Lin of China an Shotaro Shiroyama of Japan.  Travonn White was 4th at 25-4w.

Women’s Javelin Final

The favorite, Sofi Flinck, sat in third until her last throw, taking the lead at 186-0.  But the prior leader, Ekaterina Starygina of Russia had one throw left.   And, like a true champion, won the event on that last throw, tossing the javelin 186-6.

Women’s 3000 Meters

Mary Cain was very, very impressive (to say the least!), becoming the first American to ever win a medal in any event about 800 meters, men or women, winning in 8:58.48.  Stephanie Jenks (Linn-Mar, Marion, IA) ran decently, finishing in 15th at 9:31.47.  Americans now have 4 total medals in the 800m and above:  Ajee Wilson (800 – 1st), Mary Cain (3000 -1st), Cas Loxsom (800 – 2nd), Robby Andrews (800-3rd).  That’s it.

Men’s 1500 Meters Final

Kenya-Djibouti-Kenya.  Jonathan Sawe of Kenya was the winner in 3:40.02.

Day 3 Morning Session

Day 2 Review

Recap of U.S. athletes:

- Women
o 100m: Kaylin Whitney finished 3rd  and Ariana Washington 7th
o 400m: Kendall Baisden and Olivia Baker both advance to the semi finals
o 800m: Sabrina Southerland did not advance to the finals
o 5000m: Maggie Schmaedick finished 12th
o Long Jump: Jazmin Mc Coy finished 6th and Quanisha Burks 5th .
o Heptathlon:  Ashlee Moore finished 13th, #5 all-time High School, and Shaina Burns 21st (6 events scored)

- Men
o 100m: Kendal Williams 1st and Trayvon Bromell 2nd
o 400m:  Tyler Brown and Lamar Bruton advanced to the finals
o 110m Hurdles:  Nick Anderson advanced to the final, Misana Viltz did not
o 400m Hurdles:  Tim Holmes and Kenny Selmon advanced to the semi finals
o High Jump:  Landon Bartel and Jonathan Wells did not advance to the finals.
o Long Jump:  Trayvon White advanced to the final, Kenneth Fisher did not.
o Decathlon: Harrison Williams finished 6th with a High School record of 7760 points; Gabe Moore finished 8th with 7619 points, #3 all-time high school.
• High School top 4 (with Junior implements)
• Harrison Williams
• Gunnar Nixon
• Gabe Moore
• Curtis Beach
-
Day 3 Morning

Women’s Discus Qualifying

Auto qualifying is 170-7 or the top 12.

Katelyn Daniels (Michigan State) finished 8th in her group at 158-9 and will not likely advance.

Valerie Allman (Stanford) got the auto qualifier on her first throw (171-9).

Women’s 3000m Steeplechase Qualifying

Hope Schmelze (Purdue) didn’t have quite it today.  The 2014 US Junior leader could manage only 10:41.38 for 14th place, well off her 10:33.38 lifetime best.  On the other hand, U.S. Junior champ Elinor Purrier (New Hampshire) ran the race of her life, finishing 6th in 10:08.33, 16 seconds better than her prior best.  She is now #6 all-time U.S. Junior.  She will advance to Saturday’s final.  Amy-Eloise Neale (Great Britain), former Washington high schooler, finished 5th in her heat and will qualify for the finals.

Men’s Shot Put Qualifying

Auto qualifying is 63-2 or the top 12.

Braheme Days (UCLA) fouled on his first attempt then got and auto qualifier (64-4) on his second attempt.  Amir Ali Patterson (Crespi, Encino, CA) finished 11th overall in 61-11.5 and will advance to the final.  The leader is Mostafa Hassan of Egypt at 65-1.25.

Men’s 200m Qualifying

Top 2 and next 6 fastest times advance to the semi finals

Zharnel Hughes (Anguilla) easily won his heat (20.87).  (Hughes had beaten World Junior 100m champ Kendal Williams at the 2013 Caribbean Scholastic Invitational 100m).

A stroll for Trentavis Friday (Cherryville, NC), shutting it down with 40 meters to do, and running 20.60.

Kendal Williams finished 3rd in his heat, not looking especially himself.  He ran 21.16 and will likely make the final.

Men’s Hammer Throw Qualifying

Auto qualifying is 244-5 for top 12.

Charlie Ionata (Wake Forest) got a life time best (229-5) in finishing 10th in his group. He did not advance.  Clarence Gallop (Charleston Southern) threw 216-4 and also did not advance.

Men’s Pole Vault Qualifying

Auto qualifying 17-2.75 or top 12

Cole Walsh (Oregon) who got a PR (17-6.5) to qualify at the USATF Junior champs could manage only 16-4.75 and will not advance.  Devin King (Sumner, Kentwood, LA) made the final with a clearance of 16-8.75.  He was one of 4 to clear that height and advanced on fewer misses.  Nine others cleared 17-0.75.

Women’s 200m Qualifying

No problem for Jada Martin (LSU), even from lane 8, as she won her heat in 23.62.  And also no problem for Kaylin Whitney, the 100m bronze medalist from last night, as she ran the fastest time thus far at 23.31.

Women’s Triple Jump Qualifying

Auto qualifying is 43-7.75 or top 12.

Keturah Orji (Mt. Olive, Flanders, NJ) wasted no time in getting the auto qualifier, jumping 44-2 on her first jump.

Marshay Ryan (Auburn) qualified 10th overall with a jump of 43-4.25w

Men’s 400m Hurdles Semi Finals

First 2 and next 2 fastest advance to the finals.

Tim Holmes (Baylor) ran an evenly paced race to win semi 1 in 50.80.

Kenny Selmon (Pace Academy, Atlanta, GA) looked comfortable leading through 8 hurdles.  Then as Ali Khamis Khamis (Bahrain) came up on him to his right, he hit the ninth hurdle, throwing him off balance.  He failed to qualify.  Khamis had the fastest qualifier overall, running 49.93 for his country’s national junior record.

Women’s 400m Hurdles Qualifying

Top 4 in each heat and next 4 fastest times advance to the semi finals

Jade Miller (Harvard) led the entire way in winning her heat in 57.85.

Shamier Little (Texas A+M) had a similar strategy in winning in 57.94.

Day 2 Evening

Heptathlon Javelin

Ashlee Moore got a life time best of 129-1 to move her into 7th place overall (4793 points).  Shaina Burns did likewise, throwing 129-10, now totaling 3844 points (4622 if not for DQ in 200m – and she would be in 15th place).

The leaders with one event to go:

Morgan Lake  Great Britain  5339
Yorgelis Rodriguez Cuba   5201
Nadine Visser  Netherlands  5142
Celina Leffler  Germany  4961
Emma Stenlof  Sweden  4840

According to Steve Underwood, Ashlee Moore has a chance to break Kendell Williams high school record:

Here is the top 5 all-time high school heptathlon list:

5578  Kendell Williams  2012
5533  Shana Woods   2006
5522  Ryann Krais   2008
5493  Kendra Reimer  1998
5411  Gayle Hunter   2004

Ashlee has a best of 2:29 in the 800m.  Currently with 4793 points, here are the point values (and final totals) for Ashlee for various 800m times:

2:35  632 points  5425 #5 all-time
2:30  693 points  5486 #5 all-time
2:28  718 points  5511 #4 all-time
2:26  744 points  5537 #2 all-time
2:24  770 points  5563 #2 all-time
2:22.82 786 points  5579 HS record

Decathlon Pole Vault

Gabe Moore got a personal best at 14-1.25 and is no win 10th with 6352 points.  Harrison Williams, in one of his better events, cleared 16-0.75 to finish second.  He moves up to 8th with 6404 points.

The leaders after 8 events:

Cedric Dubler  Australis  6771
Jiri Sykora  Czech Republic 6722
Roman Kondratyev Russia   6610
Tim Nowak  Germany  6604
Mathias Ako  France   6493

Mens 110m Hurdles semi-finals

First 2 and next 2 fastest times in the three heat advance to the final.

Nick Anderson (Kentucky) was well back from the leader (as was the rest of the field) but maintained his form to advance to the final, finishing second in 13.68.  Medal favorite William Belocian (France) won in 13.23.  Misana Viltz (Millikan, Long Beach, CA) was 5th in his heat in 14.02 and did not advance.

Women’s 100m Semi Finals

First 2 and next 2 fastest times in the three heat advance to the final.

Ariana Washington (Poly, Long Beach, CA) was left in the blocks like the rest of the field in her heat by Dina Asher-Smith (Great Britain).  Asher-Smith won in 11.31 with Washington second in 11.73, just edging Vitoria Cristina Rosa of Brazil in 11.75.  Had Washington not finished second, she would not have made the final.

Kaylin Whitney (Eastridge, Clermont, FL) got all she wanted from Pole Ewa Swoboda, but pulled away to win her heat, 11.44 to 11.51.

Men’s 100m Semi Finals

Trayvon Bromell (Baylor) was not leading at 50 meters, but pulled away ever so slightly to win in 10.29, only .02  over runnerup Levi Cadogan of Barbados.

Kendal Williams (Stanton Prep, Jacksonville, FL) won, but by the slightest of margins over Andre Azonwanna of Canada, 10.49 to 10.50.  (Azonwanna was second to Trentavis Friday in the 60 meters at the 2014 New Balance Nationals Indoor).

Women’s Hammer Final

Won by favorite Al’ona Shamotina of the Ukraine with a throw of 216-8.

Men’s High Jump Qualifying

Auto qualifier is 7-2.25 (or top 12).

Landon Bartel (Southern Boone County, Ashland, MO) managed only 6-8.75 and did not advance to the final.  Jonathan Wells (Grant, Fox Lake, IL) jumped high enough to qualify (6-10.75), but did not advance because of misses.

Men’s 400m Semi Finals

Tyler Brown (Eastern Michigan) looked like he wasn’t going to auto qualify, but put on a burst of speed in the last 80 meters to win.  He clocked 45.97 and will advance.

Lamar Bruton (Ohio State), like Tyler Brown, appeared to be in trouble with 100 meters to go.  But he steadily gained on the field to take second to favorite Machel Cedenio (Trinidad and Tobago) 45.90 to 46.67.

Heptathlon 800 Meters

Shaina Burns ran a gutty race, leading for the first lap, but ultimately finishing last though running a credible 2:26.43.   Even without a point in the 200 meters se still scored a total of 4582 points.  Without the DQ she would have scored 5360 points, which would have been #7 all-time high school.

Ashlee Moore did not improve on her personal best, running 2:31.57.  She did score a total of 5466 points, #5 all-time.

Decathlon Javelin

Harrison Williams got a PB in the javelin (184-9) to move into 6th place with a total score of 7086 points.  He’s on track to get the national high school record with junior implements with a decent 1500m.  The national record if 7748, set by Gunnar Nixon in 2010.  Williams will have to run 4:42.68 for 664 points for the national record.

Gabe Moore also got a personal best in the javelin, throwing 171-5 moving him into 8th with a score of 6974.

The leaders after nine events:

Jiri Sykora  Czech Republic 7468
Cedric Dubler  Australia  7413
Tim Nowak  Germany  7338
Roman Kondratyev Russia   7164
Evgeniy Likhanov Russia   7152

Women’s 5000m Final

The usual: medals going to Kenyans and Ethiopians.  American Maggie Schmaedick (Oregon) finished 12th in 16:19.01, less than a second off her PB.

Decathlon 1500m

Harrison Williams did it!  Got a PB in the 1500m by a second to get the national record with the junior implements.  His 4:41.01 got him 674 points for a total of 7760, breaking Gunnar Nixon’s record by 12 points. He finished 6th.  Gabe Moore also got a PB of 4:45.68 for a total of 7619 points.  That’s #3 all-time high school with the junior implements.

Women’s Long Jump

Negative winds hindered this event.  Quanisha Burks was 5th at 19-9.75 and Jazmin Mc Coy 6th 19-8.75.  Akesa Jones of Barbados, who just finished her freshman year at Oklahoma Baptist U, won with a jump of 20-9.75.  She will be transferring to Kansas State U in the fall.

Women’s 100m Final

Dina Asher-Smith showed in the rounds that she was the one to beat and she was.  She led from 0 meters, running 11.23 with -1.0 wind.  Angela Tenorio (Ecuador) who had to run a special qualifier yesterday, got the bronze in 11.39, and Kaylin Whitney (US) had to come on strong at the end to get 3rd in 11.45.  Ariana Washington was 7th in 11.64.

Men’s 100m Final

Kendal Williams had to run the fastest race of his life to win.  And he did.  In a major upset, Williams beat world junior record holder Trayvon Bromell who finished second.  Williams ran 10.21 to Bromell’s 10.28.  Japan’s Yoshihide Kiryu, who had run 10.01 earlier in the season, finished third in 10.34.  Ironically, Kendal Williams would not even have been on the team had Trentavis Friday not false-started in the Junior champs (Friday had run 10.01 in the prelims).

Day 1 Review

It was a very special first day yesterday, capped off by a sensational Men’s 10,000 meters.

Some observations:

- There are two 20x20 tents solely dedicated to vaulting poles.  I can imagine the logistical nightmare of getting poles from all corners of the globe to Eugene in a timely manner. 

- There a 15x30 tent only for the basket crew.

- Then there are all of the other mammoth tents (size noted are approximations):  medical (30x100), tent containing each individual country’s medical staff (50x200:  each has an area assigned); volunteer tent (30x80); media (50x200). 

- As expected, this event is a college coach’s recruiting paradise.  You name the Division I university and their coaches are present.

Recap of U.S. athletes:

- Women
o 100m: Kaylin Whitney and Ariana Washington both advanced to the semi finals
o 800m: Sabrina Southerland advanced to the semi finals; Raevyn Rogers did not.
o Pole Vault:  Desiree Freier and Bonnie Draxler both advanced to the finals
o Long Jump: Jazmin Mc Coy and Quanisha Burks both advanced to the finals.
o Hammer:  Brooke Andersen and Haley Showalter did not advance to the finals
o Javelin:  Rebekah Wales and Megan Glasmann did not advance to the finals
o Heptathlon:  Ashlee Moore completed day 1 with 3331 points in 11th place; Shaina Burns was disqualified in the 200 meters and has 2520 points (she would have been in 4th overall after day 1 had she not been disqualified; she will continue with the second days competition nonetheless).

- Men
o 100m: Trayvon Bromell and Kendal Williams advanced to the semi finals
o 1500m: Grant Fisher and Patrick Joseph did not advance to the final
o 10000m:  Brendan Shearn finished 15th in 30:24.30 (as compared to his 29:49.04 best) and Jonathan Green finished 24th in 31:15.69 (as compared to his 30:54.62 best)
o 110m Hurdles:  Misana Viltz and Nick Anderson both advanced to the semi finals
o Decathlon: Harrison Williams completed day 1 with 4302 points for 10th place; Gabe Moore is in 12th  with 4010 points.

Day 2 Morning

(this morning's photos are courtesy of PhotoRun.com)

Decathlon 110m Hurdles

Gabe Moore moved up to 11th place with a 14.82 performance, now with 4881 points.  Harrison Williams remains in 10th after hurdling 14.37 (4949 points).  The leaders after 6 events:

Cedric Dubler  Australia 5293
Roman Kondratyev Russia  5205
Karsten Warholm Norway 5195
Jiri Sykora  Czech Repub 5151
Evgeniy Likhanov Russia  5146

Men’s Long Jump Qualifying

Kenneth Fisher (Bethune-Cookman) had jumps of 22-4.5, 22-10.5 and 22-1.75 and will not advance to the final.  Travonn White (Central Arizona JC) finished fifth overall with a jump of 24-7.25 and will advance to the final.

Women’s 10,000m Racewalk Final

A meet world junior record for Anezka Drahotova of the Czech Republic at 42:47.25.  American
Katharine Newhoff was last (32nd) with a personal best of 51:40.42.

Decathlon Discus

Gabe Moore finished 6th in his group, throwing a personal best of 147-11.  He moves up to 8th place with 5650 points. Harrison Williams could manage only 115-1.  His total is now 5524 points for 12th place.   The leaders after 7 events:

Jiri Sykora  Czech Republic 5991
Cedric Dubler  Australia  5922
Roman Kondratyev Russia   5820
Tim Nowak  Germany  5785
Karsten Warholm Sweden  5780

Women’s 400 Qualifying

The first 4 in each of the 5 heats automatically qualify and the next 4 fastest times advance to the semi final.

No problem for Kendall Baisden (Texas) in winning heat 1 in 53.28.  Also no problem for Stanford-bound Olivia Baker (Columbia, Maplewood, NJ) with 54.09.  Maddie Price (Menlo, Atherton, CA), representing Canada, was second in her heat at 53.86 to advance to the final.

The were 5 disqualifications in the 5 heats for running inside the line.  We suspect there will be protests filed.

Heptathlon Long Jump

Shaina Burns got a PB of 17-8 for 665 points.  Adding the 778 she would have gotten had she not been DQd in the 200m yesterday, her total would be 3963 and be ranked 16th .  However, it is actually 3185 at this point. 

With her jump of 19-2.75 Ashlee Moore moved into 6th place with a total point score of 4138.

The leaders after five events:

Morgan Lake  Great Britain  4640
Nadine Visser  Netherlands  4498
Yorgelis Rodriguez Cuba   4469
Celina Leffler  Germany  4302
Emma Stenlof  Sweden  4214

Men’s 400m Hurdle Qualifying

The first 2 in each of the 8 heats automatically qualify and the next 8 fastest times advance to the semi final.

Kenny Selmon (Pace Academy, Atlanta, GA) and Tim Holmes (Baylor), both won their heats, Selmon in 52.15 and Holmes in 52.03.  The leader was the favorite, Jaleel Hyde of Jamaica at 51.60.

Women’s 800m Semi Finals

Sabrina Southerland (Georgetown), the only American in the semis, was never in her race, finishing last in 2:08.76.  Favorite Sally Diago (Cuba) was the leader at 2:03.60.

Day 1 Tuesday Morning Session

Heptathlon Hurdles

Heat 2 saw Yorgelis Rodriguez (Cuba), the defending champion and US Junior champ and Oregon signee Ashlee Moore (Hamilton, Chandler, AZ).  Rodriguez started poorly and finished well back.  Nadine Visser of the Netherlands won in a meet record 13.24, well ahead of the 2002 former record by Sweden’s Carolina Kluft set in 2002.  Moore got a PB in second at 13.59.  She gained 1037 points for her effort and sits in 2nd place after the 1st event.  Visser is the leader with
1089 points.

Heat 3 had the overall favorite Morgan Lake (Great Britain) and US athlete Shaina Burns (South, Lakeville, MN).  Morgan Lake was third and Shaina ran 14.58, slightly off her 14.44 PR.  Shaina had a PR last weekend at the Chicagoland throws shot put, with a put over 46 feet.

Women’s Javelin Qualifying

Auto qualifying is 173-11 (or top 12).  

Sofi Flinck (Sweden) is defending champion and easily qualified on her first throw at 183-10.  Rebekah Wales (LSU), fourth at the Chicagoland throws last year could manage 154-2, finishing in 11th after group A qualifying, and is unlikely to make the final.

Megan Glasmann (ex of Stanford, now at U of Utah), former Kultan Keihas javelin project member, could manage only 163-0 and finished 16th overall.

Decathlon 100 meters

Heat 3 saw both Americans, Harrison Williams (University, Memphis, TN) and Gabe Moore (Freeport, FL) going 1-2, with Williams at 10.75 and Moore at 10.98, both PRs.  Williams won the 2013 New Balance Nationals Outdoor decathlon and Moore was this year’s New Balance National Indoor pentathlon champ.  Williams sits in second after the 1st event with 917 points behind the leader Karsten Warholm of Norway at 963 (as a result of his PR 10.55).

Men’s 110m Hurdles, Round 1

Misana Viltz (Millikan, Long Beach, CA) won his heat in 13.59.  Wellington Zaza, the 2013 New Balance Nationals Outdoor champion (Garnet Valley, PA), now at Central Arizona JC and representing Liberia, qualified as well in third at 13.66.  Nick Anderson (U of Kentucky) also won his heat in 13.61.  Viltz was the fourth fastest qualifier overall with favorite one of the favorites, David Omoregie (Great Britain) leading the qualifiers at 13.24.

Men’s 1500m Qualifying

The first 3 in each of the first 3 heats automatically qualifier and the next 3 fastest advance to Thursday’s final.

Grant Fisher (Grand Blanc, MI) stayed with the pack for 2 laps and then looked flat for the rest of the race.   He ran 3:49 for 9th (equivalent of a 4:06 mile) and did not qualify.

Patrick Joseph (Virginia Tech) ran a very intelligent race but could not keep up with the top finishers in the last 100 meters, finishing fifth in 3:49.00.

Interestingly, only four Africans (including two Kenyans and no Ethiopians) made it to the final.

Women’s Pole Vault Qualifying

Both Americans qualified, but it wasn’t easy.  Bonnie Draxler (Wrightstown, WI).  Both qualified, ultimately at 13-5.25.  Draxler opened at 12-3.5, then missed twice at 12-9.5 before making 13-1.5 and her second attempt and clearing 13-5.25 on her first attempt.  Desiree Freier (Northwest, Justin, TX) made her American fans nervous.  She passed all the way to 13-5.25, missed twice, and finally cleared on her third attempt.  Eleven cleared 13-5.25 and 3 cleared 13-1.5, so there will be a 14-woman final.

Women’s Heptathlon High Jump

Ashlee Moore cleared 5-8 for a personal best of 5-7 to move into 13th place overall with 1753 points.  Morgan Lake was sensational, the 17 year old Great Britain competitor set a world youth record in the high jump of 6-4.25 (!) to take the lead.  She has 2096 points over the Netherlands’ Nadine Visser at 1980 points.

Men’s Decathlon Long Jump

Gabe Moore jumped 23-0, now with 1681 points, placing him 17th after 2 event.  Harrison Williams did not fare as well, jumping only 22-3.75 with a total of 1684 points, just ahead of Moore at 16th.   The favorite, Jiri Sykora (Czech Republic) is leading with 1934 points, having long jumped a phenomenal 26-2.25.

Women’s 800m Qualifying

The first 3 in each of the 4 qualifying heats and those with the next 4 fastest times advance to the semi-finals.

Raevyn Rogers (Kinkaid, Houston, TX), looked great as she and two others separated themselves from the pack at the 200m mark.  At 320 meters, Rogers got clipped from behind and almost fell down but maintained her lead.  Just past the first lap did she start to lose contact and slowly faded to finish 6th overall in 2:08.01, not making the final.  We will see if the U.S. coaches protest.

Sabrina Southerland (Georgetown and Cardozo, Queens, NY) ran a great race never less than third the entire race to finish in that position at 205.84.  She will advance to the semi finals.

Men’s 100m Qualifying

The first 3 in each of the 7 qualifying heats and those with the next 3 fastest times advance to the semi-finals.

Kendal Williams (Stanton Prep, Jacksonville, FL) had an awesome start and ran to a PR 10.23 in winning heat 5 of 7.  That moves him into #3 U.S. high school for the year and is the fastest qualifier thus far.  That is until Trayvon Bromell (Baylor) won heat 6 in 10.13.  Both automatically qualified for the semis.

Day 1 Evening

Decathlon Shot Put

(The 26-2.25 reported earlier for Jiri Sykora was reported by the results system at the meet was in error.  The actual distance was 24-1.25.  The actual leader was Cedric Dublr of Austria with 25-4.75.  And the leader after two events was Karsten Warholm of Norwayw with 1905 points; Sykora was 5th with 1776 points).

Sykora took the shot at 50-10.25 to lead after three events (2596 points).  Evgeniy Likhanov of Russia is second, 6 points back.

Decathlon High Jump

Gabe Moore finished 12th overall at 6-5.5, a PB.  His total score at this point is 3149 for 12th place overall.  Harrison Williams did not have a good day, managing only 6-4.25 for a total score of 3133, 13th.

Men’s 400m Round 1

Lamar Bruton (Ohio State), stuck in lane 8, led for 300 meters then faded, hanging on for second and qualifying to the semifinals.  Tyler Brown (Eastern Michigan) had no issues in winning his heat, running 46.45 and advancing.  The class of the field was favorite Machel Cedenio of Trinidad and Tobago, 5th with 100m to go in his heat, but then cruising to the win in 46.60.

Heptathlon Shot Put

What do you make of someone who can high jump 6-4.25 and throw the shot 46-6?  That’s the making of a potential World Junior Champion named Morgan Lake (Great Britain).  She not only won the high jump earlier but also won the shot put.  Shaina Burns had a good day throwing 44-7, though a foot and a half off her personal best.  She moves into 7th with 2520 points.  Lake is leading with 2901 points, well ahead of 2012 Junior champ Yorgelis Rodriguez of Cuba with  2694.   Ashlee Moore threw only 32-4.75 for 2449 points total and 13th place.

Women’s 100m Round 1

Ariana Washington (Poly, Long Beach, CA) did not get a good start but managed to maintain for a close win, running (for her) a pedestrian 11.67).

In a bit of a surprise, Angela Tenorio of Ecuador, last year’s World Youth silver medallist in the 200m, false started.  High schooler Brenessa Thompson (Medgar Evers, Brooklyn, NY) representing Guyana finished fourth in her heat, running 11.71.

Out fast in her heat was one of the favorites, Dina Asher-Smith (Great Britain), winning in 11.18.

Kaylin Whitney (Eastridge, Clermont, FL) did not look the way she did a few weeks ago at the US Junior champs, barely winning her heat in 11.48.

Women’s Long Jump Qualifying
 
Both Americans qualified.  Jazmin Mc Coy (Nebraska) finished 5th overall with a jump of 20-3.5.  Quanesha Burks (Alabama) qualified in 9th at 20-1.  It only took 19-9.5 to make the 12 woman final.  Nadia Akpana Assa of Norway led the field with a jump of 20-11.75.  (Florentina Marencu of Romania, the 2013 World Youth champ with a best of 22-0.5 did not show and Ese Brume of Nigeria, with a best of 21-11, jumped only 17-0!  Those two were medal favorites).

Womens Hammer Qualifying

It was not a good day for Brooke Andersen (Northern Arizona) who had only one legal throw (179-3) and finished 11th overall in the group of 12.  She did not advance.  Haley Showalter (Valor Christian, Highlands Ranch, CO) had a worse day, fouling three times.

Heptathlon 200m

Shaina Burns, from lane 8, got a PB in her heat, running 26.26.  But later it was found that she ran inside her lane and, unfortunately, was disqualified.   Ashlee Moore ran well, clocking 25.05.

The standings after day 1 show Morgan Lake (Great Britain) leading with 3821 points.  Ashlee Moore is in 11th with 3331 points.  Shaina Burns, with the DQ, is in 23rd place with 2520 points.  She would have had 3498 points and would have been in 4th place after day 1.

Decathlon 400m

Gabe Moore and Harrison Williams, competing in the same heat, ran decently with Williams at 48.21 and Moore with 49.01.  Williams totaled 4032 points after the first day for 10th place.  Gabe Moore has 4010 points for 12th.

Men’s 10,000m Final

This was one of the most exciting races I have ever seen.  Not so much for the times or the competition, though those were exceptional. It was the atmosphere.  No one from the rather large crowd left before the 10000m like I have seen at so many events.  They cheered and clapped throughout the race.  There was the University of Oregon percussion and brass ensemble on the infield with a specially composed piece just for this race.  Then there was the race itself.  Two Japanese took the race out early, leading by as much as 200 meters a mile into the race.  But the pack of east Africans steadily move up so that, with more than half the race to go, they took over the lead.  Then it was the race between two Kenyans and the Ugandan Joshua Cheptegei.  Cheptegei separated himself from the Kenyans with 250 meters to go and won in 28:32.86.  Americans Brendan Shearn (30:24.30) and Jonathan Green (31:15.69) finished 15th and 24th, respectively.

Getting there

This is my 13th World Junior Championship, having missed the first one in Athens in 1986.

I must admit that I was not that thrilled at having the meet in Eugene as I have always looked forward to experiencing a new country.  But my opinion has changed.

After being in Eugene a few weeks ago for the USATF Junior Championships, I began to change my mind.  The venue is spectacular and the fans are enthusiastic and knowledgeable.  And, to put it simply, “they know how to run a meet in Eugene”.

So I left early Sunday morning for the flight from Raleigh-Durham to San Francisco where I would meet Joy Kamani.  Joy is COO of the NSAF and would be our photographer on site.  We continued on to Eugene where we met the NSAF’s tweeter-in-charge and friend of almost 50 years, Paul Limmer.  Joy came in from Houston and Paul from JFK in New York. 

Steve Underwood, master of the video interview, had his early morning flight cancelled, so he would spend much of his day writing event previews in the Delta Clubs in  Detroit (his departure city) and Chicago.  He finally arrived at 11pm on Sunday night (2am his time), having spent a good 24 hours awake.

Hayward Field

Paul, Joy and I left the hotel soon after we arrived from the airport in the early afternon to get our credentials.  It is about a half mile walk from the hotel to Hayward Field. 

Credentialing was scheduled for the Matthew Knight Center, the large basketball and multi-purpose arena on campus.  But it had moved to somewhere else, and we knew not where.  We were guided to proper site, the law building, directly across from Hayward Field, where we had our photos taken and credentials issued.

We wandered across the street to Hayward Field to see what was transpiring.  The timing people (and others) were in the process of setting up.  (It is my understanding that Seiko brings in may dozens of workers to operate the meet).

We saw John Blackburn, our Director of Officials and NSAF board member, instructing other officials at the shot put area, the discipline he will oversee at the meet.

We then went to the area outside the first turn where the vendors’ tents are set up.  There we saw giant plexiglass displays of the various world’s regions (North America, South America, Asia, Oceania, Europe, etc).  On those displays were the participating countries and the name of each athlete and their date of birth!  Those displays are truly special, and was evidence of the immense planning, skill and creativity of the organizing committee. 

What is eerily missing is any evidence of Nike.  The University of Oregon is cradle of that corporation but, since adidas is one of the IAAF’s title sponsors, the adidas brand must prevail at this meet.  And it certainly does, with no sign of ANY competitor’s existence.  We suspect things will be back to normal just after the end of the meet on Sunday night.

Monday

After an uneventful morning with a bit of exercise, we met Steve Underwood and wandered over to the campus to get him credentialed. 

At 11:30am we attended the introductory press conference with IAAF President Lamine Diack, as well as Tracktown USA director (and former U of Oregon coach) Vin Lananna and others.  That was followed by a press conference with leading athletes, including Americans Mary Cain and Trayvon Bromell.

Then came lunch (buffet at an Indian restaurant) and an uneventful afternoon back at the hotel. 

We later headed back to Hayward for the photo briefing.  It is about an hour session and concerns where to go and not go during the event and who gets to be on the infield. 

This is the largest photo group I have ever seen at one of these meets.  In short, only 11 of the 30 or so photographers will be allowed on the field at any one time.  So there will be a lot of rotating in and out.

It was good to see Olaf (Austria) and Yannis (Greece), IAAF press stewards.  We had some interesting conversations with them.  They have become friends over the years, and we appreciate their cooperation and expertise.

It was then dinner and back to the hotel.  We can’t wait for the meet to begin!  Day 1 morning will include with heptathlon and decathlon starts, as well as qualifying in the women’s javelin, pole vault and 800 meters, and men’s 1500 meters, 110m Hurdles and 100 meters!  What a great morning!

Jim Spier will be updating this blog periodically throughout the competition here in Eugene with analysis after each session and often after each event is completed. More recent entries will be posted at the top of this blog so scroll down if you miss any. 

Video interviews by Steve Underwood and photos by Joy Kamani and our partners at PhotoRun.com will also be posted on our website, and Facebook Page.  Paul Limmer will be tweeting throughout on TweetingTrack.  Follow us and don't miss a single piece of the explosive action here at Hayward Field this week.

Day 4 Evening

Attendance was 8,937, an increase of about 1000 over yesterday.

Mens Javelin Qualifying

Curtis Thompson (Florence, NJ) could manage only 212-10 for 17th  and did not advance.  The negative wind hindered the throws as there was only one automatic qualifier.  The 12th qualifier threw 218-10.

Men’s Hammer Final

A world junior lead for champion Ashraf Amgad Elesify of Qatar, throwing 277-11, winning by 15 feet.

Women’s 4x100m Round 1

The US (Teahna Daniels, Ariana Washington, Jada Martin, Ky Westbrook) used some safe passes to guarantee the win in a world leading 44.03.  We understand Kaylin Whitney will replace one of the legs for the final, most likely Ky Westbrook.

Men’s High Jump Final

Mikhail Akimenko of Russia led 4 athletes over 7-4.25 with places decided on fewer misses.

Women’s Shot Put Final

Raven Saunders started off slow, throwing 47-2.25.  She threw 53-8.25 to move her into third.  That’s where she remained until her final throw, when she threw 54-6.75 to move into second and got the silver.  The favorite Tianqian Guo of China was the winner with a best of 58-1.25.  Only two other athletes have ever gotten a medal in this competition:  Laura Geraughty (bronze 2002) and Michelle Carter (gold 2004)

Men’s 4x100 Round 1

The US could not match the speed of Japan who won their heat (with not especially good handoffs) in 39.23, #6 all-time world junior.  The US (Jalen Miller, Trayvon Bromell, Terry Jernigan and Michael Wells) was second in 39.43.   Trentavis Friday will replace one of the legs in the final.

Women’s 400m Hurdle Semi Finals

Shamier Little won her heat in 57.18 and Jade Miller was second in hers in 57.28, becoming the 2nd and 3rd fastest qualifiers for the final.

Men’s 400m Hurdles Finals

Jaleel Hyde of Jamaica and Tim Holmes (Baylor) were dead even over 7 hurdles after which Hyde gained a slight lead.  Hyde extended his lead to win relatively easily, but no one saw Ali Khamis Khamis of Bahrain to their left, who sped past Holmes to get the silver, leaving Holmes with the bronze.

Women’s 200m Final

Kaylin Whitney seemed to false start and the race was called back.  But the officials ruled that she never left the blocks so was not disqualified.  She went on to win in a windy 22.82 [+2.4].  Jada Martin was 5th in 23.35.

Men’s 200m Final

Trentavis Friday (Cherryville, NC) had a great start and led the entire way for a magnificent 20.03, albeit aided by a 2.3 mps wind.  It equals his prior best 20.03 windy time.  It was the first gold for the US since Tony Wheeler won in Lisbon in 1994.

Women’s 400m Final

This was almost as predicted, with Kendall Baisden (Texas) winning Kendall Baisden the winner in 51.85 and Stanford-bound Olivia Baker (Columbia, Maplewood, NJ) third in 53.00.

Men’s 5000m Final

In the 14 year history of this meet through 2012, Kenyans and Ethiopians have split the winning equally, each with 7 golds.  Ethiopia now breaks the tie with the victory of Yomif Kejelcha of Ethiopia in 13:25.18.  Ethiopian Yasin Haji was second in 13:26.71.  Neither was in the top 10 I in the world this year.  Colby Gilbert (Washington) was 9th in 14:09.98 and Brian Barraza (Houston) was 13th in 14:13.33, a PR for him by .21!

Women’s Discus Final

It seemed that Valerie Allman (Stanford) had it locked up with her initial throw of 186-2.  But Valerie da Silva got a monster world junior leading throw of 190-4 on her second attempt to win.

Day 4 Morning Session

Women’s Shot Put Qualifying

Auto qualifying 51-10 or top 12

Raven Saunders (Burke, Charleston, SC) got the auto qualifier on her second throw, putting 54-10.75.  She threw 51-3.75 on her first attempt.  She is the leading qualifier overall for tomorrow’s

In a scandalous turn of events, Aaliyah Pete was denied entry because of a “clerical error”.  See the complete press release at usatf.org.

Men’s Discus Qualifying

Auto qualifying 193-7 or top 12

Ryan Njegovan (St. Francis (Il)) got the auto qualifier on his third throw – 196-6 – which is also a personal best.  He was the second best qualifier in his group.

Kord Ferguson (Ottawa, KS) got the auto qualifier on his first throw (194-3), so both Americans will advance to tomorrow’s final.

Men’s 10000m Racewalk Final

A meet record for Daisuke Matsunaga of Japan at 39:27.19.  Anthony Peters of the US was 28th, , more than 6 minutes back,  in 45:31.86, a personal best.

Men’s Triple Jump Qualifying

Auto qualifying 52-2 or top 12.

Favorite Lazaro Martinez (Cuba) got the auto qualifier on his first attempt, jumping 54-6.75

Hayden Mc Clain (Oklahoma) finished 19th in qualifying (49-6.25w) and John Warren (Prince George, VA) was 24th (48-3.25).  Both will not advance.

Women’s 100m Hurdle Round 1

First four in each heat and those with the next 4 fastest times advance to the semi finals.

Kendell Williams (Georgia) made it look easy in winning her heat in 13.00, the fastest overall qualifier.  Dior Hall (George Washington, Denver, CO) won her heat in 13.29 to qualify third overall.

Men’s 3000m Steeplechase Qualifying

First 5 in each of the two heats and next 5 fastest times advance to the finals.

We thought Bailey Roth (Coronado, Colorado Springs, CO) could get the national record but not necessarily in the trials.  Though finishing 7th in his heat, he still ran 8:48.60, breaking a 35 year old national record held by Jeff Hess (South, Eugene, OR) – 8:50.1 in 1979.

Bryce Miller (Missouri-Kansas City) ran a nice race, albeit clobbering the final hurdle, but would not have qualified anyway since all of the time qualifiers came out of the first heat.  Nonetheless, he ran 9:06.17 to finish 7th.

Women’s High Jump Qualifying

Auto qualifying is 6-0.75 or top 12

Bailey Weiland (Marist, Atlanta, GA), the New Balance Nationals Outdoor champion jumped 5-8.75 and did not advance.

Rachel Mc Coy (Chaffey JC) got a lifetime best of 6-0.75 to advance to the finals.

Women’s 1500m Qualifying

First 4 in each of the 2 heats and next 4 fastest advance to the finals.

Alexa Efraimson (Camas, WA), though running in lane 2 seemingly for the entire race, qualified among the top 4, running 4:16.87.

Unlike Alexa, Elisa Cranny (Niwot, CO) ran in lane 1 the entire way finishing 4th and qualifying in 4:15.21.

Men’s 800m Qualifying

First 3 in each of the 6 heats and those with the next 6 fastest times advance t the semi finals.

Myles Marshall (Kingwood, TX) looked good for 500 meters but could keep up with the leaders when they surged.  He could not respond and finished last in 1:53.98.

Tretez Kinnaird (Indiana) stayed with world junior leader Alfred Kipketer (Kenya) for the entire race, finishing third in 1:50.07 and advancing.

Men’s Javelin Qualifying

Auto qualifying 236-3 or top 12.

Day 3 Review

Recap of U.S. athletes:

- Women
o 200m: Kaylin Whitney and Jada Martin both advanced to the final
o 400m: Kendall Baisden and Olivia Baker both advanced to the finals
o 3000m: Mary Cain won the 3000m in #2 American Junior all-time 8:58.48, breaking the Kenyan streak dating back to 2000.  Stephanie Jenks was 15th
o 3000m Steeplechase:  Elinor Purrier got a monster PR (10:08.33 - #6 all-timr American Junior) to move on to the final.  Hope Schmelze finished 29th overall and did not advance
o 400m Hurdles:  Jade Miller and Shamier Little both advanced to the semis
o Pole Vault:  Desiree Freier finished second in the pole vault in a high school record 14-7.25.
o Triple Jump:  Keturah Orji and Marshay Ryan advanced to the final, Orji with a high school leading mark of 44-2, achieving it on her first attempt.
o Discus:  Valerie Allman got an auto qualifier on her first throw to advance to the final; Katelyn Daniels did not advance.

- Men
o 200m: Trentavis Friday advanced to the final with the fastest qualifier (20.35).  Kendal Williams did not advance.
o 400m:  Lamar Bruton finished 6th and Tyler Brown 8th.
o 110m Hurdles:  Nick Anderson finished 8th
o 400m Hurdles:  Tim Holmes advanced to the finals; Kenny Selmon did not.
o Long Jump:  Trayvon White finished 4th
o Shot Put:  Braheme Days finished 3rd; Amir Ali Patterson finished 7th.

Observations:

- I have been to 13 of these World Junior Championships, and this is the best one yet. The organization, enthusiastic crowds and the amazing athletes make this event special
- Highlights for me were the massive Mary Cain victory in the 3000m.  It is rare, indeed, so see an American pulling away from the Kenyans (or any other group at this distance.  Also, Desiree Freier’s gutsy performance, equaling the high school record, then breaking it twice before near misses at 14-9.
- The Japanese men are having a terrific meet: 3rd in the 100m, 2nd and 7th in the 400m, and have qualified 2 in the 200m final.  They should, obviously, have some good relays.

- Each year for the past 8 years (except for this year), we have taken a group of underclassmen to Puerto Rico to compete in the Caribbean Scholastic Invitational (CSI).  Here are some the athletes from that meet who are present here in Eugene (and a few others)

o 2010:
Women’s 100:
1. Olivia Ekpone  11.82
Women’s 200:
1. Ekpone   24.22
Women’s 800:
1. Claudia Francis  2:10.85
2. Kelsey Margey  2:12.04
Women’s 100m Hurdles:
1. Kendell Williams  13.74
Women’s High Jump
1. Kendell Williams  5-7
2. Akela Jones (BAR) 5-5
Women’s Shot Put
1. Brea Garrett  42-8.25
Men’s High Jump:
_3 Gunnar Nixon  6-4.75

o 2011:
Mens 400: Arman Hall (US) over Luquelin Santos (DOM), 46.95 to 47.29

o 2012:
Women’s 100:
1. Ky Westbrook  11.90
2. Chyna Ries  11.92
3. Nelda Huggins (BVI) 12.04
4. Deajah Stevens  12.17
5. Jada Martin  12.30
Women’s 200:
1. Huggins   24.57
2. Grace Claxton (PUR) 24.67
3. Martin   24.73
4. Westbrook   24.76
Women’s 100m Hurdles:
1. Dior Hall   13.52
Women’s 400m Hurdles:
1. Shamier Little  61.26
Women’s Long Jump:
1. Ries   18-9.75
Men’s 200:
1. Devon Allen  21.21
Men’s 110m Hurdles:
1. Allen   13.41w
Men;s 2000m Steeplechase:
1. Bailey Roth  6:18.95
o 2013:
Men’s 100m:
1. Zharnel Hughes (Anguilla) 10.52
2. Kendal Williams  10.59
Men’s 400m:
1. Ricky Morgan  47.50
Men’s Triple Jump:
1. John Warren  48-4

Day 3 Evening Session

Women’s Pole Vault Final

Desiree Freier (Northwest, Justin, TX) put on a gutsy performance, breaking the high school record twice and finishing second.  She jumped 14-7.25, making 3 gallant attempts at 14-9.  Bonnie Draxler (Wrightstown, WI) was 11th at 12-11.5.

Women’s 200m Semi Finals

Jada Martin ran well in her heat but finished second to 100m silver medalist Angela Tenorio (Ecuador).  She advanced to the final.

Kaylin Whitney got all she wanted from Cuban Aarialis Gandulla, but managed to hang on for the win and advance to the final.

Men’s 200m Semi Finals

Kendal Williams looked spent from last night’s win.  He had gotten lane one as a result of this morning’s third place qualifying round finish.

Trentavis Friday showed that he is the one to beat, easily winning his heat in 20.35.

Men’s Shot Put

Konrad Bukowiecki (Poland) won the event on his first throw (69-5.5), then improved to 72-4.5 for the world junior lead and #3 all-time world junior.  Braheme Days got the bronze (65-7.75) and Amir Ali Patterson finished 7th (63-0).

Women’s 400m Semi Final

It appeared that Olivia Baker had gone out too fast, but maintained her form for 400 meters to win in 53.08.  Kendall Baisden got a challenge from Laura Muller of Germany but prevailed to win in 52.52.  The fastest time was the winner of the third heat, Gilda Casanova (Cuba) in 52.45.

Men’s 110m Hurdles Final

Wilhelm Belocian (France) set a world junior record in a stunning 12.99.  Nick Anderson got a bad start and finished 8th in 13.93.

Men’s 400m Final

The favorite, Machel Cedenio (Trinidad and Tobago) won easily with a world leading 45.13.  Lamar Bruton was 6th in 46.75 and Tyler Brown 8th in 47.30.

Women’s 800m Final

Wambui at 2:00.49 (a 3 second PR) to Diago’s 2:02.11.

Men’s Long Jump

It was an all Asian medal group with Jianan Wang of China winning in 26-6.25, followed by Qing Lin of China an Shotaro Shiroyama of Japan.  Travonn White was 4th at 25-4w.

Women’s Javelin Final

The favorite, Sofi Flinck, sat in third until her last throw, taking the lead at 186-0.  But the prior leader, Ekaterina Starygina of Russia had one throw left.   And, like a true champion, won the event on that last throw, tossing the javelin 186-6.

Women’s 3000 Meters

Mary Cain was very, very impressive (to say the least!), becoming the first American to ever win a medal in any event about 800 meters, men or women, winning in 8:58.48.  Stephanie Jenks (Linn-Mar, Marion, IA) ran decently, finishing in 15th at 9:31.47.  Americans now have 4 total medals in the 800m and above:  Ajee Wilson (800 – 1st), Mary Cain (3000 -1st), Cas Loxsom (800 – 2nd), Robby Andrews (800-3rd).  That’s it.

Men’s 1500 Meters Final

Kenya-Djibouti-Kenya.  Jonathan Sawe of Kenya was the winner in 3:40.02.

Day 3 Morning Session

Day 2 Review

Recap of U.S. athletes:

- Women
o 100m: Kaylin Whitney finished 3rd  and Ariana Washington 7th
o 400m: Kendall Baisden and Olivia Baker both advance to the semi finals
o 800m: Sabrina Southerland did not advance to the finals
o 5000m: Maggie Schmaedick finished 12th
o Long Jump: Jazmin Mc Coy finished 6th and Quanisha Burks 5th .
o Heptathlon:  Ashlee Moore finished 13th, #5 all-time High School, and Shaina Burns 21st (6 events scored)

- Men
o 100m: Kendal Williams 1st and Trayvon Bromell 2nd
o 400m:  Tyler Brown and Lamar Bruton advanced to the finals
o 110m Hurdles:  Nick Anderson advanced to the final, Misana Viltz did not
o 400m Hurdles:  Tim Holmes and Kenny Selmon advanced to the semi finals
o High Jump:  Landon Bartel and Jonathan Wells did not advance to the finals.
o Long Jump:  Trayvon White advanced to the final, Kenneth Fisher did not.
o Decathlon: Harrison Williams finished 6th with a High School record of 7760 points; Gabe Moore finished 8th with 7619 points, #3 all-time high school.
• High School top 4 (with Junior implements)
• Harrison Williams
• Gunnar Nixon
• Gabe Moore
• Curtis Beach
-
Day 3 Morning

Women’s Discus Qualifying

Auto qualifying is 170-7 or the top 12.

Katelyn Daniels (Michigan State) finished 8th in her group at 158-9 and will not likely advance.

Valerie Allman (Stanford) got the auto qualifier on her first throw (171-9).

Women’s 3000m Steeplechase Qualifying

Hope Schmelze (Purdue) didn’t have quite it today.  The 2014 US Junior leader could manage only 10:41.38 for 14th place, well off her 10:33.38 lifetime best.  On the other hand, U.S. Junior champ Elinor Purrier (New Hampshire) ran the race of her life, finishing 6th in 10:08.33, 16 seconds better than her prior best.  She is now #6 all-time U.S. Junior.  She will advance to Saturday’s final.  Amy-Eloise Neale (Great Britain), former Washington high schooler, finished 5th in her heat and will qualify for the finals.

Men’s Shot Put Qualifying

Auto qualifying is 63-2 or the top 12.

Braheme Days (UCLA) fouled on his first attempt then got and auto qualifier (64-4) on his second attempt.  Amir Ali Patterson (Crespi, Encino, CA) finished 11th overall in 61-11.5 and will advance to the final.  The leader is Mostafa Hassan of Egypt at 65-1.25.

Men’s 200m Qualifying

Top 2 and next 6 fastest times advance to the semi finals

Zharnel Hughes (Anguilla) easily won his heat (20.87).  (Hughes had beaten World Junior 100m champ Kendal Williams at the 2013 Caribbean Scholastic Invitational 100m).

A stroll for Trentavis Friday (Cherryville, NC), shutting it down with 40 meters to do, and running 20.60.

Kendal Williams finished 3rd in his heat, not looking especially himself.  He ran 21.16 and will likely make the final.

Men’s Hammer Throw Qualifying

Auto qualifying is 244-5 for top 12.

Charlie Ionata (Wake Forest) got a life time best (229-5) in finishing 10th in his group. He did not advance.  Clarence Gallop (Charleston Southern) threw 216-4 and also did not advance.

Men’s Pole Vault Qualifying

Auto qualifying 17-2.75 or top 12

Cole Walsh (Oregon) who got a PR (17-6.5) to qualify at the USATF Junior champs could manage only 16-4.75 and will not advance.  Devin King (Sumner, Kentwood, LA) made the final with a clearance of 16-8.75.  He was one of 4 to clear that height and advanced on fewer misses.  Nine others cleared 17-0.75.

Women’s 200m Qualifying

No problem for Jada Martin (LSU), even from lane 8, as she won her heat in 23.62.  And also no problem for Kaylin Whitney, the 100m bronze medalist from last night, as she ran the fastest time thus far at 23.31.

Women’s Triple Jump Qualifying

Auto qualifying is 43-7.75 or top 12.

Keturah Orji (Mt. Olive, Flanders, NJ) wasted no time in getting the auto qualifier, jumping 44-2 on her first jump.

Marshay Ryan (Auburn) qualified 10th overall with a jump of 43-4.25w

Men’s 400m Hurdles Semi Finals

First 2 and next 2 fastest advance to the finals.

Tim Holmes (Baylor) ran an evenly paced race to win semi 1 in 50.80.

Kenny Selmon (Pace Academy, Atlanta, GA) looked comfortable leading through 8 hurdles.  Then as Ali Khamis Khamis (Bahrain) came up on him to his right, he hit the ninth hurdle, throwing him off balance.  He failed to qualify.  Khamis had the fastest qualifier overall, running 49.93 for his country’s national junior record.

Women’s 400m Hurdles Qualifying

Top 4 in each heat and next 4 fastest times advance to the semi finals

Jade Miller (Harvard) led the entire way in winning her heat in 57.85.

Shamier Little (Texas A+M) had a similar strategy in winning in 57.94.

Day 2 Evening

Heptathlon Javelin

Ashlee Moore got a life time best of 129-1 to move her into 7th place overall (4793 points).  Shaina Burns did likewise, throwing 129-10, now totaling 3844 points (4622 if not for DQ in 200m – and she would be in 15th place).

The leaders with one event to go:

Morgan Lake  Great Britain  5339
Yorgelis Rodriguez Cuba   5201
Nadine Visser  Netherlands  5142
Celina Leffler  Germany  4961
Emma Stenlof  Sweden  4840

According to Steve Underwood, Ashlee Moore has a chance to break Kendell Williams high school record:

Here is the top 5 all-time high school heptathlon list:

5578  Kendell Williams  2012
5533  Shana Woods   2006
5522  Ryann Krais   2008
5493  Kendra Reimer  1998
5411  Gayle Hunter   2004

Ashlee has a best of 2:29 in the 800m.  Currently with 4793 points, here are the point values (and final totals) for Ashlee for various 800m times:

2:35  632 points  5425 #5 all-time
2:30  693 points  5486 #5 all-time
2:28  718 points  5511 #4 all-time
2:26  744 points  5537 #2 all-time
2:24  770 points  5563 #2 all-time
2:22.82 786 points  5579 HS record

Decathlon Pole Vault

Gabe Moore got a personal best at 14-1.25 and is no win 10th with 6352 points.  Harrison Williams, in one of his better events, cleared 16-0.75 to finish second.  He moves up to 8th with 6404 points.

The leaders after 8 events:

Cedric Dubler  Australis  6771
Jiri Sykora  Czech Republic 6722
Roman Kondratyev Russia   6610
Tim Nowak  Germany  6604
Mathias Ako  France   6493

Mens 110m Hurdles semi-finals

First 2 and next 2 fastest times in the three heat advance to the final.

Nick Anderson (Kentucky) was well back from the leader (as was the rest of the field) but maintained his form to advance to the final, finishing second in 13.68.  Medal favorite William Belocian (France) won in 13.23.  Misana Viltz (Millikan, Long Beach, CA) was 5th in his heat in 14.02 and did not advance.

Women’s 100m Semi Finals

First 2 and next 2 fastest times in the three heat advance to the final.

Ariana Washington (Poly, Long Beach, CA) was left in the blocks like the rest of the field in her heat by Dina Asher-Smith (Great Britain).  Asher-Smith won in 11.31 with Washington second in 11.73, just edging Vitoria Cristina Rosa of Brazil in 11.75.  Had Washington not finished second, she would not have made the final.

Kaylin Whitney (Eastridge, Clermont, FL) got all she wanted from Pole Ewa Swoboda, but pulled away to win her heat, 11.44 to 11.51.

Men’s 100m Semi Finals

Trayvon Bromell (Baylor) was not leading at 50 meters, but pulled away ever so slightly to win in 10.29, only .02  over runnerup Levi Cadogan of Barbados.

Kendal Williams (Stanton Prep, Jacksonville, FL) won, but by the slightest of margins over Andre Azonwanna of Canada, 10.49 to 10.50.  (Azonwanna was second to Trentavis Friday in the 60 meters at the 2014 New Balance Nationals Indoor).

Women’s Hammer Final

Won by favorite Al’ona Shamotina of the Ukraine with a throw of 216-8.

Men’s High Jump Qualifying

Auto qualifier is 7-2.25 (or top 12).

Landon Bartel (Southern Boone County, Ashland, MO) managed only 6-8.75 and did not advance to the final.  Jonathan Wells (Grant, Fox Lake, IL) jumped high enough to qualify (6-10.75), but did not advance because of misses.

Men’s 400m Semi Finals

Tyler Brown (Eastern Michigan) looked like he wasn’t going to auto qualify, but put on a burst of speed in the last 80 meters to win.  He clocked 45.97 and will advance.

Lamar Bruton (Ohio State), like Tyler Brown, appeared to be in trouble with 100 meters to go.  But he steadily gained on the field to take second to favorite Machel Cedenio (Trinidad and Tobago) 45.90 to 46.67.

Heptathlon 800 Meters

Shaina Burns ran a gutty race, leading for the first lap, but ultimately finishing last though running a credible 2:26.43.   Even without a point in the 200 meters se still scored a total of 4582 points.  Without the DQ she would have scored 5360 points, which would have been #7 all-time high school.

Ashlee Moore did not improve on her personal best, running 2:31.57.  She did score a total of 5466 points, #5 all-time.

Decathlon Javelin

Harrison Williams got a PB in the javelin (184-9) to move into 6th place with a total score of 7086 points.  He’s on track to get the national high school record with junior implements with a decent 1500m.  The national record if 7748, set by Gunnar Nixon in 2010.  Williams will have to run 4:42.68 for 664 points for the national record.

Gabe Moore also got a personal best in the javelin, throwing 171-5 moving him into 8th with a score of 6974.

The leaders after nine events:

Jiri Sykora  Czech Republic 7468
Cedric Dubler  Australia  7413
Tim Nowak  Germany  7338
Roman Kondratyev Russia   7164
Evgeniy Likhanov Russia   7152

Women’s 5000m Final

The usual: medals going to Kenyans and Ethiopians.  American Maggie Schmaedick (Oregon) finished 12th in 16:19.01, less than a second off her PB.

Decathlon 1500m

Harrison Williams did it!  Got a PB in the 1500m by a second to get the national record with the junior implements.  His 4:41.01 got him 674 points for a total of 7760, breaking Gunnar Nixon’s record by 12 points. He finished 6th.  Gabe Moore also got a PB of 4:45.68 for a total of 7619 points.  That’s #3 all-time high school with the junior implements.

Women’s Long Jump

Negative winds hindered this event.  Quanisha Burks was 5th at 19-9.75 and Jazmin Mc Coy 6th 19-8.75.  Akesa Jones of Barbados, who just finished her freshman year at Oklahoma Baptist U, won with a jump of 20-9.75.  She will be transferring to Kansas State U in the fall.

Women’s 100m Final

Dina Asher-Smith showed in the rounds that she was the one to beat and she was.  She led from 0 meters, running 11.23 with -1.0 wind.  Angela Tenorio (Ecuador) who had to run a special qualifier yesterday, got the bronze in 11.39, and Kaylin Whitney (US) had to come on strong at the end to get 3rd in 11.45.  Ariana Washington was 7th in 11.64.

Men’s 100m Final

Kendal Williams had to run the fastest race of his life to win.  And he did.  In a major upset, Williams beat world junior record holder Trayvon Bromell who finished second.  Williams ran 10.21 to Bromell’s 10.28.  Japan’s Yoshihide Kiryu, who had run 10.01 earlier in the season, finished third in 10.34.  Ironically, Kendal Williams would not even have been on the team had Trentavis Friday not false-started in the Junior champs (Friday had run 10.01 in the prelims).

Day 1 Review

It was a very special first day yesterday, capped off by a sensational Men’s 10,000 meters.

Some observations:

- There are two 20x20 tents solely dedicated to vaulting poles.  I can imagine the logistical nightmare of getting poles from all corners of the globe to Eugene in a timely manner. 

- There a 15x30 tent only for the basket crew.

- Then there are all of the other mammoth tents (size noted are approximations):  medical (30x100), tent containing each individual country’s medical staff (50x200:  each has an area assigned); volunteer tent (30x80); media (50x200). 

- As expected, this event is a college coach’s recruiting paradise.  You name the Division I university and their coaches are present.

Recap of U.S. athletes:

- Women
o 100m: Kaylin Whitney and Ariana Washington both advanced to the semi finals
o 800m: Sabrina Southerland advanced to the semi finals; Raevyn Rogers did not.
o Pole Vault:  Desiree Freier and Bonnie Draxler both advanced to the finals
o Long Jump: Jazmin Mc Coy and Quanisha Burks both advanced to the finals.
o Hammer:  Brooke Andersen and Haley Showalter did not advance to the finals
o Javelin:  Rebekah Wales and Megan Glasmann did not advance to the finals
o Heptathlon:  Ashlee Moore completed day 1 with 3331 points in 11th place; Shaina Burns was disqualified in the 200 meters and has 2520 points (she would have been in 4th overall after day 1 had she not been disqualified; she will continue with the second days competition nonetheless).

- Men
o 100m: Trayvon Bromell and Kendal Williams advanced to the semi finals
o 1500m: Grant Fisher and Patrick Joseph did not advance to the final
o 10000m:  Brendan Shearn finished 15th in 30:24.30 (as compared to his 29:49.04 best) and Jonathan Green finished 24th in 31:15.69 (as compared to his 30:54.62 best)
o 110m Hurdles:  Misana Viltz and Nick Anderson both advanced to the semi finals
o Decathlon: Harrison Williams completed day 1 with 4302 points for 10th place; Gabe Moore is in 12th  with 4010 points.

Day 2 Morning

(this morning's photos are courtesy of PhotoRun.com)

Decathlon 110m Hurdles

Gabe Moore moved up to 11th place with a 14.82 performance, now with 4881 points.  Harrison Williams remains in 10th after hurdling 14.37 (4949 points).  The leaders after 6 events:

Cedric Dubler  Australia 5293
Roman Kondratyev Russia  5205
Karsten Warholm Norway 5195
Jiri Sykora  Czech Repub 5151
Evgeniy Likhanov Russia  5146

Men’s Long Jump Qualifying

Kenneth Fisher (Bethune-Cookman) had jumps of 22-4.5, 22-10.5 and 22-1.75 and will not advance to the final.  Travonn White (Central Arizona JC) finished fifth overall with a jump of 24-7.25 and will advance to the final.

Women’s 10,000m Racewalk Final

A meet world junior record for Anezka Drahotova of the Czech Republic at 42:47.25.  American
Katharine Newhoff was last (32nd) with a personal best of 51:40.42.

Decathlon Discus

Gabe Moore finished 6th in his group, throwing a personal best of 147-11.  He moves up to 8th place with 5650 points. Harrison Williams could manage only 115-1.  His total is now 5524 points for 12th place.   The leaders after 7 events:

Jiri Sykora  Czech Republic 5991
Cedric Dubler  Australia  5922
Roman Kondratyev Russia   5820
Tim Nowak  Germany  5785
Karsten Warholm Sweden  5780

Women’s 400 Qualifying

The first 4 in each of the 5 heats automatically qualify and the next 4 fastest times advance to the semi final.

No problem for Kendall Baisden (Texas) in winning heat 1 in 53.28.  Also no problem for Stanford-bound Olivia Baker (Columbia, Maplewood, NJ) with 54.09.  Maddie Price (Menlo, Atherton, CA), representing Canada, was second in her heat at 53.86 to advance to the final.

The were 5 disqualifications in the 5 heats for running inside the line.  We suspect there will be protests filed.

Heptathlon Long Jump

Shaina Burns got a PB of 17-8 for 665 points.  Adding the 778 she would have gotten had she not been DQd in the 200m yesterday, her total would be 3963 and be ranked 16th .  However, it is actually 3185 at this point. 

With her jump of 19-2.75 Ashlee Moore moved into 6th place with a total point score of 4138.

The leaders after five events:

Morgan Lake  Great Britain  4640
Nadine Visser  Netherlands  4498
Yorgelis Rodriguez Cuba   4469
Celina Leffler  Germany  4302
Emma Stenlof  Sweden  4214

Men’s 400m Hurdle Qualifying

The first 2 in each of the 8 heats automatically qualify and the next 8 fastest times advance to the semi final.

Kenny Selmon (Pace Academy, Atlanta, GA) and Tim Holmes (Baylor), both won their heats, Selmon in 52.15 and Holmes in 52.03.  The leader was the favorite, Jaleel Hyde of Jamaica at 51.60.

Women’s 800m Semi Finals

Sabrina Southerland (Georgetown), the only American in the semis, was never in her race, finishing last in 2:08.76.  Favorite Sally Diago (Cuba) was the leader at 2:03.60.

Day 1 Tuesday Morning Session

Heptathlon Hurdles

Heat 2 saw Yorgelis Rodriguez (Cuba), the defending champion and US Junior champ and Oregon signee Ashlee Moore (Hamilton, Chandler, AZ).  Rodriguez started poorly and finished well back.  Nadine Visser of the Netherlands won in a meet record 13.24, well ahead of the 2002 former record by Sweden’s Carolina Kluft set in 2002.  Moore got a PB in second at 13.59.  She gained 1037 points for her effort and sits in 2nd place after the 1st event.  Visser is the leader with
1089 points.

Heat 3 had the overall favorite Morgan Lake (Great Britain) and US athlete Shaina Burns (South, Lakeville, MN).  Morgan Lake was third and Shaina ran 14.58, slightly off her 14.44 PR.  Shaina had a PR last weekend at the Chicagoland throws shot put, with a put over 46 feet.

Women’s Javelin Qualifying

Auto qualifying is 173-11 (or top 12).  

Sofi Flinck (Sweden) is defending champion and easily qualified on her first throw at 183-10.  Rebekah Wales (LSU), fourth at the Chicagoland throws last year could manage 154-2, finishing in 11th after group A qualifying, and is unlikely to make the final.

Megan Glasmann (ex of Stanford, now at U of Utah), former Kultan Keihas javelin project member, could manage only 163-0 and finished 16th overall.

Decathlon 100 meters

Heat 3 saw both Americans, Harrison Williams (University, Memphis, TN) and Gabe Moore (Freeport, FL) going 1-2, with Williams at 10.75 and Moore at 10.98, both PRs.  Williams won the 2013 New Balance Nationals Outdoor decathlon and Moore was this year’s New Balance National Indoor pentathlon champ.  Williams sits in second after the 1st event with 917 points behind the leader Karsten Warholm of Norway at 963 (as a result of his PR 10.55).

Men’s 110m Hurdles, Round 1

Misana Viltz (Millikan, Long Beach, CA) won his heat in 13.59.  Wellington Zaza, the 2013 New Balance Nationals Outdoor champion (Garnet Valley, PA), now at Central Arizona JC and representing Liberia, qualified as well in third at 13.66.  Nick Anderson (U of Kentucky) also won his heat in 13.61.  Viltz was the fourth fastest qualifier overall with favorite one of the favorites, David Omoregie (Great Britain) leading the qualifiers at 13.24.

Men’s 1500m Qualifying

The first 3 in each of the first 3 heats automatically qualifier and the next 3 fastest advance to Thursday’s final.

Grant Fisher (Grand Blanc, MI) stayed with the pack for 2 laps and then looked flat for the rest of the race.   He ran 3:49 for 9th (equivalent of a 4:06 mile) and did not qualify.

Patrick Joseph (Virginia Tech) ran a very intelligent race but could not keep up with the top finishers in the last 100 meters, finishing fifth in 3:49.00.

Interestingly, only four Africans (including two Kenyans and no Ethiopians) made it to the final.

Women’s Pole Vault Qualifying

Both Americans qualified, but it wasn’t easy.  Bonnie Draxler (Wrightstown, WI).  Both qualified, ultimately at 13-5.25.  Draxler opened at 12-3.5, then missed twice at 12-9.5 before making 13-1.5 and her second attempt and clearing 13-5.25 on her first attempt.  Desiree Freier (Northwest, Justin, TX) made her American fans nervous.  She passed all the way to 13-5.25, missed twice, and finally cleared on her third attempt.  Eleven cleared 13-5.25 and 3 cleared 13-1.5, so there will be a 14-woman final.

Women’s Heptathlon High Jump

Ashlee Moore cleared 5-8 for a personal best of 5-7 to move into 13th place overall with 1753 points.  Morgan Lake was sensational, the 17 year old Great Britain competitor set a world youth record in the high jump of 6-4.25 (!) to take the lead.  She has 2096 points over the Netherlands’ Nadine Visser at 1980 points.

Men’s Decathlon Long Jump

Gabe Moore jumped 23-0, now with 1681 points, placing him 17th after 2 event.  Harrison Williams did not fare as well, jumping only 22-3.75 with a total of 1684 points, just ahead of Moore at 16th.   The favorite, Jiri Sykora (Czech Republic) is leading with 1934 points, having long jumped a phenomenal 26-2.25.

Women’s 800m Qualifying

The first 3 in each of the 4 qualifying heats and those with the next 4 fastest times advance to the semi-finals.

Raevyn Rogers (Kinkaid, Houston, TX), looked great as she and two others separated themselves from the pack at the 200m mark.  At 320 meters, Rogers got clipped from behind and almost fell down but maintained her lead.  Just past the first lap did she start to lose contact and slowly faded to finish 6th overall in 2:08.01, not making the final.  We will see if the U.S. coaches protest.

Sabrina Southerland (Georgetown and Cardozo, Queens, NY) ran a great race never less than third the entire race to finish in that position at 205.84.  She will advance to the semi finals.

Men’s 100m Qualifying

The first 3 in each of the 7 qualifying heats and those with the next 3 fastest times advance to the semi-finals.

Kendal Williams (Stanton Prep, Jacksonville, FL) had an awesome start and ran to a PR 10.23 in winning heat 5 of 7.  That moves him into #3 U.S. high school for the year and is the fastest qualifier thus far.  That is until Trayvon Bromell (Baylor) won heat 6 in 10.13.  Both automatically qualified for the semis.

Day 1 Evening

Decathlon Shot Put

(The 26-2.25 reported earlier for Jiri Sykora was reported by the results system at the meet was in error.  The actual distance was 24-1.25.  The actual leader was Cedric Dublr of Austria with 25-4.75.  And the leader after two events was Karsten Warholm of Norwayw with 1905 points; Sykora was 5th with 1776 points).

Sykora took the shot at 50-10.25 to lead after three events (2596 points).  Evgeniy Likhanov of Russia is second, 6 points back.

Decathlon High Jump

Gabe Moore finished 12th overall at 6-5.5, a PB.  His total score at this point is 3149 for 12th place overall.  Harrison Williams did not have a good day, managing only 6-4.25 for a total score of 3133, 13th.

Men’s 400m Round 1

Lamar Bruton (Ohio State), stuck in lane 8, led for 300 meters then faded, hanging on for second and qualifying to the semifinals.  Tyler Brown (Eastern Michigan) had no issues in winning his heat, running 46.45 and advancing.  The class of the field was favorite Machel Cedenio of Trinidad and Tobago, 5th with 100m to go in his heat, but then cruising to the win in 46.60.

Heptathlon Shot Put

What do you make of someone who can high jump 6-4.25 and throw the shot 46-6?  That’s the making of a potential World Junior Champion named Morgan Lake (Great Britain).  She not only won the high jump earlier but also won the shot put.  Shaina Burns had a good day throwing 44-7, though a foot and a half off her personal best.  She moves into 7th with 2520 points.  Lake is leading with 2901 points, well ahead of 2012 Junior champ Yorgelis Rodriguez of Cuba with  2694.   Ashlee Moore threw only 32-4.75 for 2449 points total and 13th place.

Women’s 100m Round 1

Ariana Washington (Poly, Long Beach, CA) did not get a good start but managed to maintain for a close win, running (for her) a pedestrian 11.67).

In a bit of a surprise, Angela Tenorio of Ecuador, last year’s World Youth silver medallist in the 200m, false started.  High schooler Brenessa Thompson (Medgar Evers, Brooklyn, NY) representing Guyana finished fourth in her heat, running 11.71.

Out fast in her heat was one of the favorites, Dina Asher-Smith (Great Britain), winning in 11.18.

Kaylin Whitney (Eastridge, Clermont, FL) did not look the way she did a few weeks ago at the US Junior champs, barely winning her heat in 11.48.

Women’s Long Jump Qualifying
 
Both Americans qualified.  Jazmin Mc Coy (Nebraska) finished 5th overall with a jump of 20-3.5.  Quanesha Burks (Alabama) qualified in 9th at 20-1.  It only took 19-9.5 to make the 12 woman final.  Nadia Akpana Assa of Norway led the field with a jump of 20-11.75.  (Florentina Marencu of Romania, the 2013 World Youth champ with a best of 22-0.5 did not show and Ese Brume of Nigeria, with a best of 21-11, jumped only 17-0!  Those two were medal favorites).

Womens Hammer Qualifying

It was not a good day for Brooke Andersen (Northern Arizona) who had only one legal throw (179-3) and finished 11th overall in the group of 12.  She did not advance.  Haley Showalter (Valor Christian, Highlands Ranch, CO) had a worse day, fouling three times.

Heptathlon 200m

Shaina Burns, from lane 8, got a PB in her heat, running 26.26.  But later it was found that she ran inside her lane and, unfortunately, was disqualified.   Ashlee Moore ran well, clocking 25.05.

The standings after day 1 show Morgan Lake (Great Britain) leading with 3821 points.  Ashlee Moore is in 11th with 3331 points.  Shaina Burns, with the DQ, is in 23rd place with 2520 points.  She would have had 3498 points and would have been in 4th place after day 1.

Decathlon 400m

Gabe Moore and Harrison Williams, competing in the same heat, ran decently with Williams at 48.21 and Moore with 49.01.  Williams totaled 4032 points after the first day for 10th place.  Gabe Moore has 4010 points for 12th.

Men’s 10,000m Final

This was one of the most exciting races I have ever seen.  Not so much for the times or the competition, though those were exceptional. It was the atmosphere.  No one from the rather large crowd left before the 10000m like I have seen at so many events.  They cheered and clapped throughout the race.  There was the University of Oregon percussion and brass ensemble on the infield with a specially composed piece just for this race.  Then there was the race itself.  Two Japanese took the race out early, leading by as much as 200 meters a mile into the race.  But the pack of east Africans steadily move up so that, with more than half the race to go, they took over the lead.  Then it was the race between two Kenyans and the Ugandan Joshua Cheptegei.  Cheptegei separated himself from the Kenyans with 250 meters to go and won in 28:32.86.  Americans Brendan Shearn (30:24.30) and Jonathan Green (31:15.69) finished 15th and 24th, respectively.

Getting there

This is my 13th World Junior Championship, having missed the first one in Athens in 1986.

I must admit that I was not that thrilled at having the meet in Eugene as I have always looked forward to experiencing a new country.  But my opinion has changed.

After being in Eugene a few weeks ago for the USATF Junior Championships, I began to change my mind.  The venue is spectacular and the fans are enthusiastic and knowledgeable.  And, to put it simply, “they know how to run a meet in Eugene”.

So I left early Sunday morning for the flight from Raleigh-Durham to San Francisco where I would meet Joy Kamani.  Joy is COO of the NSAF and would be our photographer on site.  We continued on to Eugene where we met the NSAF’s tweeter-in-charge and friend of almost 50 years, Paul Limmer.  Joy came in from Houston and Paul from JFK in New York. 

Steve Underwood, master of the video interview, had his early morning flight cancelled, so he would spend much of his day writing event previews in the Delta Clubs in  Detroit (his departure city) and Chicago.  He finally arrived at 11pm on Sunday night (2am his time), having spent a good 24 hours awake.

Hayward Field

Paul, Joy and I left the hotel soon after we arrived from the airport in the early afternon to get our credentials.  It is about a half mile walk from the hotel to Hayward Field. 

Credentialing was scheduled for the Matthew Knight Center, the large basketball and multi-purpose arena on campus.  But it had moved to somewhere else, and we knew not where.  We were guided to proper site, the law building, directly across from Hayward Field, where we had our photos taken and credentials issued.

We wandered across the street to Hayward Field to see what was transpiring.  The timing people (and others) were in the process of setting up.  (It is my understanding that Seiko brings in may dozens of workers to operate the meet).

We saw John Blackburn, our Director of Officials and NSAF board member, instructing other officials at the shot put area, the discipline he will oversee at the meet.

We then went to the area outside the first turn where the vendors’ tents are set up.  There we saw giant plexiglass displays of the various world’s regions (North America, South America, Asia, Oceania, Europe, etc).  On those displays were the participating countries and the name of each athlete and their date of birth!  Those displays are truly special, and was evidence of the immense planning, skill and creativity of the organizing committee. 

What is eerily missing is any evidence of Nike.  The University of Oregon is cradle of that corporation but, since adidas is one of the IAAF’s title sponsors, the adidas brand must prevail at this meet.  And it certainly does, with no sign of ANY competitor’s existence.  We suspect things will be back to normal just after the end of the meet on Sunday night.

Monday

After an uneventful morning with a bit of exercise, we met Steve Underwood and wandered over to the campus to get him credentialed. 

At 11:30am we attended the introductory press conference with IAAF President Lamine Diack, as well as Tracktown USA director (and former U of Oregon coach) Vin Lananna and others.  That was followed by a press conference with leading athletes, including Americans Mary Cain and Trayvon Bromell.

Then came lunch (buffet at an Indian restaurant) and an uneventful afternoon back at the hotel. 

We later headed back to Hayward for the photo briefing.  It is about an hour session and concerns where to go and not go during the event and who gets to be on the infield. 

This is the largest photo group I have ever seen at one of these meets.  In short, only 11 of the 30 or so photographers will be allowed on the field at any one time.  So there will be a lot of rotating in and out.

It was good to see Olaf (Austria) and Yannis (Greece), IAAF press stewards.  We had some interesting conversations with them.  They have become friends over the years, and we appreciate their cooperation and expertise.

It was then dinner and back to the hotel.  We can’t wait for the meet to begin!  Day 1 morning will include with heptathlon and decathlon starts, as well as qualifying in the women’s javelin, pole vault and 800 meters, and men’s 1500 meters, 110m Hurdles and 100 meters!  What a great morning!

With the first 4 days of competition complete, here are Jim Spier's form charts with updates on "how they did" compared to predictions, updated July 26, for the 2014 IAAF World Junior Champs in Eugene, July 22-27:

WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPS FORM CHART 07-26 UPDATE

Jim Spier will be updating this blog periodically throughout the competition here in Eugene with analysis after each session and often after each event is completed. More recent entries will be posted at the top of this blog so scroll down if you miss any. 

Video interviews by Steve Underwood and photos by Joy Kamani and our partners at PhotoRun.com will also be posted on our website, and Facebook Page.  Paul Limmer will be tweeting throughout on TweetingTrack.  Follow us and don't miss a single piece of the explosive action here at Hayward Field this week.

Day 6 (video interviews and photos on our Facebook Page)

Women’s 100m Hurdles Final

We knew that heptathlon bronze medalist would challenge for the silver.  She could break 13 seconds as shown by her semi-final performance.  But both Americans, Kendell Williams and Dior Hall, bested her as Kendall Williams set a national junior and meet record of 12.89.  Dior Hall, in second, broke a 1979 high school record (Candy Young, 12.95)  with her 12.92.  Visser, the other under 13 seconds (!), took third in 12.99.  Sixth place was 13.29.  Those six set national junior records (except Hall, who was behind Williams, with the PR and National High School record).

Women’s High Jump Final

Rachel Mc Coy (Chaffey JC) equaled her PR (6-0.75), then bettered in at 6-2 to finish 4th overall.  That’s the second best finish ever by an American.  Amy Acuff was tied for third in 1994.  Morgan Lake, the heptathlon champion, added the gold in this event, jumping

Men’s Triple Jump Final

The 16 year old Cuban world leader (both junior and youth), Lazaro Martinez, jumped 56-2.5 on his second jump, a meet record.  He won by almost 2 feet over Max Hess (Germany) who got a PB of 54-3.75.

Men’s Javelin Final

Gatis Cakss, in 5th going in to the final round, uncorked his best on his final throw to win with 242-11.  Matija Muhar (Slovenia), the favorite, could not improve on his final throw and finished second with a toss of 239-5.  The U.S. has never medaled in this event.

Men’s 3000m Steeplechase Final

No surprise here, as Kenyan athletes took 1-2, the winner being Barnabas Kiyego in 8:25.57.  Bailey Roth, not satisfied with breaking the national record once, broke it again, running 10th in 8:47.04.  It is an incredible feat given only having 2 days to recover from the trials.

Women’s 1500m Final

Alexa Efraimson (Camas, WA), staying in contact the entire race, could not hang with the leaders with 200 meters to go.  She faded down the homestretch as Elise Cranny (Niwott, CO) passed her.  The winner was favorite Dawit Seyaum (Ethiopia) in 4:09.86.  Cranny was 4th in 4:12.82, about 2 seconds off her PR, with Efraimson in 6th 4:13.31.  Cranny’s 4th place finish was the best ever for a U.S. athlete.  Noone from the Americas has ever gotten a medal in this event.

Men’s 800m Final

A 49.42 opening 400 meters led us to believe this was going to be a very fast race.  Alfred Kipketer (Kenya), running wire to wire, ran the 8th fastest ever run with his 1:43.95.  Tretez Kinnaird (Indiana) ran a big PB in 6th (1:47.13).  That’s just off the top 10 US Juniors with 1:47.0 being the 10th fastest time.   The top 7 in that race ran personal bests.

Women’s 4x400m Final

It wasn’t easy but it wasn’t unexpected either, as the U.S. got the win.  It was the 7th in the row for the U.S. which has now won 9 of the 15 4x400m relays.  It was Shamier Little (52.5), Olivia Baker (53.0), Shakima Wimbley (52.46) and Kendall Baisden (52.28) winning in 3:30.42, #6 all-time junior.

Men’s 4x400m Final

The U.S. got the world junior lead with their win (3:03.31), #2 all-time.  Three Virginians (all but Tyler Brown) made up the team.  It was sophomore Josephus Lyles (TC Williams, Alexandria, VA 46.4), Tyler Brown (Eastern Michigan 46.0), Ricky Morgan (Forest Park, Woodbridge, VA 45.9) and Michael Cherry (Florida State 45.04).  The U.S. has won all but two of the 15 events.

Day 5 (video interviews and photos on our Facebook Page)

Women’s 100m Hurdle Semi Finals

Dior Hall look smooth in qualifying, running 13.07w and besting medal contender Yasmin Miller (Great Britain) handily.

Kendell Williams also ran easily, again dipping under 13 seconds, running a windy 12.98 to win.

Second fastest was the winner of Semi 3, Nadine Visser (Netherlands), the bronze medalist in the heptathlon with a very fast 13.01, albeit windy.

Men’s Pole Vault Final

Axel Chapelle (France) took the world junior lead with a winning 18-2.5 jump.  Devin King (Sumner, Kentwood, LA) had an ever-so-close miss at this height but still managed 4th at 18-0.5, the 6th best ever jump by an American high schooler.  The U.S. has only ever gotten one medal in this event, a bronze by Rocky Danners in 2000.

Women’s 4x400m Qualifying

The U.S. won in 3:32.73, the leading time in the world thus far for juniors – the team consisted of Shakima Wimbley (Miami), Felicia Majors (Tennessee), Aaliyah Barnes (Ohio State) and Olivia Baker (Columbia, Maplewood, NJ).

Men’s 4x400m Qualifying

A solid US win with Josephus Lyles (TC Williams, Alexandria, VA), Myles Parrish (Arizona), Ricky Morgan (Forest Park, Woodbridge, VA) and Michael Cherry (Florida State).  Their 3:03.97 is the current world junior leader.

Women’s 400m Hurdles Final

Favorite Shamier Little (Texas A+M) won 55.66, with Britain’s Shona Richards outleaning Jade Miller (Harvard) for the silver, 56.16 to 56.22.  That was a significant PR for Miller, who improved by exactly 1 second!  It’s only the second time that the US has won gold, the prior time being Leshinda Demus in 2002.  It’s the only time that the U.S. has gotten 2 medals.

Men’s 800m Semi Finals

Tretez Kinnaird (Indiana) showed that he belonged, winning his heat in 1:48.04, close to his PR.  He took over the lead at 400m (53.76) and never gave up the lead.

Women’s Triple Jump Final

It was not Keturah Orji’s day, managing only 43-7.25w.  She did have a legal jump of 43.5, and would finish 9th overall.  Marshay Ryan (Auburn) was 7th with a jump of 44-7.5.  The winner was Rouguy Diallo of France at 47-4.5w.  World leader and favorite Ana Peleteiro (Spain) finished 6th.   It was France’s first ever medal in this event.  The U.S. has never had one.
 
Men’s Discus Final

U.S. High School leader Kord Ferguson (Ottawa, KS) did not make the final, finishing 9th in 195-4, his second best throw ever.  Ryan Njegovan (St. Francis-IL) finished 8th in 195-5.  The winner was Martin Markovic of Croatia with a throw of 219-7.

Women’s 3000m Steeplechase

Ruth Jebet (Bahrain) won in 9:36.74.  Elinor Purrier (New Hampshire) could not equal her qualifying performance, running 10:21.59 for 9th.

Women’s 4x100m Final

The U.S. just had to get the stick around to win.  And they did in the 5th fastest time ever run (43.46).  Running was Teahna Daniels (First Academy, Orlando, FL), Ariana Washington (Poly, Long Beach, CA), Jada Martin (LSU) and Kaylin Whitney (Eastridge, Clermont, FL).  It was the 9th gold for the U.S. in this event.  Jamaica has 4, Germany 1 and East Germany 1.

Men’s 4x100m Final

It was a similar situation for the U.S. men, and that’s just was they did, running 38.70 for the world junior lead.  It was Jalen Miller (Mississippi), Trayvon Bromell (Baylor), Kendal Williams (Stanton Prep, Jacksonville, FL) and Trentavis Friday (Cherryville, NC).  It was also #2 all-time junior, the fastest being the U.S. team in 2004.  Like the women, tt’s the 9th gold for the U.S. in this event.  Great Britain has 4 and Jamaica has 2.

Day 4 Evening

Attendance was 8,937, an increase of about 1000 over yesterday.

Mens Javelin Qualifying

Curtis Thompson (Florence, NJ) could manage only 212-10 for 17th  and did not advance.  The negative wind hindered the throws as there was only one automatic qualifier.  The 12th qualifier threw 218-10.

Men’s Hammer Final

A world junior lead for champion Ashraf Amgad Elesify of Qatar, throwing 277-11, winning by 15 feet.

Women’s 4x100m Round 1

The US (Teahna Daniels, Ariana Washington, Jada Martin, Ky Westbrook) used some safe passes to guarantee the win in a world leading 44.03.  We understand Kaylin Whitney will replace one of the legs for the final, most likely Ky Westbrook.

Men’s High Jump Final

Mikhail Akimenko of Russia led 4 athletes over 7-4.25 with places decided on fewer misses.

Women’s Shot Put Final

Raven Saunders started off slow, throwing 47-2.25.  She threw 53-8.25 to move her into third.  That’s where she remained until her final throw, when she threw 54-6.75 to move into second and got the silver.  The favorite Tianqian Guo of China was the winner with a best of 58-1.25.  Only two other athletes have ever gotten a medal in this competition:  Laura Geraughty (bronze 2002) and Michelle Carter (gold 2004)

Men’s 4x100 Round 1

The US could not match the speed of Japan who won their heat (with not especially good handoffs) in 39.23, #6 all-time world junior.  The US (Jalen Miller, Trayvon Bromell, Terry Jernigan and Michael Wells) was second in 39.43.   Trentavis Friday will replace one of the legs in the final.

Women’s 400m Hurdle Semi Finals

Shamier Little won her heat in 57.18 and Jade Miller was second in hers in 57.28, becoming the 2nd and 3rd fastest qualifiers for the final.

Men’s 400m Hurdles Finals

Jaleel Hyde of Jamaica and Tim Holmes (Baylor) were dead even over 7 hurdles after which Hyde gained a slight lead.  Hyde extended his lead to win relatively easily, but no one saw Ali Khamis Khamis of Bahrain to their left, who sped past Holmes to get the silver, leaving Holmes with the bronze.

Women’s 200m Final

Kaylin Whitney seemed to false start and the race was called back.  But the officials ruled that she never left the blocks so was not disqualified.  She went on to win in a windy 22.82 [+2.4].  Jada Martin was 5th in 23.35.

Men’s 200m Final

Trentavis Friday (Cherryville, NC) had a great start and led the entire way for a magnificent 20.03, albeit aided by a 2.3 mps wind.  It equals his prior best 20.03 windy time.  It was the first gold for the US since Tony Wheeler won in Lisbon in 1994.

Women’s 400m Final

This was almost as predicted, with Kendall Baisden (Texas) winning Kendall Baisden the winner in 51.85 and Stanford-bound Olivia Baker (Columbia, Maplewood, NJ) third in 53.00.

Men’s 5000m Final

In the 14 year history of this meet through 2012, Kenyans and Ethiopians have split the winning equally, each with 7 golds.  Ethiopia now breaks the tie with the victory of Yomif Kejelcha of Ethiopia in 13:25.18.  Ethiopian Yasin Haji was second in 13:26.71.  Neither was in the top 10 I in the world this year.  Colby Gilbert (Washington) was 9th in 14:09.98 and Brian Barraza (Houston) was 13th in 14:13.33, a PR for him by .21!

Women’s Discus Final

It seemed that Valerie Allman (Stanford) had it locked up with her initial throw of 186-2.  But Valerie da Silva got a monster world junior leading throw of 190-4 on her second attempt to win.

Day 4 Morning Session

Women’s Shot Put Qualifying

Auto qualifying 51-10 or top 12

Raven Saunders (Burke, Charleston, SC) got the auto qualifier on her second throw, putting 54-10.75.  She threw 51-3.75 on her first attempt.  She is the leading qualifier overall for tomorrow’s

In a scandalous turn of events, Aaliyah Pete was denied entry because of a “clerical error”.  See the complete press release at usatf.org.

Men’s Discus Qualifying

Auto qualifying 193-7 or top 12

Ryan Njegovan (St. Francis (Il)) got the auto qualifier on his third throw – 196-6 – which is also a personal best.  He was the second best qualifier in his group.

Kord Ferguson (Ottawa, KS) got the auto qualifier on his first throw (194-3), so both Americans will advance to tomorrow’s final.

Men’s 10000m Racewalk Final

A meet record for Daisuke Matsunaga of Japan at 39:27.19.  Anthony Peters of the US was 28th, , more than 6 minutes back,  in 45:31.86, a personal best.

Men’s Triple Jump Qualifying

Auto qualifying 52-2 or top 12.

Favorite Lazaro Martinez (Cuba) got the auto qualifier on his first attempt, jumping 54-6.75

Hayden Mc Clain (Oklahoma) finished 19th in qualifying (49-6.25w) and John Warren (Prince George, VA) was 24th (48-3.25).  Both will not advance.

Women’s 100m Hurdle Round 1

First four in each heat and those with the next 4 fastest times advance to the semi finals.

Kendell Williams (Georgia) made it look easy in winning her heat in 13.00, the fastest overall qualifier.  Dior Hall (George Washington, Denver, CO) won her heat in 13.29 to qualify third overall.

Men’s 3000m Steeplechase Qualifying

First 5 in each of the two heats and next 5 fastest times advance to the finals.

We thought Bailey Roth (Coronado, Colorado Springs, CO) could get the national record but not necessarily in the trials.  Though finishing 7th in his heat, he still ran 8:48.60, breaking a 35 year old national record held by Jeff Hess (South, Eugene, OR) – 8:50.1 in 1979.

Bryce Miller (Missouri-Kansas City) ran a nice race, albeit clobbering the final hurdle, but would not have qualified anyway since all of the time qualifiers came out of the first heat.  Nonetheless, he ran 9:06.17 to finish 7th.

Women’s High Jump Qualifying

Auto qualifying is 6-0.75 or top 12

Bailey Weiland (Marist, Atlanta, GA), the New Balance Nationals Outdoor champion jumped 5-8.75 and did not advance.

Rachel Mc Coy (Chaffey JC) got a lifetime best of 6-0.75 to advance to the finals.

Women’s 1500m Qualifying

First 4 in each of the 2 heats and next 4 fastest advance to the finals.

Alexa Efraimson (Camas, WA), though running in lane 2 seemingly for the entire race, qualified among the top 4, running 4:16.87.

Unlike Alexa, Elisa Cranny (Niwot, CO) ran in lane 1 the entire way finishing 4th and qualifying in 4:15.21.

Men’s 800m Qualifying

First 3 in each of the 6 heats and those with the next 6 fastest times advance t the semi finals.

Myles Marshall (Kingwood, TX) looked good for 500 meters but could keep up with the leaders when they surged.  He could not respond and finished last in 1:53.98.

Tretez Kinnaird (Indiana) stayed with world junior leader Alfred Kipketer (Kenya) for the entire race, finishing third in 1:50.07 and advancing.

Men’s Javelin Qualifying

Auto qualifying 236-3 or top 12.

Day 3 Review

Recap of U.S. athletes:

- Women
o 200m: Kaylin Whitney and Jada Martin both advanced to the final
o 400m: Kendall Baisden and Olivia Baker both advanced to the finals
o 3000m: Mary Cain won the 3000m in #2 American Junior all-time 8:58.48, breaking the Kenyan streak dating back to 2000.  Stephanie Jenks was 15th
o 3000m Steeplechase:  Elinor Purrier got a monster PR (10:08.33 - #6 all-timr American Junior) to move on to the final.  Hope Schmelze finished 29th overall and did not advance
o 400m Hurdles:  Jade Miller and Shamier Little both advanced to the semis
o Pole Vault:  Desiree Freier finished second in the pole vault in a high school record 14-7.25.
o Triple Jump:  Keturah Orji and Marshay Ryan advanced to the final, Orji with a high school leading mark of 44-2, achieving it on her first attempt.
o Discus:  Valerie Allman got an auto qualifier on her first throw to advance to the final; Katelyn Daniels did not advance.

- Men
o 200m: Trentavis Friday advanced to the final with the fastest qualifier (20.35).  Kendal Williams did not advance.
o 400m:  Lamar Bruton finished 6th and Tyler Brown 8th.
o 110m Hurdles:  Nick Anderson finished 8th
o 400m Hurdles:  Tim Holmes advanced to the finals; Kenny Selmon did not.
o Long Jump:  Trayvon White finished 4th
o Shot Put:  Braheme Days finished 3rd; Amir Ali Patterson finished 7th.

Observations:

- I have been to 13 of these World Junior Championships, and this is the best one yet. The organization, enthusiastic crowds and the amazing athletes make this event special
- Highlights for me were the massive Mary Cain victory in the 3000m.  It is rare, indeed, so see an American pulling away from the Kenyans (or any other group at this distance.  Also, Desiree Freier’s gutsy performance, equaling the high school record, then breaking it twice before near misses at 14-9.
- The Japanese men are having a terrific meet: 3rd in the 100m, 2nd and 7th in the 400m, and have qualified 2 in the 200m final.  They should, obviously, have some good relays.

- Each year for the past 8 years (except for this year), we have taken a group of underclassmen to Puerto Rico to compete in the Caribbean Scholastic Invitational (CSI).  Here are some the athletes from that meet who are present here in Eugene (and a few others)

o 2010:
Women’s 100:
1. Olivia Ekpone  11.82
Women’s 200:
1. Ekpone   24.22
Women’s 800:
1. Claudia Francis  2:10.85
2. Kelsey Margey  2:12.04
Women’s 100m Hurdles:
1. Kendell Williams  13.74
Women’s High Jump
1. Kendell Williams  5-7
2. Akela Jones (BAR) 5-5
Women’s Shot Put
1. Brea Garrett  42-8.25
Men’s High Jump:
_3 Gunnar Nixon  6-4.75

o 2011:
Mens 400: Arman Hall (US) over Luquelin Santos (DOM), 46.95 to 47.29

o 2012:
Women’s 100:
1. Ky Westbrook  11.90
2. Chyna Ries  11.92
3. Nelda Huggins (BVI) 12.04
4. Deajah Stevens  12.17
5. Jada Martin  12.30
Women’s 200:
1. Huggins   24.57
2. Grace Claxton (PUR) 24.67
3. Martin   24.73
4. Westbrook   24.76
Women’s 100m Hurdles:
1. Dior Hall   13.52
Women’s 400m Hurdles:
1. Shamier Little  61.26
Women’s Long Jump:
1. Ries   18-9.75
Men’s 200:
1. Devon Allen  21.21
Men’s 110m Hurdles:
1. Allen   13.41w
Men;s 2000m Steeplechase:
1. Bailey Roth  6:18.95
o 2013:
Men’s 100m:
1. Zharnel Hughes (Anguilla) 10.52
2. Kendal Williams  10.59
Men’s 400m:
1. Ricky Morgan  47.50
Men’s Triple Jump:
1. John Warren  48-4

Day 3 Evening Session

Women’s Pole Vault Final

Desiree Freier (Northwest, Justin, TX) put on a gutsy performance, breaking the high school record twice and finishing second.  She jumped 14-7.25, making 3 gallant attempts at 14-9.  Bonnie Draxler (Wrightstown, WI) was 11th at 12-11.5.

Women’s 200m Semi Finals

Jada Martin ran well in her heat but finished second to 100m silver medalist Angela Tenorio (Ecuador).  She advanced to the final.

Kaylin Whitney got all she wanted from Cuban Aarialis Gandulla, but managed to hang on for the win and advance to the final.

Men’s 200m Semi Finals

Kendal Williams looked spent from last night’s win.  He had gotten lane one as a result of this morning’s third place qualifying round finish.

Trentavis Friday showed that he is the one to beat, easily winning his heat in 20.35.

Men’s Shot Put

Konrad Bukowiecki (Poland) won the event on his first throw (69-5.5), then improved to 72-4.5 for the world junior lead and #3 all-time world junior.  Braheme Days got the bronze (65-7.75) and Amir Ali Patterson finished 7th (63-0).

Women’s 400m Semi Final

It appeared that Olivia Baker had gone out too fast, but maintained her form for 400 meters to win in 53.08.  Kendall Baisden got a challenge from Laura Muller of Germany but prevailed to win in 52.52.  The fastest time was the winner of the third heat, Gilda Casanova (Cuba) in 52.45.

Men’s 110m Hurdles Final

Wilhelm Belocian (France) set a world junior record in a stunning 12.99.  Nick Anderson got a bad start and finished 8th in 13.93.

Men’s 400m Final

The favorite, Machel Cedenio (Trinidad and Tobago) won easily with a world leading 45.13.  Lamar Bruton was 6th in 46.75 and Tyler Brown 8th in 47.30.

Women’s 800m Final

Wambui at 2:00.49 (a 3 second PR) to Diago’s 2:02.11.

Men’s Long Jump

It was an all Asian medal group with Jianan Wang of China winning in 26-6.25, followed by Qing Lin of China an Shotaro Shiroyama of Japan.  Travonn White was 4th at 25-4w.

Women’s Javelin Final

The favorite, Sofi Flinck, sat in third until her last throw, taking the lead at 186-0.  But the prior leader, Ekaterina Starygina of Russia had one throw left.   And, like a true champion, won the event on that last throw, tossing the javelin 186-6.

Women’s 3000 Meters

Mary Cain was very, very impressive (to say the least!), becoming the first American to ever win a medal in any event about 800 meters, men or women, winning in 8:58.48.  Stephanie Jenks (Linn-Mar, Marion, IA) ran decently, finishing in 15th at 9:31.47.  Americans now have 4 total medals in the 800m and above:  Ajee Wilson (800 – 1st), Mary Cain (3000 -1st), Cas Loxsom (800 – 2nd), Robby Andrews (800-3rd).  That’s it.

Men’s 1500 Meters Final

Kenya-Djibouti-Kenya.  Jonathan Sawe of Kenya was the winner in 3:40.02.

Day 3 Morning Session

Day 2 Review

Recap of U.S. athletes:

- Women
o 100m: Kaylin Whitney finished 3rd  and Ariana Washington 7th
o 400m: Kendall Baisden and Olivia Baker both advance to the semi finals
o 800m: Sabrina Southerland did not advance to the finals
o 5000m: Maggie Schmaedick finished 12th
o Long Jump: Jazmin Mc Coy finished 6th and Quanisha Burks 5th .
o Heptathlon:  Ashlee Moore finished 13th, #5 all-time High School, and Shaina Burns 21st (6 events scored)

- Men
o 100m: Kendal Williams 1st and Trayvon Bromell 2nd
o 400m:  Tyler Brown and Lamar Bruton advanced to the finals
o 110m Hurdles:  Nick Anderson advanced to the final, Misana Viltz did not
o 400m Hurdles:  Tim Holmes and Kenny Selmon advanced to the semi finals
o High Jump:  Landon Bartel and Jonathan Wells did not advance to the finals.
o Long Jump:  Trayvon White advanced to the final, Kenneth Fisher did not.
o Decathlon: Harrison Williams finished 6th with a High School record of 7760 points; Gabe Moore finished 8th with 7619 points, #3 all-time high school.
• High School top 4 (with Junior implements)
• Harrison Williams
• Gunnar Nixon
• Gabe Moore
• Curtis Beach
-
Day 3 Morning

Women’s Discus Qualifying

Auto qualifying is 170-7 or the top 12.

Katelyn Daniels (Michigan State) finished 8th in her group at 158-9 and will not likely advance.

Valerie Allman (Stanford) got the auto qualifier on her first throw (171-9).

Women’s 3000m Steeplechase Qualifying

Hope Schmelze (Purdue) didn’t have quite it today.  The 2014 US Junior leader could manage only 10:41.38 for 14th place, well off her 10:33.38 lifetime best.  On the other hand, U.S. Junior champ Elinor Purrier (New Hampshire) ran the race of her life, finishing 6th in 10:08.33, 16 seconds better than her prior best.  She is now #6 all-time U.S. Junior.  She will advance to Saturday’s final.  Amy-Eloise Neale (Great Britain), former Washington high schooler, finished 5th in her heat and will qualify for the finals.

Men’s Shot Put Qualifying

Auto qualifying is 63-2 or the top 12.

Braheme Days (UCLA) fouled on his first attempt then got and auto qualifier (64-4) on his second attempt.  Amir Ali Patterson (Crespi, Encino, CA) finished 11th overall in 61-11.5 and will advance to the final.  The leader is Mostafa Hassan of Egypt at 65-1.25.

Men’s 200m Qualifying

Top 2 and next 6 fastest times advance to the semi finals

Zharnel Hughes (Anguilla) easily won his heat (20.87).  (Hughes had beaten World Junior 100m champ Kendal Williams at the 2013 Caribbean Scholastic Invitational 100m).

A stroll for Trentavis Friday (Cherryville, NC), shutting it down with 40 meters to do, and running 20.60.

Kendal Williams finished 3rd in his heat, not looking especially himself.  He ran 21.16 and will likely make the final.

Men’s Hammer Throw Qualifying

Auto qualifying is 244-5 for top 12.

Charlie Ionata (Wake Forest) got a life time best (229-5) in finishing 10th in his group. He did not advance.  Clarence Gallop (Charleston Southern) threw 216-4 and also did not advance.

Men’s Pole Vault Qualifying

Auto qualifying 17-2.75 or top 12

Cole Walsh (Oregon) who got a PR (17-6.5) to qualify at the USATF Junior champs could manage only 16-4.75 and will not advance.  Devin King (Sumner, Kentwood, LA) made the final with a clearance of 16-8.75.  He was one of 4 to clear that height and advanced on fewer misses.  Nine others cleared 17-0.75.

Women’s 200m Qualifying

No problem for Jada Martin (LSU), even from lane 8, as she won her heat in 23.62.  And also no problem for Kaylin Whitney, the 100m bronze medalist from last night, as she ran the fastest time thus far at 23.31.

Women’s Triple Jump Qualifying

Auto qualifying is 43-7.75 or top 12.

Keturah Orji (Mt. Olive, Flanders, NJ) wasted no time in getting the auto qualifier, jumping 44-2 on her first jump.

Marshay Ryan (Auburn) qualified 10th overall with a jump of 43-4.25w

Men’s 400m Hurdles Semi Finals

First 2 and next 2 fastest advance to the finals.

Tim Holmes (Baylor) ran an evenly paced race to win semi 1 in 50.80.

Kenny Selmon (Pace Academy, Atlanta, GA) looked comfortable leading through 8 hurdles.  Then as Ali Khamis Khamis (Bahrain) came up on him to his right, he hit the ninth hurdle, throwing him off balance.  He failed to qualify.  Khamis had the fastest qualifier overall, running 49.93 for his country’s national junior record.

Women’s 400m Hurdles Qualifying

Top 4 in each heat and next 4 fastest times advance to the semi finals

Jade Miller (Harvard) led the entire way in winning her heat in 57.85.

Shamier Little (Texas A+M) had a similar strategy in winning in 57.94.

Day 2 Evening

Heptathlon Javelin

Ashlee Moore got a life time best of 129-1 to move her into 7th place overall (4793 points).  Shaina Burns did likewise, throwing 129-10, now totaling 3844 points (4622 if not for DQ in 200m – and she would be in 15th place).

The leaders with one event to go:

Morgan Lake  Great Britain  5339
Yorgelis Rodriguez Cuba   5201
Nadine Visser  Netherlands  5142
Celina Leffler  Germany  4961
Emma Stenlof  Sweden  4840

According to Steve Underwood, Ashlee Moore has a chance to break Kendell Williams high school record:

Here is the top 5 all-time high school heptathlon list:

5578  Kendell Williams  2012
5533  Shana Woods   2006
5522  Ryann Krais   2008
5493  Kendra Reimer  1998
5411  Gayle Hunter   2004

Ashlee has a best of 2:29 in the 800m.  Currently with 4793 points, here are the point values (and final totals) for Ashlee for various 800m times:

2:35  632 points  5425 #5 all-time
2:30  693 points  5486 #5 all-time
2:28  718 points  5511 #4 all-time
2:26  744 points  5537 #2 all-time
2:24  770 points  5563 #2 all-time
2:22.82 786 points  5579 HS record

Decathlon Pole Vault

Gabe Moore got a personal best at 14-1.25 and is no win 10th with 6352 points.  Harrison Williams, in one of his better events, cleared 16-0.75 to finish second.  He moves up to 8th with 6404 points.

The leaders after 8 events:

Cedric Dubler  Australis  6771
Jiri Sykora  Czech Republic 6722
Roman Kondratyev Russia   6610
Tim Nowak  Germany  6604
Mathias Ako  France   6493

Mens 110m Hurdles semi-finals

First 2 and next 2 fastest times in the three heat advance to the final.

Nick Anderson (Kentucky) was well back from the leader (as was the rest of the field) but maintained his form to advance to the final, finishing second in 13.68.  Medal favorite William Belocian (France) won in 13.23.  Misana Viltz (Millikan, Long Beach, CA) was 5th in his heat in 14.02 and did not advance.

Women’s 100m Semi Finals

First 2 and next 2 fastest times in the three heat advance to the final.

Ariana Washington (Poly, Long Beach, CA) was left in the blocks like the rest of the field in her heat by Dina Asher-Smith (Great Britain).  Asher-Smith won in 11.31 with Washington second in 11.73, just edging Vitoria Cristina Rosa of Brazil in 11.75.  Had Washington not finished second, she would not have made the final.

Kaylin Whitney (Eastridge, Clermont, FL) got all she wanted from Pole Ewa Swoboda, but pulled away to win her heat, 11.44 to 11.51.

Men’s 100m Semi Finals

Trayvon Bromell (Baylor) was not leading at 50 meters, but pulled away ever so slightly to win in 10.29, only .02  over runnerup Levi Cadogan of Barbados.

Kendal Williams (Stanton Prep, Jacksonville, FL) won, but by the slightest of margins over Andre Azonwanna of Canada, 10.49 to 10.50.  (Azonwanna was second to Trentavis Friday in the 60 meters at the 2014 New Balance Nationals Indoor).

Women’s Hammer Final

Won by favorite Al’ona Shamotina of the Ukraine with a throw of 216-8.

Men’s High Jump Qualifying

Auto qualifier is 7-2.25 (or top 12).

Landon Bartel (Southern Boone County, Ashland, MO) managed only 6-8.75 and did not advance to the final.  Jonathan Wells (Grant, Fox Lake, IL) jumped high enough to qualify (6-10.75), but did not advance because of misses.

Men’s 400m Semi Finals

Tyler Brown (Eastern Michigan) looked like he wasn’t going to auto qualify, but put on a burst of speed in the last 80 meters to win.  He clocked 45.97 and will advance.

Lamar Bruton (Ohio State), like Tyler Brown, appeared to be in trouble with 100 meters to go.  But he steadily gained on the field to take second to favorite Machel Cedenio (Trinidad and Tobago) 45.90 to 46.67.

Heptathlon 800 Meters

Shaina Burns ran a gutty race, leading for the first lap, but ultimately finishing last though running a credible 2:26.43.   Even without a point in the 200 meters se still scored a total of 4582 points.  Without the DQ she would have scored 5360 points, which would have been #7 all-time high school.

Ashlee Moore did not improve on her personal best, running 2:31.57.  She did score a total of 5466 points, #5 all-time.

Decathlon Javelin

Harrison Williams got a PB in the javelin (184-9) to move into 6th place with a total score of 7086 points.  He’s on track to get the national high school record with junior implements with a decent 1500m.  The national record if 7748, set by Gunnar Nixon in 2010.  Williams will have to run 4:42.68 for 664 points for the national record.

Gabe Moore also got a personal best in the javelin, throwing 171-5 moving him into 8th with a score of 6974.

The leaders after nine events:

Jiri Sykora  Czech Republic 7468
Cedric Dubler  Australia  7413
Tim Nowak  Germany  7338
Roman Kondratyev Russia   7164
Evgeniy Likhanov Russia   7152

Women’s 5000m Final

The usual: medals going to Kenyans and Ethiopians.  American Maggie Schmaedick (Oregon) finished 12th in 16:19.01, less than a second off her PB.

Decathlon 1500m

Harrison Williams did it!  Got a PB in the 1500m by a second to get the national record with the junior implements.  His 4:41.01 got him 674 points for a total of 7760, breaking Gunnar Nixon’s record by 12 points. He finished 6th.  Gabe Moore also got a PB of 4:45.68 for a total of 7619 points.  That’s #3 all-time high school with the junior implements.

Women’s Long Jump

Negative winds hindered this event.  Quanisha Burks was 5th at 19-9.75 and Jazmin Mc Coy 6th 19-8.75.  Akesa Jones of Barbados, who just finished her freshman year at Oklahoma Baptist U, won with a jump of 20-9.75.  She will be transferring to Kansas State U in the fall.

Women’s 100m Final

Dina Asher-Smith showed in the rounds that she was the one to beat and she was.  She led from 0 meters, running 11.23 with -1.0 wind.  Angela Tenorio (Ecuador) who had to run a special qualifier yesterday, got the bronze in 11.39, and Kaylin Whitney (US) had to come on strong at the end to get 3rd in 11.45.  Ariana Washington was 7th in 11.64.

Men’s 100m Final

Kendal Williams had to run the fastest race of his life to win.  And he did.  In a major upset, Williams beat world junior record holder Trayvon Bromell who finished second.  Williams ran 10.21 to Bromell’s 10.28.  Japan’s Yoshihide Kiryu, who had run 10.01 earlier in the season, finished third in 10.34.  Ironically, Kendal Williams would not even have been on the team had Trentavis Friday not false-started in the Junior champs (Friday had run 10.01 in the prelims).

Day 1 Review

It was a very special first day yesterday, capped off by a sensational Men’s 10,000 meters.

Some observations:

- There are two 20x20 tents solely dedicated to vaulting poles.  I can imagine the logistical nightmare of getting poles from all corners of the globe to Eugene in a timely manner. 

- There a 15x30 tent only for the basket crew.

- Then there are all of the other mammoth tents (size noted are approximations):  medical (30x100), tent containing each individual country’s medical staff (50x200:  each has an area assigned); volunteer tent (30x80); media (50x200). 

- As expected, this event is a college coach’s recruiting paradise.  You name the Division I university and their coaches are present.

Recap of U.S. athletes:

- Women
o 100m: Kaylin Whitney and Ariana Washington both advanced to the semi finals
o 800m: Sabrina Southerland advanced to the semi finals; Raevyn Rogers did not.
o Pole Vault:  Desiree Freier and Bonnie Draxler both advanced to the finals
o Long Jump: Jazmin Mc Coy and Quanisha Burks both advanced to the finals.
o Hammer:  Brooke Andersen and Haley Showalter did not advance to the finals
o Javelin:  Rebekah Wales and Megan Glasmann did not advance to the finals
o Heptathlon:  Ashlee Moore completed day 1 with 3331 points in 11th place; Shaina Burns was disqualified in the 200 meters and has 2520 points (she would have been in 4th overall after day 1 had she not been disqualified; she will continue with the second days competition nonetheless).

- Men
o 100m: Trayvon Bromell and Kendal Williams advanced to the semi finals
o 1500m: Grant Fisher and Patrick Joseph did not advance to the final
o 10000m:  Brendan Shearn finished 15th in 30:24.30 (as compared to his 29:49.04 best) and Jonathan Green finished 24th in 31:15.69 (as compared to his 30:54.62 best)
o 110m Hurdles:  Misana Viltz and Nick Anderson both advanced to the semi finals
o Decathlon: Harrison Williams completed day 1 with 4302 points for 10th place; Gabe Moore is in 12th  with 4010 points.

Day 2 Morning

(this morning's photos are courtesy of PhotoRun.com)

Decathlon 110m Hurdles

Gabe Moore moved up to 11th place with a 14.82 performance, now with 4881 points.  Harrison Williams remains in 10th after hurdling 14.37 (4949 points).  The leaders after 6 events:

Cedric Dubler  Australia 5293
Roman Kondratyev Russia  5205
Karsten Warholm Norway 5195
Jiri Sykora  Czech Repub 5151
Evgeniy Likhanov Russia  5146

Men’s Long Jump Qualifying

Kenneth Fisher (Bethune-Cookman) had jumps of 22-4.5, 22-10.5 and 22-1.75 and will not advance to the final.  Travonn White (Central Arizona JC) finished fifth overall with a jump of 24-7.25 and will advance to the final.

Women’s 10,000m Racewalk Final

A meet world junior record for Anezka Drahotova of the Czech Republic at 42:47.25.  American
Katharine Newhoff was last (32nd) with a personal best of 51:40.42.

Decathlon Discus

Gabe Moore finished 6th in his group, throwing a personal best of 147-11.  He moves up to 8th place with 5650 points. Harrison Williams could manage only 115-1.  His total is now 5524 points for 12th place.   The leaders after 7 events:

Jiri Sykora  Czech Republic 5991
Cedric Dubler  Australia  5922
Roman Kondratyev Russia   5820
Tim Nowak  Germany  5785
Karsten Warholm Sweden  5780

Women’s 400 Qualifying

The first 4 in each of the 5 heats automatically qualify and the next 4 fastest times advance to the semi final.

No problem for Kendall Baisden (Texas) in winning heat 1 in 53.28.  Also no problem for Stanford-bound Olivia Baker (Columbia, Maplewood, NJ) with 54.09.  Maddie Price (Menlo, Atherton, CA), representing Canada, was second in her heat at 53.86 to advance to the final.

The were 5 disqualifications in the 5 heats for running inside the line.  We suspect there will be protests filed.

Heptathlon Long Jump

Shaina Burns got a PB of 17-8 for 665 points.  Adding the 778 she would have gotten had she not been DQd in the 200m yesterday, her total would be 3963 and be ranked 16th .  However, it is actually 3185 at this point. 

With her jump of 19-2.75 Ashlee Moore moved into 6th place with a total point score of 4138.

The leaders after five events:

Morgan Lake  Great Britain  4640
Nadine Visser  Netherlands  4498
Yorgelis Rodriguez Cuba   4469
Celina Leffler  Germany  4302
Emma Stenlof  Sweden  4214

Men’s 400m Hurdle Qualifying

The first 2 in each of the 8 heats automatically qualify and the next 8 fastest times advance to the semi final.

Kenny Selmon (Pace Academy, Atlanta, GA) and Tim Holmes (Baylor), both won their heats, Selmon in 52.15 and Holmes in 52.03.  The leader was the favorite, Jaleel Hyde of Jamaica at 51.60.

Women’s 800m Semi Finals

Sabrina Southerland (Georgetown), the only American in the semis, was never in her race, finishing last in 2:08.76.  Favorite Sally Diago (Cuba) was the leader at 2:03.60.

Day 1 Tuesday Morning Session

Heptathlon Hurdles

Heat 2 saw Yorgelis Rodriguez (Cuba), the defending champion and US Junior champ and Oregon signee Ashlee Moore (Hamilton, Chandler, AZ).  Rodriguez started poorly and finished well back.  Nadine Visser of the Netherlands won in a meet record 13.24, well ahead of the 2002 former record by Sweden’s Carolina Kluft set in 2002.  Moore got a PB in second at 13.59.  She gained 1037 points for her effort and sits in 2nd place after the 1st event.  Visser is the leader with
1089 points.

Heat 3 had the overall favorite Morgan Lake (Great Britain) and US athlete Shaina Burns (South, Lakeville, MN).  Morgan Lake was third and Shaina ran 14.58, slightly off her 14.44 PR.  Shaina had a PR last weekend at the Chicagoland throws shot put, with a put over 46 feet.

Women’s Javelin Qualifying

Auto qualifying is 173-11 (or top 12).  

Sofi Flinck (Sweden) is defending champion and easily qualified on her first throw at 183-10.  Rebekah Wales (LSU), fourth at the Chicagoland throws last year could manage 154-2, finishing in 11th after group A qualifying, and is unlikely to make the final.

Megan Glasmann (ex of Stanford, now at U of Utah), former Kultan Keihas javelin project member, could manage only 163-0 and finished 16th overall.

Decathlon 100 meters

Heat 3 saw both Americans, Harrison Williams (University, Memphis, TN) and Gabe Moore (Freeport, FL) going 1-2, with Williams at 10.75 and Moore at 10.98, both PRs.  Williams won the 2013 New Balance Nationals Outdoor decathlon and Moore was this year’s New Balance National Indoor pentathlon champ.  Williams sits in second after the 1st event with 917 points behind the leader Karsten Warholm of Norway at 963 (as a result of his PR 10.55).

Men’s 110m Hurdles, Round 1

Misana Viltz (Millikan, Long Beach, CA) won his heat in 13.59.  Wellington Zaza, the 2013 New Balance Nationals Outdoor champion (Garnet Valley, PA), now at Central Arizona JC and representing Liberia, qualified as well in third at 13.66.  Nick Anderson (U of Kentucky) also won his heat in 13.61.  Viltz was the fourth fastest qualifier overall with favorite one of the favorites, David Omoregie (Great Britain) leading the qualifiers at 13.24.

Men’s 1500m Qualifying

The first 3 in each of the first 3 heats automatically qualifier and the next 3 fastest advance to Thursday’s final.

Grant Fisher (Grand Blanc, MI) stayed with the pack for 2 laps and then looked flat for the rest of the race.   He ran 3:49 for 9th (equivalent of a 4:06 mile) and did not qualify.

Patrick Joseph (Virginia Tech) ran a very intelligent race but could not keep up with the top finishers in the last 100 meters, finishing fifth in 3:49.00.

Interestingly, only four Africans (including two Kenyans and no Ethiopians) made it to the final.

Women’s Pole Vault Qualifying

Both Americans qualified, but it wasn’t easy.  Bonnie Draxler (Wrightstown, WI).  Both qualified, ultimately at 13-5.25.  Draxler opened at 12-3.5, then missed twice at 12-9.5 before making 13-1.5 and her second attempt and clearing 13-5.25 on her first attempt.  Desiree Freier (Northwest, Justin, TX) made her American fans nervous.  She passed all the way to 13-5.25, missed twice, and finally cleared on her third attempt.  Eleven cleared 13-5.25 and 3 cleared 13-1.5, so there will be a 14-woman final.

Women’s Heptathlon High Jump

Ashlee Moore cleared 5-8 for a personal best of 5-7 to move into 13th place overall with 1753 points.  Morgan Lake was sensational, the 17 year old Great Britain competitor set a world youth record in the high jump of 6-4.25 (!) to take the lead.  She has 2096 points over the Netherlands’ Nadine Visser at 1980 points.

Men’s Decathlon Long Jump

Gabe Moore jumped 23-0, now with 1681 points, placing him 17th after 2 event.  Harrison Williams did not fare as well, jumping only 22-3.75 with a total of 1684 points, just ahead of Moore at 16th.   The favorite, Jiri Sykora (Czech Republic) is leading with 1934 points, having long jumped a phenomenal 26-2.25.

Women’s 800m Qualifying

The first 3 in each of the 4 qualifying heats and those with the next 4 fastest times advance to the semi-finals.

Raevyn Rogers (Kinkaid, Houston, TX), looked great as she and two others separated themselves from the pack at the 200m mark.  At 320 meters, Rogers got clipped from behind and almost fell down but maintained her lead.  Just past the first lap did she start to lose contact and slowly faded to finish 6th overall in 2:08.01, not making the final.  We will see if the U.S. coaches protest.

Sabrina Southerland (Georgetown and Cardozo, Queens, NY) ran a great race never less than third the entire race to finish in that position at 205.84.  She will advance to the semi finals.

Men’s 100m Qualifying

The first 3 in each of the 7 qualifying heats and those with the next 3 fastest times advance to the semi-finals.

Kendal Williams (Stanton Prep, Jacksonville, FL) had an awesome start and ran to a PR 10.23 in winning heat 5 of 7.  That moves him into #3 U.S. high school for the year and is the fastest qualifier thus far.  That is until Trayvon Bromell (Baylor) won heat 6 in 10.13.  Both automatically qualified for the semis.

Day 1 Evening

Decathlon Shot Put

(The 26-2.25 reported earlier for Jiri Sykora was reported by the results system at the meet was in error.  The actual distance was 24-1.25.  The actual leader was Cedric Dublr of Austria with 25-4.75.  And the leader after two events was Karsten Warholm of Norwayw with 1905 points; Sykora was 5th with 1776 points).

Sykora took the shot at 50-10.25 to lead after three events (2596 points).  Evgeniy Likhanov of Russia is second, 6 points back.

Decathlon High Jump

Gabe Moore finished 12th overall at 6-5.5, a PB.  His total score at this point is 3149 for 12th place overall.  Harrison Williams did not have a good day, managing only 6-4.25 for a total score of 3133, 13th.

Men’s 400m Round 1

Lamar Bruton (Ohio State), stuck in lane 8, led for 300 meters then faded, hanging on for second and qualifying to the semifinals.  Tyler Brown (Eastern Michigan) had no issues in winning his heat, running 46.45 and advancing.  The class of the field was favorite Machel Cedenio of Trinidad and Tobago, 5th with 100m to go in his heat, but then cruising to the win in 46.60.

Heptathlon Shot Put

What do you make of someone who can high jump 6-4.25 and throw the shot 46-6?  That’s the making of a potential World Junior Champion named Morgan Lake (Great Britain).  She not only won the high jump earlier but also won the shot put.  Shaina Burns had a good day throwing 44-7, though a foot and a half off her personal best.  She moves into 7th with 2520 points.  Lake is leading with 2901 points, well ahead of 2012 Junior champ Yorgelis Rodriguez of Cuba with  2694.   Ashlee Moore threw only 32-4.75 for 2449 points total and 13th place.

Women’s 100m Round 1

Ariana Washington (Poly, Long Beach, CA) did not get a good start but managed to maintain for a close win, running (for her) a pedestrian 11.67).

In a bit of a surprise, Angela Tenorio of Ecuador, last year’s World Youth silver medallist in the 200m, false started.  High schooler Brenessa Thompson (Medgar Evers, Brooklyn, NY) representing Guyana finished fourth in her heat, running 11.71.

Out fast in her heat was one of the favorites, Dina Asher-Smith (Great Britain), winning in 11.18.

Kaylin Whitney (Eastridge, Clermont, FL) did not look the way she did a few weeks ago at the US Junior champs, barely winning her heat in 11.48.

Women’s Long Jump Qualifying
 
Both Americans qualified.  Jazmin Mc Coy (Nebraska) finished 5th overall with a jump of 20-3.5.  Quanesha Burks (Alabama) qualified in 9th at 20-1.  It only took 19-9.5 to make the 12 woman final.  Nadia Akpana Assa of Norway led the field with a jump of 20-11.75.  (Florentina Marencu of Romania, the 2013 World Youth champ with a best of 22-0.5 did not show and Ese Brume of Nigeria, with a best of 21-11, jumped only 17-0!  Those two were medal favorites).

Womens Hammer Qualifying

It was not a good day for Brooke Andersen (Northern Arizona) who had only one legal throw (179-3) and finished 11th overall in the group of 12.  She did not advance.  Haley Showalter (Valor Christian, Highlands Ranch, CO) had a worse day, fouling three times.

Heptathlon 200m

Shaina Burns, from lane 8, got a PB in her heat, running 26.26.  But later it was found that she ran inside her lane and, unfortunately, was disqualified.   Ashlee Moore ran well, clocking 25.05.

The standings after day 1 show Morgan Lake (Great Britain) leading with 3821 points.  Ashlee Moore is in 11th with 3331 points.  Shaina Burns, with the DQ, is in 23rd place with 2520 points.  She would have had 3498 points and would have been in 4th place after day 1.

Decathlon 400m

Gabe Moore and Harrison Williams, competing in the same heat, ran decently with Williams at 48.21 and Moore with 49.01.  Williams totaled 4032 points after the first day for 10th place.  Gabe Moore has 4010 points for 12th.

Men’s 10,000m Final

This was one of the most exciting races I have ever seen.  Not so much for the times or the competition, though those were exceptional. It was the atmosphere.  No one from the rather large crowd left before the 10000m like I have seen at so many events.  They cheered and clapped throughout the race.  There was the University of Oregon percussion and brass ensemble on the infield with a specially composed piece just for this race.  Then there was the race itself.  Two Japanese took the race out early, leading by as much as 200 meters a mile into the race.  But the pack of east Africans steadily move up so that, with more than half the race to go, they took over the lead.  Then it was the race between two Kenyans and the Ugandan Joshua Cheptegei.  Cheptegei separated himself from the Kenyans with 250 meters to go and won in 28:32.86.  Americans Brendan Shearn (30:24.30) and Jonathan Green (31:15.69) finished 15th and 24th, respectively.

Getting there

This is my 13th World Junior Championship, having missed the first one in Athens in 1986.

I must admit that I was not that thrilled at having the meet in Eugene as I have always looked forward to experiencing a new country.  But my opinion has changed.

After being in Eugene a few weeks ago for the USATF Junior Championships, I began to change my mind.  The venue is spectacular and the fans are enthusiastic and knowledgeable.  And, to put it simply, “they know how to run a meet in Eugene”.

So I left early Sunday morning for the flight from Raleigh-Durham to San Francisco where I would meet Joy Kamani.  Joy is COO of the NSAF and would be our photographer on site.  We continued on to Eugene where we met the NSAF’s tweeter-in-charge and friend of almost 50 years, Paul Limmer.  Joy came in from Houston and Paul from JFK in New York. 

Steve Underwood, master of the video interview, had his early morning flight cancelled, so he would spend much of his day writing event previews in the Delta Clubs in  Detroit (his departure city) and Chicago.  He finally arrived at 11pm on Sunday night (2am his time), having spent a good 24 hours awake.

Hayward Field

Paul, Joy and I left the hotel soon after we arrived from the airport in the early afternon to get our credentials.  It is about a half mile walk from the hotel to Hayward Field. 

Credentialing was scheduled for the Matthew Knight Center, the large basketball and multi-purpose arena on campus.  But it had moved to somewhere else, and we knew not where.  We were guided to proper site, the law building, directly across from Hayward Field, where we had our photos taken and credentials issued.

We wandered across the street to Hayward Field to see what was transpiring.  The timing people (and others) were in the process of setting up.  (It is my understanding that Seiko brings in may dozens of workers to operate the meet).

We saw John Blackburn, our Director of Officials and NSAF board member, instructing other officials at the shot put area, the discipline he will oversee at the meet.

We then went to the area outside the first turn where the vendors’ tents are set up.  There we saw giant plexiglass displays of the various world’s regions (North America, South America, Asia, Oceania, Europe, etc).  On those displays were the participating countries and the name of each athlete and their date of birth!  Those displays are truly special, and was evidence of the immense planning, skill and creativity of the organizing committee. 

What is eerily missing is any evidence of Nike.  The University of Oregon is cradle of that corporation but, since adidas is one of the IAAF’s title sponsors, the adidas brand must prevail at this meet.  And it certainly does, with no sign of ANY competitor’s existence.  We suspect things will be back to normal just after the end of the meet on Sunday night.

Monday

After an uneventful morning with a bit of exercise, we met Steve Underwood and wandered over to the campus to get him credentialed. 

At 11:30am we attended the introductory press conference with IAAF President Lamine Diack, as well as Tracktown USA director (and former U of Oregon coach) Vin Lananna and others.  That was followed by a press conference with leading athletes, including Americans Mary Cain and Trayvon Bromell.

Then came lunch (buffet at an Indian restaurant) and an uneventful afternoon back at the hotel. 

We later headed back to Hayward for the photo briefing.  It is about an hour session and concerns where to go and not go during the event and who gets to be on the infield. 

This is the largest photo group I have ever seen at one of these meets.  In short, only 11 of the 30 or so photographers will be allowed on the field at any one time.  So there will be a lot of rotating in and out.

It was good to see Olaf (Austria) and Yannis (Greece), IAAF press stewards.  We had some interesting conversations with them.  They have become friends over the years, and we appreciate their cooperation and expertise.

It was then dinner and back to the hotel.  We can’t wait for the meet to begin!  Day 1 morning will include with heptathlon and decathlon starts, as well as qualifying in the women’s javelin, pole vault and 800 meters, and men’s 1500 meters, 110m Hurdles and 100 meters!  What a great morning!

With the 6 days of competition complete, here are Jim Spier's form charts with updates on "how they did" compared to predictions, updated July 27, for the 2014 IAAF World Junior Champs in Eugene:

WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPS FORM CHART FINAL UPDATE

Photos, from top: 1) Todd Ogden, Grayson Hill and Trevor Danielson during Thursday's first training session; 2) Coach Kinnunen, Jami Kinnunen, Kristen Clark and Ogden during training; 3) Coach Krammes makes a point.

As any true connoisseur of this track and field event knows, there’s something special about the javelin and Finland.  It’s not just that this Northern European country is basically the historical and competitive epicenter of the jav.  It’s something that you can only know if you come here to train, watch, observe, soak it in.

“You’re allowed to love it here,” says NSAF coach Barry Krammes.  That’s what it really comes down to.

That’s why as part of the National Scholastic Athletic Foundation’s Project Javelin Gold, the program’s eight student-athletes (actually, nine on this trip) DO come here, to the Olympic Training Center in Kuortane, Finland, about four hours north of Helsinki.  If the Project is going to achieve its true goals of preparing young, talented javelinists for the Olympic and World Championship level, in a United States atmosphere where the event is typically only modestly celebrated, the NSAF’s Project founders Jim Spier, Joy Kamani and Jeff Gorski have deemed it essential that such a trip is included.  So as the 3rd year of the Project comes to an end, here we are again.

Greeting and hosting us here in Finland this week, per usual, is Coach Kimmo Kinnunen, the nation’s Junior National Coach whose own extraordinary career in the sport included the 1991 IAAF World Championship title and two Olympic finals.  Krammes joins Kinnunen as part of our U.S. staff, as a prep coach in Pennsylvania and true student of the sport – as well as a current elite athlete with a best over 259 feet and an aspiring 2016 Olympian.  Other Finnish athletes and coaches will help during the week, and Kinnunen’s son – Junior elite Jami Kinnunen – is also training with the Project athletes.

It’s been an extraordinary year for Project Javelin Gold.  It began in Chapel Hill in late October, as the athletes began their out-of-season training at Gorski’s “Field of Dreams” and the UNC facilities, working under their Finnish-trained mentor, Coach Krammes, and javelin legend and NSAF board member Bill Schmidt.  It continued two months later at the same venue, with another all-time great former thrower and current coach – Tom Pukstys – adding his mentorship and expertise, and the program enrolling two new athletes.

The athletes began their seasons in the spring with a variety of successes as they competed in their states (for those that contested the jav) and beyond (for some whose states do not).  Many convened at the Youth Olympic Trials in Florida, in early April.  Later, as the regular-season wound down, Project athletes also competed at the Great Southwest Classic in New Mexico.

Then the season reached its peak at New Balance Nationals Outdoor.  Following that was a first-time opportunity to train at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, California, where the Project javelinists joined the NSAF’s Project Triple Jump athletes for a full camp for the first time – with coaches Krammes, Pukstys and Schmidt.  The Chicagoland Throws and USATF Juniors followed in the weeks ahead, with some athletes also contesting Junior Olympic meets. 

With the season nearly over, the Project’s athletes are prominent on the U.S. prep lists – with the girls especially.  NBNO/Chicagoland/USATF JO champ Tairyn Montgomery, Katelyn Gochenour and Sophia Rivera are US#1-2-6, with Gabby Kearney and Chrissy Glasmann – who have trained with the Project on their own (Kearney is also here in Finland) – also ranking #3 and #5.  Plus Emma Fitzgerald, US#15 during an injury-abbreviated season, is US#1 with the lighter Youth jav from her Youth Olympic Trials win (for a quick review of each athlete’s competitive seasons, see below)

“To take each individual athlete, to see what they were doing going all the way back from the beginning of year, and see their progression is really quite remarkable,” says Krammes.  “The feedback we give them and the adjustments that they’ve been able to make ... it’s evident by their marks and how well they've done this year.

“And it’s critical that at least one of us coaches have been at all these major events, so we can say, ‘this is what was going on here and you need to fix this,’” he continues.  “For me personally, going from Great Southwest to here now and seeing what I've been giving them and that they've been working on it … it’s rewarding as a coach and it's really showing that the NSAF program and system we've been putting together is working.”

Finally, that’s brought us to here.  During eight days at the Center in Kuortane, the athletes will work hard on throwing, drills and a variety of other things.  They will play hard, too, enjoying the recreational opportunities afforded here and strengthen the bonds they already have.  They will also get to prepare for and compete in a meet in nearby Vaasa, where they will compete against Finnish and other international athletes, as well as each other and themselves. 

In fact, Krammes says a major emphasis of the camp this week, which Kimmo has set up with the other coaches, is preparing for major (and international) competition. 

“I think it's critical for the kids to be able to understand and grasp that ... just getting exposure to international meets and so when they do make U.S. teams they have international experience.  I think that's huge ... I remember my first time overseas; it was so different than anything I was ever used to ... so getting the experience is really good.”

It’s been a long year, and some of the student athletes have shown the wear of it, considering various injuries and the plateaus that athletes sometimes inevitably go through.  Yet, as we’ve begun here in Kuortane, everyone seems refreshed and renewed.  That’s part of the magic in Finland.

“Emotionally, it’s great here,” says Krammes, “because in the U.S. you say throw javelin, and people they often say, ‘well, what is that’ ... but when the kids come here, they're allowed to love it … it’s pretty neat for them to come here, see the emotion and passion that goes behind it, and be allowed to love the event and be a student of it.”

So how specifically have all of these kids done this year, you ask?  Please see below:

Tairyn Montgomery, Redondo Union, CA rising junior

Just threw a US#1 168-1 in late July to defend her USATF JO age 15-16 title, making her the #7 thrower in prep history and even better among sophomores … previously hit her 1st career marks over 160 feet in winning the early-July Chicagoland Throws at 163-0, which at the time was US#3 … earlier in her first New Balance Nationals Outdoor (NBNO) meet in June, she captured the title in 157-9, taking her first major meet of the year with the heavier jav … in April, she placed 6th in Youth Olympic Trials as her California outdoor season began (no jav in CA).

Kaitlyn Gochenour, Marian Catholic, NE rising junior

Threw a 167-0 at the March Emporia State Open to take the early national lead (still US#2), which she held until late July … finished 2nd at NBNO with a 154-11 … also had a runner-up finish at USATF JOs with a 155-1 … earlier took 2nd at early June’s Great Southwest, hitting 142-4 in poor wind conditions … was 4th in Youth Olympic Trails … placed 7th at early July USATF Juniors before reviving her season with 3rd at Chicagoland with 156-0.

Sophia Rivera, Brentwood, MO rising junior

Was invited to officially join Project Javelin Gold after attending the two fall/winter 2013 clinics, showing the potential to improve from 117 ft. to the 140s … after a season of ups and downs, had her best performance of the year at USATF Juniors, throwing 157-0 for 4th … that beat her 147-0 PR from Kansas Relays in April, where she was 2nd … won USATF Youth Nationals age 15-16 title in June with a 148-0 … other major meet places include 1st at AAU Club Nationals, 7th at GSW, 8th at YOT, 9th at NBNO … also an all-around thrower who had some monster performances in taking the Great Southwest discus at 142-8 and finishing 3rd in the NBNO shot at 46-6.25 … improved shot PR to 47-2.5 at Juniors, taking 5th.

Emma Fitzgerald, Thayer Academy, MA rising junior

Her season got off to a dramatic start at the Youth Olympic Trials as she won with a 168-2 with the lighter Youth javelin, earning consideration for the Americas Area Team … She was eventually named to the Team and will compete at the 2nd Youth Olympics in Nanjing, China in late August … at the Trials, however, she was injured and subsequently missed the rest of April and May, basically missing her state season in Massachusetts … came back for NBNO to take 4th with 149-1 … followed up with HS jav PR 151-2 at Chicagoland Throws.

Kirsten Clark, Ruston, LA graduate

Had a monster start to season in March with a breakthrough 148-2 throw at the Neville (La.) Van Leigh Relays in mid-March, then right at the top of the national list … scored major invitational victories at the Sugar Bowl (146-1) and Mobile Challenge of Champions (141-4) meets … was runner-up in her 5A state meet, then 6th at Great Southwest and 7th at NBNO ... headed to Texas A&M this fall!

Todd Ogden, Glacier MT graduate

Cracked his 2013 PR when he hit a big 215-5 best at his 2A Western Divisional meet in Montana, which still holds up as U.S. #5 … went on to take his 2A state title with 210-10 … was 6th at NBNO and 5th at Chicagoland, but seems primed to chase his PR again here, where he set it last year ... headed to Montana State this fall!

Trevor Danielson, Newberg, OR graduate

Back injuries and other issues plagued much of his spring season, but was pleased to set a seasonal best 198-6 for 3rd at Chicagoland and seems primed here to get his first 200-footer since May, 2013 … has had four meets over 190 this year, including 196-0 at Willamette Falls Invite … took 9th at NBNO ... headed to Stanford this fall!

Grayson Hill, North East, PA rising junior

Was invited to officially join Project Javelin Gold after attending the winter 2013 clinic and is youngest male athlete in program … improved his PR 17 feet his year, hitting a school record 178-7 at his District 10 meet, then was 11th at AA state … placed 7th at Great Southwest at 170-7 … after a sub-par NBNO Emerging Elite performance, he had one of the best camps of anyone at Chula Vista, throwing over 180 feet.

Gabby Kearney, Roseburg, OR rising senior

Attending her first Project event in Kuortane after an outstanding junior year … set her US#3 166-0 PR (#2 at the time) at a dual meet in May before getting ready for state … no athlete nationally was more consistent through June, as she had four of her six meets over 157 … won 6A state title with 164-2 … came to NBNO in June and took 3rd, then followed with 3rd at USATF Juniors at 161-1 and 2nd at Chicagoland.

Saturday, August 2: Day 3, more special training and a zoo trip

Photos (top to bottom, left to right): 1) Gabby Kearney, Grayson Hill and Trevor Danielson during the weightlifting session; 2-6) Various shots from the Ahtari zoo trip.

I woke up at 4am.  That’s one hour later than yesterday.  The sun was up, of course.  I might get back to normal by the time we leave on Friday.

We had the usual breakfast between 7am and 9am.  The kids are exhausted.  The combination of jet lag and hard workouts have left most of them zombified.  They are a “game” bunch and will persevere, eagerly following Kimmo’s plan each day.

I went to the office again to pay the bill for the week.  There was a slight discrepancy, so I was told to come back on Monday or Tuesday when the regular staff was there.  I’ll try again on Monday.

The morning began with the floorball “warmup”.  This time it was joined by Kimmo’s wife Sari, a former national class quarter-miler for Finland (in the 52-53 second range).

We told Kimmo we had a great time yesterday in Seinajoki and was there any similar place nearby we could spend a few hours.  He mentioned a place call Ahtari, about 35 miles away.  It had a zoo, he said.

Meanwhile the kids had begun the morning’s program (as outlined by Kimmo):

10.00  Training session in Kuortane-hall/ Kimmo & Barry

• warm up easily running     
• med ball special power for Javelin    
• hurdle jumping equal jumps     
• one equal jump test    
• hurdle walking + cool down  +swimming   

12.30 Lunch

Two of the kids were concerned that they would have to take a test (“one equal jump test,” above – they weren’t quite sure what meant).  Kimmo explained that it was just a measurement of a standing long jump in order to somewhat predict one’s overall strength in that area.  They were relieved that it was something they couldn’t fail!

We (Paul, Joy, Kristi and I) took off for Ahtari soon after the morning session began.  We got there in less than an hour and, indeed, there was a zoo!  A zoo only with animals native to Finland – elk, wolves, bears, wolverines, badgers, mink, snow leopards, etc.  It was well laid-out, with plenty of wide open spaces for the animals to live and play.  It is truly a wonderful place (search Ahtari Zoo in Wikipedia for more details – I couldn’t leave the exact link here because both “A’s” in Ahtari have dots over them, like a German umlaut).

I received a call from Kimmo while were there:  Kristi’s luggage had been found and would be delivered by 5pm.  Great news!

We got back to Kuortane in the middle of the afternoon session:

15.00-17 Special weightlifting session/ Jyrki Kononen & Mari Paananen

• first group I learned how to lift safely!
• Jami, Barry, Katelyn, Todd, Kristin and Emma

16.30   continue with Kimmo, special speed with baseball and match!
16.30-18.30 Special weightlifting session/ Jyrki Kononen & Mari Paananen

• second group I learned how to lift safely!
• Sophia, Grayson, Trevor, Tairyn and Gabrielle

18.00   continue with Kimmo, special speed with baseball and match!
18.30-19.15 Dinner

One group was going through the weightlifting program, the other was with Kimmo throwing baseballs and matchsticks.  Yes, matchsticks!  Apparently throwing matchsticks helps one concentrate on proper release.  You have to concentrate on throwing the matchstick in an exact manner so there is little wiggle while in the air.  It was amazing how far they could be thrown.  While we were there, Emma Fitzgerald threw one about 25 meters (80+ feet).

Working out in the gym was Mostafa Al-Gamel of Egypt, perhaps the largest Egyptian on the planet (or at least in Finland).  He is currently ranked third in the world in the hammer throw (266-7).  Each day there is a new team or world class athlete working out.  This is a special place.

A new group had just come into the camp this morning.  It seemed like there were about 1,000 little female Finnish gymnastics munchkins.  And they all decided to get on the dinner line just before me.  So I waited my turn and got my food (though the food this night was not especially worth the wait).

The plan for the evening was as follows:

• 16.30-21.00 Finland championships in track & field, TV-2, women javelin final  
• 20.30-21.00 weight-lifting training, refresher training session the day / Jyrki & Mari
• 21.30  Supper
• 23.00  sleeping time for everyone

We watched day 2 of the Finnish champs, and it included the women’s javelin throw.

Tomorrow brings more training.  Let’s hope the kids are starting to recover.

More Day 3: Some photos from Kimmo:

Tairyn, Sophia, Emma, Kristen and Katelyn enjoy some ice cream during the evening snack.

 
At left, Weightlifting Group 1: Katelyn, Kristen, Todd and Emma with Jyrki, Iita and Mari.
At right, Weightlifting Group 2: Grayson, Trevor, Tairyn, Gabby and Sophia with Jyrki, Iita and Mari.

 
At left: Tairyn, Kristen, Emma and Sophia in the classroom.
At right: Barry, Paul and Jim in the training center.

Friday, August 1: Day 2, trip to towns of Kourtane, Seinajoki

Photos (top to bottom, left to right): 1) Paul, Jim and Kristi check out the javelins in the Seinajoki Intersport store; 2) downtown Kuortane; 3) XC skiers training in Kuortane; 4) a fruit stand in Kuortane; 5) a market in Kuortane; 6 and 7) a farmers' market in Seinajoki; 8) view from Rossi's in Seinajoki. 

I woke up at 3am after about 6 hours sleep.  I tossed and turned until 5am, then got out of bed and wrote yesterday’s blog.  It took about 2-½ hours.

I had mentioned meeting Katy Polansky’s father yesterday at the Lufthansa lounge at Dulles Airport.  As it turned out, Jeff Gorski, head of our program, had been commissioned to coach Katy in the late nineties and had flown to Eugene to train her three times!  The javelin world is a small world, indeed.

I went to the cafeteria for breakfast.  The only one from our group there was Barry Krammes.  Nearby was the senior Estonian women’s volleyball team – about two dozen 6-foot tall blondes.

Over the next hour, the rest of our staff and the kids wandered in.  They included Gabby Kearney, ranked #3 in the U.S. currently, from Roseburg, OR, and her mother Patty.  Patty was a national class javelin thrower in the early 1980s who ultimately threw for the University of Oregon.  It is very enjoyable to have Patty and Gabby with us.

The morning session, according to Kimmo’s plan, was as follows:

Training session in Kuortane-hall and gross-country track/ Kimmo & Barry
• warm up with that nice and stupid stick-play floorball
• med ball and iron ball throwing, “javelin technically thinking”, body “opening”
• special footwork with legs +calf/crossovers/ crossjumping/special thinks on throwing position
• special javelin power, morujev, felke, throwing motion and disc rotation
• easily running opening on wood track, ins-outs
• gool down + swimming

Kristi’s Rieger’s bags were still missing (she just barely made the flight in Chicago, but her bags didn’t make it).  She got the help of someone at the front desk who virtually spent the entire morning calling United and other places for her.

While at the reception area, I asked to pay the bill for stay for everyone.  I was told when we checked in on Thursday to come back the next day because they hadn’t prepared the bill yet.  I asked to pay this morning and was told it still wasn’t ready and to come back in the next day or two!

Inside the gym (next to the reception are), the warmup was, as is typical, floor hockey which took about an hour.  It got the juices flowing for the kids.  The Estonian women’s volleyball team was practicing in the facility, as was the Finnish men’s volleyball team.

Joy and I walked into town.  It is about a 1-¼ mile walk.  I went to an ATM and withdrew some Euros.  The exchange rate was pretty good: 1.3375, or about 100 Euros for $133 dollars, just about the current rate (1.34).  At the airport, I exchanged $50.00 for Euros.  I got 28 Euros. That’s an exchange rate of 1.79! 

On the way, some cross country skiers passed us, using roller skis.  When we arrived yesterday, a female cross country skier passed us, working out; she was a member of the Finish Olympic team who competed in Sochi.

We had to make a decision of going into the ”S” market or the ”K” market, two supermarkets next to each other.  We chose the ”S”, where I purchased some coffee and milk.

The kids worked out indoors until noon, and were given the the bulk afternoon off and were to report back for more training – a heavy throwing session – at 5:00pm.

We walked back, and some of us decided to drive to Seinajoki for lunch, about 25 miles west of Kuortane, a town of about 35,000 (http://www.seinajoki.fi/en/index.html).  It was easy drive, and we got there in about a half hour.

We found a great parking space on the street and wandered around.  There was a small farmers’ market in the central square which sold mainly root vegetables and berries.  We went into an Intersport store, basically a running shoe and sports apparel store.  Of course they had javelins, shots and discusses for sale!

We found a restaurant (Rosso’s) where three of us had pizza and Joy had salmon soup.  The pizza was not New York pizza, but pretty close.  We were impressed.

So now back to Kuortane.  We approached the van and noticed a parking ticket!  Apparently the are machines on the street to pay for parking.  We didn’t notice them.  The ticket was for 45 Euros ($60.00).  There is a way to appeal it via e-mail, which I intend to do.

We showed it to Kimmo when we returned, and he said ”Congratulations.”  I suppose even Kimmo, as famous as he is in Finland, can’t fight the parking bureaucracy.

We got back at about 3:00pm.  I did some work and decided to lay down for 15 minutes, then go watch the evening workouts.  

Kimmo’s schedule:

• 17.00 Throwing session on main track/ Kimmo start time, Kristin, Sophia, Trevor, Todd and Barry
• warm up independently
• cool-down independently

• 17.45 Throwing session/ Kimmo start time, Tairyn, Emma, Gabrielle, Katelyn, Grayson and Jami
• warm up independently     
• cool-down independently

• 18.30-19.30 Dinner          
• 18-21 Finland championships in track & field, TV-2     
• 20.30 video preview, the days throws/ Kimmo & Barry   
• 21.30 supper*                            
• 23.00 sleeping time for everyone

* supper (above) means late night snack (bread, cheese, cucumbers, tomatoes, cole slaw, oranges and apples

I woke up at 7:30pm (!), missing the afternoon session and arriving at the cafeteria at the tail end of the dinner schedule.  The Finnish national track and field championships was on television so we watched it all together.

I went to sleep at about 9:30pm and looked forward to the next day.  As can be imagined, the kids were exhausted.  I’m sure they will sleep well. 

The next few days will be geared to the competition in Vaasa on Tuesday.  (The rule of thumb for competing is to stay in a place 1 day for each time zone you had crossed before competing.  The east coast kids – that would be Grayson and Emma – are 7 time zones away.  Others are 8 and 9 time zones, and Tairyn and Trevor at 10 time zones.  So, ideally, for the athletes to be at their best, the competition should be at least 7 days from arriving, or next Thursday.  It will, in fact, be 5 days from arriving, so there might be some challenges.  I expect them all to throw well.  They are, after all, energetic teenagers and high school athletes of the highest level).

Note:  our staff works harder than any group I know.  Steve Underwood, for example, spends the day taking photos and videos, then spends hours editing and posting on our website and on facebook.  Eventually it catches up with you as evidenced by this photo last night taken by Kimmo Kinnunen.

Thursday, July 31: Getting There

Photos: 1) Joy Kamani greets Tairyn Montgomery and others as they arrive in Hensinki from Chicago; 2) Kristen Clark explains her luggage adventures; 3) Coach Krammes and the kids during the first training session Thursday.

Four of the staff – chaperones Jim Spier, Paul Limmer and Joy Kamani, and PR/reporter Steve Underwood (SteveU) – transitioned to the trip by taking the “red eye” from Eugene, Oregon on Sunday night after spending a week at the 15th  IAAF World Junior Championships.  Joy and I left on Tuesday for Finland, and Paul and SteveU on Wednesday.

We all got home from Eugene early morning on Monday (July 28) and had 1 or 2 days to unpack and repack, and take care of whatever personal chores we had.

Joy and I, using our frequent traveler miles to obtain business class tickets on Lufthansa, met up at Washington, DC’s Dulles airport on Tuesday afternoon.  I had a six hour layover and Joy had three.

While sitting in the Lufthansa lounge and discussing the prior meet’s World Junior championship, a very distinguished gentlemen having overhead our conversation, commented that he was from Eugene and that he had regretted not being at the meet since he had to be overseas.  He did mention that he had been to the 2000 World Junior Championships in Santiago, Chile.  (“Really?,” I thought.  Almost no one had gone there.  It was out of season -held in October – and it was a long way from the U.S..  In fact, the U.S. sent only 15 or 20 athletes.)

“My daughter competed there in the javelin,” he continued.  He pointed to the seat behind him where she was sitting.  “Her name is Katy Polansky.” 

“Katy Polansky, the javelin thrower?” I asked.  Yes, he said.  Katy had set the U.S. high school record in 1999 with the “new” javelin.  The record was 174-2 and she’s still #6 all-time.  She went on to win the U.S. Junior championships in 1999 and 2000, and competed for the University of Oregon. 

What are the chances of randomly meeting a former javelin star on the way to a javelin camp in Finland?  It seemed to be a sign that the javelin gods were smiling on us.

We boarded the plane and spent the next seven hours reading and sleeping, landing in Frankfurt at about 7:30am local time.  Then there was the challenge to get to our connecting gate about two miles away (or so it seemed).  And that trip included negotiating three security check points. 

We took off from Frankfurt at 9:30am and arrived in Helsinki at about 1:00pm (one time zone further east).

I had made a reservation at the Hilton at the Helsinki airport for convenience sake.  We checked in and went to our rooms.  I began to monitor the flights of the other 12 who would be leaving from the U.S. on this day (Wednesday).

Coming to Chicago to travel directly to Helsinki would be Steve (Lansing, MI), Kristi Rieger – chaperone/jill-of-all-trades (Sioux Falls, SD), and Project Javelin Gold members Tairyn Montgomery (Redondo Beach, CA), Kristen Clark (Ruston, LA), Katelyn Gochenour (Logan, IA), Sophia Rivera (Brentwood, MO), Trevor Danielson (Portland, OR), Todd Ogden (Kalispell, MT) and Grayson Hill (North East, PA).

I was a bit concerned with the connection of Tairyn, Sophia and Steve.  The flight would leave Chicago at 3:45pm and those three would land 45 minutes prior, coming from Los Angeles, St. Louis and Detroit, respectively.  The travel agent assured me that, since all the arriving flights were in the same terminal as the departing flight, there would be no problem.

And there was not – with those three, anyway. 

Kristi Rieger, however, had to put up with continual delays that day.  She was originally to have landed at about noon.  But after switching airlines and additional delays, she still wasn’t going to land until 4:00pm, which would have missed the flight.  The travel agent rebooked her through London, just in case. 

But Kristi took a chance.  She landed at 3:33pm.  SteveU, aware of her plight, arranged through begging, cajoling (and a bit of deception) to delay the Helsinki flight in order for her to get on board.  Showing her substantial fitness, she sprinted through the airport (SteveU estimated 6 minute pace for nearly a mile), she arrived just as the door was closing.  Someone had already taken her seat, so she took one of the empty ones.  And off they went, everyone on board.

“If you weren’t a marathoner, you wouldn’t have made it,” SteveU told her.

The New York group, only three, had other challenges.  It included chaperone Paul Limmer (East Northport, NY), national class thrower/chaperone/coach Barry Krammes (Stroudsburg, PA), project member Emma Fitzgerald (Braintree, MA).

Connections were no problem there as both Paul and Barry drove to JFK airport and Emma arrived from Boston 5 hours before the New York-Helsinki flight was scheduled to leave.  The problem was that the flight was delayed four hours!  That meant that our next day travel plans would be impacted.  Rather than the New York group arriving within 15 minutes of the Chicago group, there would now be a four hour wait for the New York group to arrive.

Meanwhile, back with the Chicago group, there was a further complication.  Kristen Clark had been, um, a little late in arriving at her local Monroe, LA airport, such that she was not able to check her luggage.  What to do?  Kristen was on her way with no luggage.

Kristen’s mother, Gina, e-mailed me, asking for the address of the Kuortane training center.  She would ship the luggage to Kuortane.  The only problem would be that it would arrive two days before we all would leave to come home, and at prohibitive cost.

Being resourceful, she was aware that Barry would be driving from Pennsylvania to JFK airport.  She asked if he would spend about an hour as Kristen’s “personal shopper.”  He complied, happily (discovering skills he didn’t know he had).

Between e-mails and texting from Gina, Barry managed to shop for many hundreds of dollars worth of clothes for Kristen (admitting that it was a bit challenging purchasing things such as sports bras, but Gina walked him through it).  And so he arrived at Kennedy with his luggage, a half-dozen javelins and a bag full of women’s clothing.  (Such is the nature of our awesome staff).

So everyone was now on their way.  Joy and I had some magnificent salmon soup in the Hilton’s restaurant that night.  And then we were off to bed to rest for the next day’s 4-hour ride to Kuortane.

Joy and I met at 7am on Wednesday morning to partake of the breakfast buffet.  Not until I got the check did I realize this was not a cheap breakfast.  It was a really great buffet, but not quite worth the 27 Euros each (about $40.00!).  We will be staying at this hotel next Thursday night  - and we will find a more inexpensive option for all of us for next Friday’s breakfast!

Now it was off to pick up the 9-passenger rental vans.  Last year I had rented two in my name.  When we went to pick them up, they thought it was a mistake that I had rented two – they thought I only meant to rent one, so they only had one van. They managed to dig up another so we were ultimately OK.

So this year I rented one in my name and one in Joy’s name.  How could there be any confusion with that?  We went to the rental counter and the woman said, “Here is the car in your name, and the one for Joy is at the agency in downtown Helsinki.” 

“No”, I said, I had rented both for airport pickup.  “Not according to this”, she said.  “I can give you a rental here for Joy Kamani, but it will be a different model.” 

“That’s fine”, I said, “as long as it is a 9-passenger van.”  It was, she said.

We went to the arrival area to wait for the Chicago group.  They arrived at about 8:30am looking exhausted.  We broke the news that we would have to wait four hours for the New York group and they took it in stride – they are really a great group of kids.

We hadn’t checked out of our hotel, so we arranged to have the boys go to my room to take a shower and the girls to go to Joy’s room to do the same.  We got some extra towels for them and they all “freshened up” a bit. 

They were hungry so we next went to the “Jumbo” Mall, a very large mall near the airport, much like you would find in the U.S.   We ate at a place called “Chico’s”, a Bennigans/Applebees-like restaurant specializing in “American” food.  In fact, the hamburgers (and there were many ordered by this group!) each came with a little American flag.

Steve and I then went back to the airport to pick up the New York group.  Joy, Kristi and everyone else went to a supermarket in the mall to buy some extra food for our stay in Kuortane, as well as lunch for Paul, Barry and Emma who were coming from New York.

Steve and I parked the car in the short term lot and waited at the arrivals area.  They walked out at about 1:00pm and did not look especially well-rested.  We went back to the parking lot, loaded the van, and I went to the machine to pay the parking fee (1 Euro for every 10 minutes).   It was 3 Euros.  I put in the ticket and my credit card was rejected.  It rejected all four of my credit cards.  Paul tried his and they were rejected. 

I had to go to the service center and pay what was now 4 Euros.  A simple 15-minute exercise turned into one of 45 minutes.  So much for our plans; we were supposed to leave the airport at 9am.  Instead were would leave at 1:45pm, getting us to Kuortane at about 6pm.

I drove one van and Kristi and Joy shared in driving the other.  We made one pit stop and made it in about four hours. 

I had notified Kimmo Kinnunen (1991 world champ and head of the Finnish junior program – and our camp leader) that we would be late.   He estimated that we would be arriving exactly at 5:48pm!

As we drove up to the reception center in Kuortane, Kimmo was waiting. It was 5:55pm.  “You are 7 minutes late”, he said.

We checked everyone in.  Everyone got their room keys and their meal tickets.  The five girls were in one large suite and the three boys were in another.  (They are really more like apartments than hotel rooms, all equipped with a full kitchen, washing machine, sauna and other amenities).

The kids thought that they would be able to finally relax.

“Eat dinner now, meet at outdoor track at 7:15pm,” Kimmo said.  And so they did.

They did a light workout for about 2 hours.  Here is the exact program as outlined by Kimmo:

Training Session on main track/ Kimmo & Barry
* warm up with easily running
* running drills and stretching
* easy Javelin tecnic with walking/standing/good throwing position, only easy throws
* technical drills for Javelin, running, crossover drills
* mid- body strength + hurdle walking + stretching

As it turned out, it was a good way to get the “blood circulating” for everyone.  Then off to bed and a well-deserved rest.

Sunday, August 3: Day 4 - Hoops, more exploring and backwards shot put

Joy Kamani Photos (top to bottom, left to right): 1) Weightlifting instructors Jyrki, Mari and Iita; 2-3) Young javelin throwers at the youth meet; 4) Kristi climbs up to peer inside the window of the locked church (at Jim's behest); 5-6) Jim and Kristi get the bike tires inflated, then the cycling begins; 7) the pile of snow outside the ice rink; 8) the computerized shooting range in the recreation center; 9) the beach at Kuortane Lake; 10-15) the Klemetti museum, including signage, his bust, family photo, his desk, one of the houses and the sauna.

I went to bed at 8pm last night and got up at 4am – 8 hours, but now must kill some time before breakfast at 7:00am.

The kids rolled into breakfast, this time well-rested.  They are finally adjusting to the time difference – and recovering from the workout yesterday didn’t hurt!  (or, maybe, it did).  

We noticed Shih-Feng Huang of Chinese Taipei in the facility.  He was here training with another athlete and two coaches.  Huang is currently ranked #25 in the world in the javelin with a best of 267-6.  We understand he will be competing in Vaasa on Tuesday.

The morning session was as follows:

09.45-12:00pm  Speed / explosive properties, the importance of weight lifting and what it will be useful in  the javelin / Jyrki and Mari

The warmup this morning was a basketball game – a pretty intense basketball game!  Our kids are great athletes, multi-sport competitors.  Basketball is one of the sports that some of them excel in.  And it showed.  We were praying for no sprained ankles or other injuries.  Fortunately, there were none, though I suspect there were some bruises.

While they did their morning session, Joy, Kristi and I took a walk. 

We first went to the outdoor track where an age group track meet was going on.  We, of course, concentrated on the javelin and were amazed at the technique of the 7- and 8-year-olds.  In between throws, for example, they were practicing their crossovers and blocks!  It is something you just do not see in the U.S. (though I suspect the Finns would be amazed at some of the American hurdlers and jumpers of a comparable age).

We continued on about another half mile and came across a beautiful Evangelical Lutheran church, as is the tradition in this part of the world.  It was surrounded by acres of graves, all beautifully tended to with permanent flower beds around them.  The church was built in 1777 (http://www.kuortaneenseurakunta.fi/00010383-kuortaneen-kirkot-kirkkotie-23-63100-kuortane).

Behind it was the original bell tower, another magnificent building, now used for storage.  It was a “late” addition, having been built in 1831.

We noticed a long, open building about 50 feet long and 20 feet wide.  It housed a very long row boat.  Apparently it was a “church boat,” used to transport parishioners from the other side of Kuortane Lake (about a mile across) to worship on Sunday.  And there were no outboard motors in the 18th and 19th century!  So there must have been a more than a few rowers transporting a few dozen people each way (the lake is about 1-¼ miles at its widest).

We returned for lunch and noticed the female Finnish national team speed skaters having lunch.  They are here training for a few days. 

There was no training for the athletes in the early afternoon, and we were to meet up again at 5:00pm.

This time, Joy, Kristi and I were joined by Steve Underwood and rented bikes for the afternoon. 

We stopped in the building next door to the reception center, which is an ice rink.  There were several hockey players of all age groups working out.  There was a big pile of wet snow and ice outside the building, likely dumped off by a zamboni and perfect for making snowballs.  So we threw a few and watched some children having fun with it.

Then we quickly went to the building next to that one, which is an indoor children’ recreation center, complete with giant slides, trampolines and games.

Then on with the ride.  We passed by the church we visited this morning en route to a city beach.  There were a few dozen families there.  It’s on the lake adjacent to the sports resort.

After about another block we stumbled up a “museo” (museum).  It was the homestead of a famous Finnish composer named Heikki Klemetti.  (http://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heikki_Klemetti).  We snooped around and, as we were leaving, a young lady, college-aged asked, “Can I help you?  I am a guide.”

“Of course,” we said.  There were several buildings, and she grabbed the keys to them from a special hiding place under a mat, and proceeded to show us some of the houses, most of which were built in the late 19th century.  It was the summer home of Klemetti.  (http://www.kuurtanes-seura.fi/Klemetti.htm).

It seems that the original house was built over an underground stream.  That was a problem for Klemetti, who could not concentrate because of the distraction (!).  So he got a divining rod and found a place on the property where there was no underground stream.   It happened to be an area next to the sauna.  So he built a room there which housed his piano, sleeping and living quarters.  And that’s where he composed.

She then asked if we would like to see the restored homestead across the street.  Of course, we said “yes.”   It was a rich man’s house built in 1774.  Surrounded by several “out” buildings, it also included small shacks were the workers lived.  See this on YouTube (the lady speaking on the video was not our guide): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YfNkHt86ck

We got back to the camp in time for the evening session. 

17.00-19.00 Training session on main track/ Kimmo & Barry

• shot put throwing backwards and from below test
• step in the character running with javelin spikes
• easy speed running on grass
• walking hurdles + cool-down + a couple of stretching + swimming

The backwards-throwing shot putting got pretty competitive.  On the men’s side, the winner was Kimmo’s son Jami, barely edging Barry Krammes.  For the girls, I couldn’t figure out who won:  Katelyn, Sophia, Gabby or, maybe, Tairyn.  They were all pretty close.

We returned to the facility for dinner.  It was really nice out, so we ate on the patio. 

Joy and Kristi, not especially enamored with the evening’s fare, were asked by Kimmo why they were not eating.  Joy diplomatically responded, “Um … we’re on a special diet.”  From then on, they were known as the “Special Diet” people.   They ultimately ordered pizza and that is now known as their special diet meal.

We spent a few hours talking with Kimmo after dinner.  Barry asked him what his favorite event is after javelin.  He said, “My favorite event is the Javelin Final.  After that, it’s Javelin Qualification, then Javelin warmup, then Javelin practice.”

Tomorrow we will take everyone to a very large shopping center about 20 miles from Kuortane, in the middle of nowhere.  Then we will likely take the kids to a maze nearby.  There will be no heavy workouts in preparation for Tuesday’s competition.

Saturday, August 2: Day 3, more special training and a zoo trip

Photos (top to bottom, left to right): 1) Gabby Kearney, Grayson Hill and Trevor Danielson during the weightlifting session; 2-6) Various shots from the Ahtari zoo trip.

I woke up at 4am.  That’s one hour later than yesterday.  The sun was up, of course.  I might get back to normal by the time we leave on Friday.

We had the usual breakfast between 7am and 9am.  The kids are exhausted.  The combination of jet lag and hard workouts have left most of them zombified.  They are a “game” bunch and will persevere, eagerly following Kimmo’s plan each day.

I went to the office again to pay the bill for the week.  There was a slight discrepancy, so I was told to come back on Monday or Tuesday when the regular staff was there.  I’ll try again on Monday.

The morning began with the floorball “warmup”.  This time it was joined by Kimmo’s wife Sari, a former national class quarter-miler for Finland (in the 52-53 second range).

We told Kimmo we had a great time yesterday in Seinajoki and was there any similar place nearby we could spend a few hours.  He mentioned a place call Ahtari, about 35 miles away.  It had a zoo, he said.

Meanwhile the kids had begun the morning’s program (as outlined by Kimmo):

10.00  Training session in Kuortane-hall/ Kimmo & Barry

• warm up easily running     
• med ball special power for Javelin    
• hurdle jumping equal jumps     
• one equal jump test    
• hurdle walking + cool down  +swimming   

12.30 Lunch

Two of the kids were concerned that they would have to take a test (“one equal jump test,” above – they weren’t quite sure what meant).  Kimmo explained that it was just a measurement of a standing long jump in order to somewhat predict one’s overall strength in that area.  They were relieved that it was something they couldn’t fail!

We (Paul, Joy, Kristi and I) took off for Ahtari soon after the morning session began.  We got there in less than an hour and, indeed, there was a zoo!  A zoo only with animals native to Finland – elk, wolves, bears, wolverines, badgers, mink, snow leopards, etc.  It was well laid-out, with plenty of wide open spaces for the animals to live and play.  It is truly a wonderful place (search Ahtari Zoo in Wikipedia for more details – I couldn’t leave the exact link here because both “A’s” in Ahtari have dots over them, like a German umlaut).

I received a call from Kimmo while were there:  Kristi’s luggage had been found and would be delivered by 5pm.  Great news!

We got back to Kuortane in the middle of the afternoon session:

15.00-17 Special weightlifting session/ Jyrki Kononen & Mari Paananen

• first group I learned how to lift safely!
• Jami, Barry, Katelyn, Todd, Kristin and Emma

16.30   continue with Kimmo, special speed with baseball and match!
16.30-18.30 Special weightlifting session/ Jyrki Kononen & Mari Paananen

• second group I learned how to lift safely!
• Sophia, Grayson, Trevor, Tairyn and Gabrielle

18.00   continue with Kimmo, special speed with baseball and match!
18.30-19.15 Dinner

One group was going through the weightlifting program, the other was with Kimmo throwing baseballs and matchsticks.  Yes, matchsticks!  Apparently throwing matchsticks helps one concentrate on proper release.  You have to concentrate on throwing the matchstick in an exact manner so there is little wiggle while in the air.  It was amazing how far they could be thrown.  While we were there, Emma Fitzgerald threw one about 25 meters (80+ feet).

Working out in the gym was Mostafa Al-Gamel of Egypt, perhaps the largest Egyptian on the planet (or at least in Finland).  He is currently ranked third in the world in the hammer throw (266-7).  Each day there is a new team or world class athlete working out.  This is a special place.

A new group had just come into the camp this morning.  It seemed like there were about 1,000 little female Finnish gymnastics munchkins.  And they all decided to get on the dinner line just before me.  So I waited my turn and got my food (though the food this night was not especially worth the wait).

The plan for the evening was as follows:

• 16.30-21.00 Finland championships in track & field, TV-2, women javelin final  
• 20.30-21.00 weight-lifting training, refresher training session the day / Jyrki & Mari
• 21.30  Supper
• 23.00  sleeping time for everyone

We watched day 2 of the Finnish champs, and it included the women’s javelin throw.

Tomorrow brings more training.  Let’s hope the kids are starting to recover.

More Day 3: Some photos from Kimmo:

Tairyn, Sophia, Emma, Kristen and Katelyn enjoy some ice cream during the evening snack.

 
At left, Weightlifting Group 1: Katelyn, Kristen, Todd and Emma with Jyrki, Iita and Mari.
At right, Weightlifting Group 2: Grayson, Trevor, Tairyn, Gabby and Sophia with Jyrki, Iita and Mari.

 
At left: Tairyn, Kristen, Emma and Sophia in the classroom.
At right: Barry, Paul and Jim in the training center.

Friday, August 1: Day 2, trip to towns of Kourtane, Seinajoki

Photos (top to bottom, left to right): 1) Paul, Jim and Kristi check out the javelins in the Seinajoki Intersport store; 2) downtown Kuortane; 3) XC skiers training in Kuortane; 4) a fruit stand in Kuortane; 5) a market in Kuortane; 6 and 7) a farmers' market in Seinajoki; 8) view from Rossi's in Seinajoki. 

I woke up at 3am after about 6 hours sleep.  I tossed and turned until 5am, then got out of bed and wrote yesterday’s blog.  It took about 2-½ hours.

I had mentioned meeting Katy Polansky’s father yesterday at the Lufthansa lounge at Dulles Airport.  As it turned out, Jeff Gorski, head of our program, had been commissioned to coach Katy in the late nineties and had flown to Eugene to train her three times!  The javelin world is a small world, indeed.

I went to the cafeteria for breakfast.  The only one from our group there was Barry Krammes.  Nearby was the senior Estonian women’s volleyball team – about two dozen 6-foot tall blondes.

Over the next hour, the rest of our staff and the kids wandered in.  They included Gabby Kearney, ranked #3 in the U.S. currently, from Roseburg, OR, and her mother Patty.  Patty was a national class javelin thrower in the early 1980s who ultimately threw for the University of Oregon.  It is very enjoyable to have Patty and Gabby with us.

The morning session, according to Kimmo’s plan, was as follows:

Training session in Kuortane-hall and gross-country track/ Kimmo & Barry
• warm up with that nice and stupid stick-play floorball
• med ball and iron ball throwing, “javelin technically thinking”, body “opening”
• special footwork with legs +calf/crossovers/ crossjumping/special thinks on throwing position
• special javelin power, morujev, felke, throwing motion and disc rotation
• easily running opening on wood track, ins-outs
• gool down + swimming

Kristi’s Rieger’s bags were still missing (she just barely made the flight in Chicago, but her bags didn’t make it).  She got the help of someone at the front desk who virtually spent the entire morning calling United and other places for her.

While at the reception area, I asked to pay the bill for stay for everyone.  I was told when we checked in on Thursday to come back the next day because they hadn’t prepared the bill yet.  I asked to pay this morning and was told it still wasn’t ready and to come back in the next day or two!

Inside the gym (next to the reception are), the warmup was, as is typical, floor hockey which took about an hour.  It got the juices flowing for the kids.  The Estonian women’s volleyball team was practicing in the facility, as was the Finnish men’s volleyball team.

Joy and I walked into town.  It is about a 1-¼ mile walk.  I went to an ATM and withdrew some Euros.  The exchange rate was pretty good: 1.3375, or about 100 Euros for $133 dollars, just about the current rate (1.34).  At the airport, I exchanged $50.00 for Euros.  I got 28 Euros. That’s an exchange rate of 1.79! 

On the way, some cross country skiers passed us, using roller skis.  When we arrived yesterday, a female cross country skier passed us, working out; she was a member of the Finish Olympic team who competed in Sochi.

We had to make a decision of going into the ”S” market or the ”K” market, two supermarkets next to each other.  We chose the ”S”, where I purchased some coffee and milk.

The kids worked out indoors until noon, and were given the the bulk afternoon off and were to report back for more training – a heavy throwing session – at 5:00pm.

We walked back, and some of us decided to drive to Seinajoki for lunch, about 25 miles west of Kuortane, a town of about 35,000 (http://www.seinajoki.fi/en/index.html).  It was easy drive, and we got there in about a half hour.

We found a great parking space on the street and wandered around.  There was a small farmers’ market in the central square which sold mainly root vegetables and berries.  We went into an Intersport store, basically a running shoe and sports apparel store.  Of course they had javelins, shots and discusses for sale!

We found a restaurant (Rosso’s) where three of us had pizza and Joy had salmon soup.  The pizza was not New York pizza, but pretty close.  We were impressed.

So now back to Kuortane.  We approached the van and noticed a parking ticket!  Apparently the are machines on the street to pay for parking.  We didn’t notice them.  The ticket was for 45 Euros ($60.00).  There is a way to appeal it via e-mail, which I intend to do.

We showed it to Kimmo when we returned, and he said ”Congratulations.”  I suppose even Kimmo, as famous as he is in Finland, can’t fight the parking bureaucracy.

We got back at about 3:00pm.  I did some work and decided to lay down for 15 minutes, then go watch the evening workouts.  

Kimmo’s schedule:

• 17.00 Throwing session on main track/ Kimmo start time, Kristin, Sophia, Trevor, Todd and Barry
• warm up independently
• cool-down independently

• 17.45 Throwing session/ Kimmo start time, Tairyn, Emma, Gabrielle, Katelyn, Grayson and Jami
• warm up independently     
• cool-down independently

• 18.30-19.30 Dinner          
• 18-21 Finland championships in track & field, TV-2     
• 20.30 video preview, the days throws/ Kimmo & Barry   
• 21.30 supper*                            
• 23.00 sleeping time for everyone

* supper (above) means late night snack (bread, cheese, cucumbers, tomatoes, cole slaw, oranges and apples

I woke up at 7:30pm (!), missing the afternoon session and arriving at the cafeteria at the tail end of the dinner schedule.  The Finnish national track and field championships was on television so we watched it all together.

I went to sleep at about 9:30pm and looked forward to the next day.  As can be imagined, the kids were exhausted.  I’m sure they will sleep well. 

The next few days will be geared to the competition in Vaasa on Tuesday.  (The rule of thumb for competing is to stay in a place 1 day for each time zone you had crossed before competing.  The east coast kids – that would be Grayson and Emma – are 7 time zones away.  Others are 8 and 9 time zones, and Tairyn and Trevor at 10 time zones.  So, ideally, for the athletes to be at their best, the competition should be at least 7 days from arriving, or next Thursday.  It will, in fact, be 5 days from arriving, so there might be some challenges.  I expect them all to throw well.  They are, after all, energetic teenagers and high school athletes of the highest level).

Note:  our staff works harder than any group I know.  Steve Underwood, for example, spends the day taking photos and videos, then spends hours editing and posting on our website and on facebook.  Eventually it catches up with you as evidenced by this photo last night taken by Kimmo Kinnunen.

Thursday, July 31: Getting There

Photos: 1) Joy Kamani greets Tairyn Montgomery and others as they arrive in Hensinki from Chicago; 2) Kristen Clark explains her luggage adventures; 3) Coach Krammes and the kids during the first training session Thursday.

Four of the staff – chaperones Jim Spier, Paul Limmer and Joy Kamani, and PR/reporter Steve Underwood (SteveU) – transitioned to the trip by taking the “red eye” from Eugene, Oregon on Sunday night after spending a week at the 15th  IAAF World Junior Championships.  Joy and I left on Tuesday for Finland, and Paul and SteveU on Wednesday.

We all got home from Eugene early morning on Monday (July 28) and had 1 or 2 days to unpack and repack, and take care of whatever personal chores we had.

Joy and I, using our frequent traveler miles to obtain business class tickets on Lufthansa, met up at Washington, DC’s Dulles airport on Tuesday afternoon.  I had a six hour layover and Joy had three.

While sitting in the Lufthansa lounge and discussing the prior meet’s World Junior championship, a very distinguished gentlemen having overhead our conversation, commented that he was from Eugene and that he had regretted not being at the meet since he had to be overseas.  He did mention that he had been to the 2000 World Junior Championships in Santiago, Chile.  (“Really?,” I thought.  Almost no one had gone there.  It was out of season -held in October – and it was a long way from the U.S..  In fact, the U.S. sent only 15 or 20 athletes.)

“My daughter competed there in the javelin,” he continued.  He pointed to the seat behind him where she was sitting.  “Her name is Katy Polansky.” 

“Katy Polansky, the javelin thrower?” I asked.  Yes, he said.  Katy had set the U.S. high school record in 1999 with the “new” javelin.  The record was 174-2 and she’s still #6 all-time.  She went on to win the U.S. Junior championships in 1999 and 2000, and competed for the University of Oregon. 

What are the chances of randomly meeting a former javelin star on the way to a javelin camp in Finland?  It seemed to be a sign that the javelin gods were smiling on us.

We boarded the plane and spent the next seven hours reading and sleeping, landing in Frankfurt at about 7:30am local time.  Then there was the challenge to get to our connecting gate about two miles away (or so it seemed).  And that trip included negotiating three security check points. 

We took off from Frankfurt at 9:30am and arrived in Helsinki at about 1:00pm (one time zone further east).

I had made a reservation at the Hilton at the Helsinki airport for convenience sake.  We checked in and went to our rooms.  I began to monitor the flights of the other 12 who would be leaving from the U.S. on this day (Wednesday).

Coming to Chicago to travel directly to Helsinki would be Steve (Lansing, MI), Kristi Rieger – chaperone/jill-of-all-trades (Sioux Falls, SD), and Project Javelin Gold members Tairyn Montgomery (Redondo Beach, CA), Kristen Clark (Ruston, LA), Katelyn Gochenour (Logan, IA), Sophia Rivera (Brentwood, MO), Trevor Danielson (Portland, OR), Todd Ogden (Kalispell, MT) and Grayson Hill (North East, PA).

I was a bit concerned with the connection of Tairyn, Sophia and Steve.  The flight would leave Chicago at 3:45pm and those three would land 45 minutes prior, coming from Los Angeles, St. Louis and Detroit, respectively.  The travel agent assured me that, since all the arriving flights were in the same terminal as the departing flight, there would be no problem.

And there was not – with those three, anyway. 

Kristi Rieger, however, had to put up with continual delays that day.  She was originally to have landed at about noon.  But after switching airlines and additional delays, she still wasn’t going to land until 4:00pm, which would have missed the flight.  The travel agent rebooked her through London, just in case. 

But Kristi took a chance.  She landed at 3:33pm.  SteveU, aware of her plight, arranged through begging, cajoling (and a bit of deception) to delay the Helsinki flight in order for her to get on board.  Showing her substantial fitness, she sprinted through the airport (SteveU estimated 6 minute pace for nearly a mile), she arrived just as the door was closing.  Someone had already taken her seat, so she took one of the empty ones.  And off they went, everyone on board.

“If you weren’t a marathoner, you wouldn’t have made it,” SteveU told her.

The New York group, only three, had other challenges.  It included chaperone Paul Limmer (East Northport, NY), national class thrower/chaperone/coach Barry Krammes (Stroudsburg, PA), project member Emma Fitzgerald (Braintree, MA).

Connections were no problem there as both Paul and Barry drove to JFK airport and Emma arrived from Boston 5 hours before the New York-Helsinki flight was scheduled to leave.  The problem was that the flight was delayed four hours!  That meant that our next day travel plans would be impacted.  Rather than the New York group arriving within 15 minutes of the Chicago group, there would now be a four hour wait for the New York group to arrive.

Meanwhile, back with the Chicago group, there was a further complication.  Kristen Clark had been, um, a little late in arriving at her local Monroe, LA airport, such that she was not able to check her luggage.  What to do?  Kristen was on her way with no luggage.

Kristen’s mother, Gina, e-mailed me, asking for the address of the Kuortane training center.  She would ship the luggage to Kuortane.  The only problem would be that it would arrive two days before we all would leave to come home, and at prohibitive cost.

Being resourceful, she was aware that Barry would be driving from Pennsylvania to JFK airport.  She asked if he would spend about an hour as Kristen’s “personal shopper.”  He complied, happily (discovering skills he didn’t know he had).

Between e-mails and texting from Gina, Barry managed to shop for many hundreds of dollars worth of clothes for Kristen (admitting that it was a bit challenging purchasing things such as sports bras, but Gina walked him through it).  And so he arrived at Kennedy with his luggage, a half-dozen javelins and a bag full of women’s clothing.  (Such is the nature of our awesome staff).

So everyone was now on their way.  Joy and I had some magnificent salmon soup in the Hilton’s restaurant that night.  And then we were off to bed to rest for the next day’s 4-hour ride to Kuortane.

Joy and I met at 7am on Wednesday morning to partake of the breakfast buffet.  Not until I got the check did I realize this was not a cheap breakfast.  It was a really great buffet, but not quite worth the 27 Euros each (about $40.00!).  We will be staying at this hotel next Thursday night  - and we will find a more inexpensive option for all of us for next Friday’s breakfast!

Now it was off to pick up the 9-passenger rental vans.  Last year I had rented two in my name.  When we went to pick them up, they thought it was a mistake that I had rented two – they thought I only meant to rent one, so they only had one van. They managed to dig up another so we were ultimately OK.

So this year I rented one in my name and one in Joy’s name.  How could there be any confusion with that?  We went to the rental counter and the woman said, “Here is the car in your name, and the one for Joy is at the agency in downtown Helsinki.” 

“No”, I said, I had rented both for airport pickup.  “Not according to this”, she said.  “I can give you a rental here for Joy Kamani, but it will be a different model.” 

“That’s fine”, I said, “as long as it is a 9-passenger van.”  It was, she said.

We went to the arrival area to wait for the Chicago group.  They arrived at about 8:30am looking exhausted.  We broke the news that we would have to wait four hours for the New York group and they took it in stride – they are really a great group of kids.

We hadn’t checked out of our hotel, so we arranged to have the boys go to my room to take a shower and the girls to go to Joy’s room to do the same.  We got some extra towels for them and they all “freshened up” a bit. 

They were hungry so we next went to the “Jumbo” Mall, a very large mall near the airport, much like you would find in the U.S.   We ate at a place called “Chico’s”, a Bennigans/Applebees-like restaurant specializing in “American” food.  In fact, the hamburgers (and there were many ordered by this group!) each came with a little American flag.

Steve and I then went back to the airport to pick up the New York group.  Joy, Kristi and everyone else went to a supermarket in the mall to buy some extra food for our stay in Kuortane, as well as lunch for Paul, Barry and Emma who were coming from New York.

Steve and I parked the car in the short term lot and waited at the arrivals area.  They walked out at about 1:00pm and did not look especially well-rested.  We went back to the parking lot, loaded the van, and I went to the machine to pay the parking fee (1 Euro for every 10 minutes).   It was 3 Euros.  I put in the ticket and my credit card was rejected.  It rejected all four of my credit cards.  Paul tried his and they were rejected. 

I had to go to the service center and pay what was now 4 Euros.  A simple 15-minute exercise turned into one of 45 minutes.  So much for our plans; we were supposed to leave the airport at 9am.  Instead were would leave at 1:45pm, getting us to Kuortane at about 6pm.

I drove one van and Kristi and Joy shared in driving the other.  We made one pit stop and made it in about four hours. 

I had notified Kimmo Kinnunen (1991 world champ and head of the Finnish junior program – and our camp leader) that we would be late.   He estimated that we would be arriving exactly at 5:48pm!

As we drove up to the reception center in Kuortane, Kimmo was waiting. It was 5:55pm.  “You are 7 minutes late”, he said.

We checked everyone in.  Everyone got their room keys and their meal tickets.  The five girls were in one large suite and the three boys were in another.  (They are really more like apartments than hotel rooms, all equipped with a full kitchen, washing machine, sauna and other amenities).

The kids thought that they would be able to finally relax.

“Eat dinner now, meet at outdoor track at 7:15pm,” Kimmo said.  And so they did.

They did a light workout for about 2 hours.  Here is the exact program as outlined by Kimmo:

Training Session on main track/ Kimmo & Barry
* warm up with easily running
* running drills and stretching
* easy Javelin tecnic with walking/standing/good throwing position, only easy throws
* technical drills for Javelin, running, crossover drills
* mid- body strength + hurdle walking + stretching

As it turned out, it was a good way to get the “blood circulating” for everyone.  Then off to bed and a well-deserved rest.

Jim Spier's Blog: Project Javelin Gold in Finland, Part 2 (Aug. 4-8)
 

Sunday, August 3: Day 4 - Hoops, more exploring and backwards shot put

Joy Kamani Photos (top to bottom, left to right): 1) Weightlifting instructors Jyrki, Mari and Iita; 2-3) Young javelin throwers at the youth meet; 4) Kristi climbs up to peer inside the window of the locked church (at Jim's behest); 5-6) Jim and Kristi get the bike tires inflated, then the cycling begins; 7) the pile of snow outside the ice rink; 8) the computerized shooting range in the recreation center; 9) the beach at Kuortane Lake; 10-15) the Klemetti museum, including signage, his bust, family photo, his desk, one of the houses and the sauna.

I went to bed at 8pm last night and got up at 4am – 8 hours, but now must kill some time before breakfast at 7:00am.

The kids rolled into breakfast, this time well-rested.  They are finally adjusting to the time difference – and recovering from the workout yesterday didn’t hurt!  (or, maybe, it did).  

We noticed Shih-Feng Huang of Chinese Taipei in the facility.  He was here training with another athlete and two coaches.  Huang is currently ranked #25 in the world in the javelin with a best of 267-6.  We understand he will be competing in Vaasa on Tuesday.

The morning session was as follows:

09.45-12:00pm  Speed / explosive properties, the importance of weight lifting and what it will be useful in  the javelin / Jyrki and Mari

The warmup this morning was a basketball game – a pretty intense basketball game!  Our kids are great athletes, multi-sport competitors.  Basketball is one of the sports that some of them excel in.  And it showed.  We were praying for no sprained ankles or other injuries.  Fortunately, there were none, though I suspect there were some bruises.

While they did their morning session, Joy, Kristi and I took a walk. 

We first went to the outdoor track where an age group track meet was going on.  We, of course, concentrated on the javelin and were amazed at the technique of the 7- and 8-year-olds.  In between throws, for example, they were practicing their crossovers and blocks!  It is something you just do not see in the U.S. (though I suspect the Finns would be amazed at some of the American hurdlers and jumpers of a comparable age).

We continued on about another half mile and came across a beautiful Evangelical Lutheran church, as is the tradition in this part of the world.  It was surrounded by acres of graves, all beautifully tended to with permanent flower beds around them.  The church was built in 1777 (http://www.kuortaneenseurakunta.fi/00010383-kuortaneen-kirkot-kirkkotie-23-63100-kuortane).

Behind it was the original bell tower, another magnificent building, now used for storage.  It was a “late” addition, having been built in 1831.

We noticed a long, open building about 50 feet long and 20 feet wide.  It housed a very long row boat.  Apparently it was a “church boat,” used to transport parishioners from the other side of Kuortane Lake (about a mile across) to worship on Sunday.  And there were no outboard motors in the 18th and 19th century!  So there must have been a more than a few rowers transporting a few dozen people each way (the lake is about 1-¼ miles at its widest).

We returned for lunch and noticed the female Finnish national team speed skaters having lunch.  They are here training for a few days. 

There was no training for the athletes in the early afternoon, and we were to meet up again at 5:00pm.

This time, Joy, Kristi and I were joined by Steve Underwood and rented bikes for the afternoon. 

We stopped in the building next door to the reception center, which is an ice rink.  There were several hockey players of all age groups working out.  There was a big pile of wet snow and ice outside the building, likely dumped off by a zamboni and perfect for making snowballs.  So we threw a few and watched some children having fun with it.

Then we quickly went to the building next to that one, which is an indoor children’ recreation center, complete with giant slides, trampolines and games.

Then on with the ride.  We passed by the church we visited this morning en route to a city beach.  There were a few dozen families there.  It’s on the lake adjacent to the sports resort.

After about another block we stumbled up a “museo” (museum).  It was the homestead of a famous Finnish composer named Heikki Klemetti.  (http://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heikki_Klemetti).  We snooped around and, as we were leaving, a young lady, college-aged asked, “Can I help you?  I am a guide.”

“Of course,” we said.  There were several buildings, and she grabbed the keys to them from a special hiding place under a mat, and proceeded to show us some of the houses, most of which were built in the late 19th century.  It was the summer home of Klemetti.  (http://www.kuurtanes-seura.fi/Klemetti.htm).

It seems that the original house was built over an underground stream.  That was a problem for Klemetti, who could not concentrate because of the distraction (!).  So he got a divining rod and found a place on the property where there was no underground stream.   It happened to be an area next to the sauna.  So he built a room there which housed his piano, sleeping and living quarters.  And that’s where he composed.

She then asked if we would like to see the restored homestead across the street.  Of course, we said “yes.”   It was a rich man’s house built in 1774.  Surrounded by several “out” buildings, it also included small shacks were the workers lived.  See this on YouTube (the lady speaking on the video was not our guide): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YfNkHt86ck

We got back to the camp in time for the evening session. 

17.00-19.00 Training session on main track/ Kimmo & Barry

• shot put throwing backwards and from below test
• step in the character running with javelin spikes
• easy speed running on grass
• walking hurdles + cool-down + a couple of stretching + swimming

The backwards-throwing shot putting got pretty competitive.  On the men’s side, the winner was Kimmo’s son Jami, barely edging Barry Krammes.  For the girls, I couldn’t figure out who won:  Katelyn, Sophia, Gabby or, maybe, Tairyn.  They were all pretty close.

We returned to the facility for dinner.  It was really nice out, so we ate on the patio. 

Joy and Kristi, not especially enamored with the evening’s fare, were asked by Kimmo why they were not eating.  Joy diplomatically responded, “Um … we’re on a special diet.”  From then on, they were known as the “Special Diet” people.   They ultimately ordered pizza and that is now known as their special diet meal.

We spent a few hours talking with Kimmo after dinner.  Barry asked him what his favorite event is after javelin.  He said, “My favorite event is the Javelin Final.  After that, it’s Javelin Qualification, then Javelin warmup, then Javelin practice.”

Tomorrow we will take everyone to a very large shopping center about 20 miles from Kuortane, in the middle of nowhere.  Then we will likely take the kids to a maze nearby.  There will be no heavy workouts in preparation for Tuesday’s competition.

Saturday, August 2: Day 3, more special training and a zoo trip

Photos (top to bottom, left to right): 1) Gabby Kearney, Grayson Hill and Trevor Danielson during the weightlifting session; 2-6) Various shots from the Ahtari zoo trip.

I woke up at 4am.  That’s one hour later than yesterday.  The sun was up, of course.  I might get back to normal by the time we leave on Friday.

We had the usual breakfast between 7am and 9am.  The kids are exhausted.  The combination of jet lag and hard workouts have left most of them zombified.  They are a “game” bunch and will persevere, eagerly following Kimmo’s plan each day.

I went to the office again to pay the bill for the week.  There was a slight discrepancy, so I was told to come back on Monday or Tuesday when the regular staff was there.  I’ll try again on Monday.

The morning began with the floorball “warmup”.  This time it was joined by Kimmo’s wife Sari, a former national class quarter-miler for Finland (in the 52-53 second range).

We told Kimmo we had a great time yesterday in Seinajoki and was there any similar place nearby we could spend a few hours.  He mentioned a place call Ahtari, about 35 miles away.  It had a zoo, he said.

Meanwhile the kids had begun the morning’s program (as outlined by Kimmo):

10.00  Training session in Kuortane-hall/ Kimmo & Barry

• warm up easily running     
• med ball special power for Javelin    
• hurdle jumping equal jumps     
• one equal jump test    
• hurdle walking + cool down  +swimming   

12.30 Lunch

Two of the kids were concerned that they would have to take a test (“one equal jump test,” above – they weren’t quite sure what meant).  Kimmo explained that it was just a measurement of a standing long jump in order to somewhat predict one’s overall strength in that area.  They were relieved that it was something they couldn’t fail!

We (Paul, Joy, Kristi and I) took off for Ahtari soon after the morning session began.  We got there in less than an hour and, indeed, there was a zoo!  A zoo only with animals native to Finland – elk, wolves, bears, wolverines, badgers, mink, snow leopards, etc.  It was well laid-out, with plenty of wide open spaces for the animals to live and play.  It is truly a wonderful place (search Ahtari Zoo in Wikipedia for more details – I couldn’t leave the exact link here because both “A’s” in Ahtari have dots over them, like a German umlaut).

I received a call from Kimmo while were there:  Kristi’s luggage had been found and would be delivered by 5pm.  Great news!

We got back to Kuortane in the middle of the afternoon session:

15.00-17 Special weightlifting session/ Jyrki Kononen & Mari Paananen

• first group I learned how to lift safely!
• Jami, Barry, Katelyn, Todd, Kristin and Emma

16.30   continue with Kimmo, special speed with baseball and match!
16.30-18.30 Special weightlifting session/ Jyrki Kononen & Mari Paananen

• second group I learned how to lift safely!
• Sophia, Grayson, Trevor, Tairyn and Gabrielle

18.00   continue with Kimmo, special speed with baseball and match!
18.30-19.15 Dinner

One group was going through the weightlifting program, the other was with Kimmo throwing baseballs and matchsticks.  Yes, matchsticks!  Apparently throwing matchsticks helps one concentrate on proper release.  You have to concentrate on throwing the matchstick in an exact manner so there is little wiggle while in the air.  It was amazing how far they could be thrown.  While we were there, Emma Fitzgerald threw one about 25 meters (80+ feet).

Working out in the gym was Mostafa Al-Gamel of Egypt, perhaps the largest Egyptian on the planet (or at least in Finland).  He is currently ranked third in the world in the hammer throw (266-7).  Each day there is a new team or world class athlete working out.  This is a special place.

A new group had just come into the camp this morning.  It seemed like there were about 1,000 little female Finnish gymnastics munchkins.  And they all decided to get on the dinner line just before me.  So I waited my turn and got my food (though the food this night was not especially worth the wait).

The plan for the evening was as follows:

• 16.30-21.00 Finland championships in track & field, TV-2, women javelin final  
• 20.30-21.00 weight-lifting training, refresher training session the day / Jyrki & Mari
• 21.30  Supper
• 23.00  sleeping time for everyone

We watched day 2 of the Finnish champs, and it included the women’s javelin throw.

Tomorrow brings more training.  Let’s hope the kids are starting to recover.

More Day 3: Some photos from Kimmo:

Tairyn, Sophia, Emma, Kristen and Katelyn enjoy some ice cream during the evening snack.

 
At left, Weightlifting Group 1: Katelyn, Kristen, Todd and Emma with Jyrki, Iita and Mari.
At right, Weightlifting Group 2: Grayson, Trevor, Tairyn, Gabby and Sophia with Jyrki, Iita and Mari.

 
At left: Tairyn, Kristen, Emma and Sophia in the classroom.
At right: Barry, Paul and Jim in the training center.

Friday, August 1: Day 2, trip to towns of Kourtane, Seinajoki

Photos (top to bottom, left to right): 1) Paul, Jim and Kristi check out the javelins in the Seinajoki Intersport store; 2) downtown Kuortane; 3) XC skiers training in Kuortane; 4) a fruit stand in Kuortane; 5) a market in Kuortane; 6 and 7) a farmers' market in Seinajoki; 8) view from Rossi's in Seinajoki. 

I woke up at 3am after about 6 hours sleep.  I tossed and turned until 5am, then got out of bed and wrote yesterday’s blog.  It took about 2-½ hours.

I had mentioned meeting Katy Polansky’s father yesterday at the Lufthansa lounge at Dulles Airport.  As it turned out, Jeff Gorski, head of our program, had been commissioned to coach Katy in the late nineties and had flown to Eugene to train her three times!  The javelin world is a small world, indeed.

I went to the cafeteria for breakfast.  The only one from our group there was Barry Krammes.  Nearby was the senior Estonian women’s volleyball team – about two dozen 6-foot tall blondes.

Over the next hour, the rest of our staff and the kids wandered in.  They included Gabby Kearney, ranked #3 in the U.S. currently, from Roseburg, OR, and her mother Patty.  Patty was a national class javelin thrower in the early 1980s who ultimately threw for the University of Oregon.  It is very enjoyable to have Patty and Gabby with us.

The morning session, according to Kimmo’s plan, was as follows:

Training session in Kuortane-hall and gross-country track/ Kimmo & Barry
• warm up with that nice and stupid stick-play floorball
• med ball and iron ball throwing, “javelin technically thinking”, body “opening”
• special footwork with legs +calf/crossovers/ crossjumping/special thinks on throwing position
• special javelin power, morujev, felke, throwing motion and disc rotation
• easily running opening on wood track, ins-outs
• gool down + swimming

Kristi’s Rieger’s bags were still missing (she just barely made the flight in Chicago, but her bags didn’t make it).  She got the help of someone at the front desk who virtually spent the entire morning calling United and other places for her.

While at the reception area, I asked to pay the bill for stay for everyone.  I was told when we checked in on Thursday to come back the next day because they hadn’t prepared the bill yet.  I asked to pay this morning and was told it still wasn’t ready and to come back in the next day or two!

Inside the gym (next to the reception are), the warmup was, as is typical, floor hockey which took about an hour.  It got the juices flowing for the kids.  The Estonian women’s volleyball team was practicing in the facility, as was the Finnish men’s volleyball team.

Joy and I walked into town.  It is about a 1-¼ mile walk.  I went to an ATM and withdrew some Euros.  The exchange rate was pretty good: 1.3375, or about 100 Euros for $133 dollars, just about the current rate (1.34).  At the airport, I exchanged $50.00 for Euros.  I got 28 Euros. That’s an exchange rate of 1.79! 

On the way, some cross country skiers passed us, using roller skis.  When we arrived yesterday, a female cross country skier passed us, working out; she was a member of the Finish Olympic team who competed in Sochi.

We had to make a decision of going into the ”S” market or the ”K” market, two supermarkets next to each other.  We chose the ”S”, where I purchased some coffee and milk.

The kids worked out indoors until noon, and were given the the bulk afternoon off and were to report back for more training – a heavy throwing session – at 5:00pm.

We walked back, and some of us decided to drive to Seinajoki for lunch, about 25 miles west of Kuortane, a town of about 35,000 (http://www.seinajoki.fi/en/index.html).  It was easy drive, and we got there in about a half hour.

We found a great parking space on the street and wandered around.  There was a small farmers’ market in the central square which sold mainly root vegetables and berries.  We went into an Intersport store, basically a running shoe and sports apparel store.  Of course they had javelins, shots and discusses for sale!

We found a restaurant (Rosso’s) where three of us had pizza and Joy had salmon soup.  The pizza was not New York pizza, but pretty close.  We were impressed.

So now back to Kuortane.  We approached the van and noticed a parking ticket!  Apparently the are machines on the street to pay for parking.  We didn’t notice them.  The ticket was for 45 Euros ($60.00).  There is a way to appeal it via e-mail, which I intend to do.

We showed it to Kimmo when we returned, and he said ”Congratulations.”  I suppose even Kimmo, as famous as he is in Finland, can’t fight the parking bureaucracy.

We got back at about 3:00pm.  I did some work and decided to lay down for 15 minutes, then go watch the evening workouts.  

Kimmo’s schedule:

• 17.00 Throwing session on main track/ Kimmo start time, Kristin, Sophia, Trevor, Todd and Barry
• warm up independently
• cool-down independently

• 17.45 Throwing session/ Kimmo start time, Tairyn, Emma, Gabrielle, Katelyn, Grayson and Jami
• warm up independently     
• cool-down independently

• 18.30-19.30 Dinner          
• 18-21 Finland championships in track & field, TV-2     
• 20.30 video preview, the days throws/ Kimmo & Barry   
• 21.30 supper*                            
• 23.00 sleeping time for everyone

* supper (above) means late night snack (bread, cheese, cucumbers, tomatoes, cole slaw, oranges and apples

I woke up at 7:30pm (!), missing the afternoon session and arriving at the cafeteria at the tail end of the dinner schedule.  The Finnish national track and field championships was on television so we watched it all together.

I went to sleep at about 9:30pm and looked forward to the next day.  As can be imagined, the kids were exhausted.  I’m sure they will sleep well. 

The next few days will be geared to the competition in Vaasa on Tuesday.  (The rule of thumb for competing is to stay in a place 1 day for each time zone you had crossed before competing.  The east coast kids – that would be Grayson and Emma – are 7 time zones away.  Others are 8 and 9 time zones, and Tairyn and Trevor at 10 time zones.  So, ideally, for the athletes to be at their best, the competition should be at least 7 days from arriving, or next Thursday.  It will, in fact, be 5 days from arriving, so there might be some challenges.  I expect them all to throw well.  They are, after all, energetic teenagers and high school athletes of the highest level).

Note:  our staff works harder than any group I know.  Steve Underwood, for example, spends the day taking photos and videos, then spends hours editing and posting on our website and on facebook.  Eventually it catches up with you as evidenced by this photo last night taken by Kimmo Kinnunen.

Thursday, July 31: Getting There

Photos: 1) Joy Kamani greets Tairyn Montgomery and others as they arrive in Hensinki from Chicago; 2) Kristen Clark explains her luggage adventures; 3) Coach Krammes and the kids during the first training session Thursday.

Four of the staff – chaperones Jim Spier, Paul Limmer and Joy Kamani, and PR/reporter Steve Underwood (SteveU) – transitioned to the trip by taking the “red eye” from Eugene, Oregon on Sunday night after spending a week at the 15th  IAAF World Junior Championships.  Joy and I left on Tuesday for Finland, and Paul and SteveU on Wednesday.

We all got home from Eugene early morning on Monday (July 28) and had 1 or 2 days to unpack and repack, and take care of whatever personal chores we had.

Joy and I, using our frequent traveler miles to obtain business class tickets on Lufthansa, met up at Washington, DC’s Dulles airport on Tuesday afternoon.  I had a six hour layover and Joy had three.

While sitting in the Lufthansa lounge and discussing the prior meet’s World Junior championship, a very distinguished gentlemen having overhead our conversation, commented that he was from Eugene and that he had regretted not being at the meet since he had to be overseas.  He did mention that he had been to the 2000 World Junior Championships in Santiago, Chile.  (“Really?,” I thought.  Almost no one had gone there.  It was out of season -held in October – and it was a long way from the U.S..  In fact, the U.S. sent only 15 or 20 athletes.)

“My daughter competed there in the javelin,” he continued.  He pointed to the seat behind him where she was sitting.  “Her name is Katy Polansky.” 

“Katy Polansky, the javelin thrower?” I asked.  Yes, he said.  Katy had set the U.S. high school record in 1999 with the “new” javelin.  The record was 174-2 and she’s still #6 all-time.  She went on to win the U.S. Junior championships in 1999 and 2000, and competed for the University of Oregon. 

What are the chances of randomly meeting a former javelin star on the way to a javelin camp in Finland?  It seemed to be a sign that the javelin gods were smiling on us.

We boarded the plane and spent the next seven hours reading and sleeping, landing in Frankfurt at about 7:30am local time.  Then there was the challenge to get to our connecting gate about two miles away (or so it seemed).  And that trip included negotiating three security check points. 

We took off from Frankfurt at 9:30am and arrived in Helsinki at about 1:00pm (one time zone further east).

I had made a reservation at the Hilton at the Helsinki airport for convenience sake.  We checked in and went to our rooms.  I began to monitor the flights of the other 12 who would be leaving from the U.S. on this day (Wednesday).

Coming to Chicago to travel directly to Helsinki would be Steve (Lansing, MI), Kristi Rieger – chaperone/jill-of-all-trades (Sioux Falls, SD), and Project Javelin Gold members Tairyn Montgomery (Redondo Beach, CA), Kristen Clark (Ruston, LA), Katelyn Gochenour (Logan, IA), Sophia Rivera (Brentwood, MO), Trevor Danielson (Portland, OR), Todd Ogden (Kalispell, MT) and Grayson Hill (North East, PA).

I was a bit concerned with the connection of Tairyn, Sophia and Steve.  The flight would leave Chicago at 3:45pm and those three would land 45 minutes prior, coming from Los Angeles, St. Louis and Detroit, respectively.  The travel agent assured me that, since all the arriving flights were in the same terminal as the departing flight, there would be no problem.

And there was not – with those three, anyway. 

Kristi Rieger, however, had to put up with continual delays that day.  She was originally to have landed at about noon.  But after switching airlines and additional delays, she still wasn’t going to land until 4:00pm, which would have missed the flight.  The travel agent rebooked her through London, just in case. 

But Kristi took a chance.  She landed at 3:33pm.  SteveU, aware of her plight, arranged through begging, cajoling (and a bit of deception) to delay the Helsinki flight in order for her to get on board.  Showing her substantial fitness, she sprinted through the airport (SteveU estimated 6 minute pace for nearly a mile), she arrived just as the door was closing.  Someone had already taken her seat, so she took one of the empty ones.  And off they went, everyone on board.

“If you weren’t a marathoner, you wouldn’t have made it,” SteveU told her.

The New York group, only three, had other challenges.  It included chaperone Paul Limmer (East Northport, NY), national class thrower/chaperone/coach Barry Krammes (Stroudsburg, PA), project member Emma Fitzgerald (Braintree, MA).

Connections were no problem there as both Paul and Barry drove to JFK airport and Emma arrived from Boston 5 hours before the New York-Helsinki flight was scheduled to leave.  The problem was that the flight was delayed four hours!  That meant that our next day travel plans would be impacted.  Rather than the New York group arriving within 15 minutes of the Chicago group, there would now be a four hour wait for the New York group to arrive.

Meanwhile, back with the Chicago group, there was a further complication.  Kristen Clark had been, um, a little late in arriving at her local Monroe, LA airport, such that she was not able to check her luggage.  What to do?  Kristen was on her way with no luggage.

Kristen’s mother, Gina, e-mailed me, asking for the address of the Kuortane training center.  She would ship the luggage to Kuortane.  The only problem would be that it would arrive two days before we all would leave to come home, and at prohibitive cost.

Being resourceful, she was aware that Barry would be driving from Pennsylvania to JFK airport.  She asked if he would spend about an hour as Kristen’s “personal shopper.”  He complied, happily (discovering skills he didn’t know he had).

Between e-mails and texting from Gina, Barry managed to shop for many hundreds of dollars worth of clothes for Kristen (admitting that it was a bit challenging purchasing things such as sports bras, but Gina walked him through it).  And so he arrived at Kennedy with his luggage, a half-dozen javelins and a bag full of women’s clothing.  (Such is the nature of our awesome staff).

So everyone was now on their way.  Joy and I had some magnificent salmon soup in the Hilton’s restaurant that night.  And then we were off to bed to rest for the next day’s 4-hour ride to Kuortane.

Joy and I met at 7am on Wednesday morning to partake of the breakfast buffet.  Not until I got the check did I realize this was not a cheap breakfast.  It was a really great buffet, but not quite worth the 27 Euros each (about $40.00!).  We will be staying at this hotel next Thursday night  - and we will find a more inexpensive option for all of us for next Friday’s breakfast!

Now it was off to pick up the 9-passenger rental vans.  Last year I had rented two in my name.  When we went to pick them up, they thought it was a mistake that I had rented two – they thought I only meant to rent one, so they only had one van. They managed to dig up another so we were ultimately OK.

So this year I rented one in my name and one in Joy’s name.  How could there be any confusion with that?  We went to the rental counter and the woman said, “Here is the car in your name, and the one for Joy is at the agency in downtown Helsinki.” 

“No”, I said, I had rented both for airport pickup.  “Not according to this”, she said.  “I can give you a rental here for Joy Kamani, but it will be a different model.” 

“That’s fine”, I said, “as long as it is a 9-passenger van.”  It was, she said.

We went to the arrival area to wait for the Chicago group.  They arrived at about 8:30am looking exhausted.  We broke the news that we would have to wait four hours for the New York group and they took it in stride – they are really a great group of kids.

We hadn’t checked out of our hotel, so we arranged to have the boys go to my room to take a shower and the girls to go to Joy’s room to do the same.  We got some extra towels for them and they all “freshened up” a bit. 

They were hungry so we next went to the “Jumbo” Mall, a very large mall near the airport, much like you would find in the U.S.   We ate at a place called “Chico’s”, a Bennigans/Applebees-like restaurant specializing in “American” food.  In fact, the hamburgers (and there were many ordered by this group!) each came with a little American flag.

Steve and I then went back to the airport to pick up the New York group.  Joy, Kristi and everyone else went to a supermarket in the mall to buy some extra food for our stay in Kuortane, as well as lunch for Paul, Barry and Emma who were coming from New York.

Steve and I parked the car in the short term lot and waited at the arrivals area.  They walked out at about 1:00pm and did not look especially well-rested.  We went back to the parking lot, loaded the van, and I went to the machine to pay the parking fee (1 Euro for every 10 minutes).   It was 3 Euros.  I put in the ticket and my credit card was rejected.  It rejected all four of my credit cards.  Paul tried his and they were rejected. 

I had to go to the service center and pay what was now 4 Euros.  A simple 15-minute exercise turned into one of 45 minutes.  So much for our plans; we were supposed to leave the airport at 9am.  Instead were would leave at 1:45pm, getting us to Kuortane at about 6pm.

I drove one van and Kristi and Joy shared in driving the other.  We made one pit stop and made it in about four hours. 

I had notified Kimmo Kinnunen (1991 world champ and head of the Finnish junior program – and our camp leader) that we would be late.   He estimated that we would be arriving exactly at 5:48pm!

As we drove up to the reception center in Kuortane, Kimmo was waiting. It was 5:55pm.  “You are 7 minutes late”, he said.

We checked everyone in.  Everyone got their room keys and their meal tickets.  The five girls were in one large suite and the three boys were in another.  (They are really more like apartments than hotel rooms, all equipped with a full kitchen, washing machine, sauna and other amenities).

The kids thought that they would be able to finally relax.

“Eat dinner now, meet at outdoor track at 7:15pm,” Kimmo said.  And so they did.

They did a light workout for about 2 hours.  Here is the exact program as outlined by Kimmo:

Training Session on main track/ Kimmo & Barry
* warm up with easily running
* running drills and stretching
* easy Javelin tecnic with walking/standing/good throwing position, only easy throws
* technical drills for Javelin, running, crossover drills
* mid- body strength + hurdle walking + stretching

As it turned out, it was a good way to get the “blood circulating” for everyone.  Then off to bed and a well-deserved rest.