Photos and quick updates on our Facebook Page

What a great day for the Americans yesterday!  Some highlights:

Dior Hall getting the national record in the 30” 100m hurdles, that national record previously held by her mother, Yolanda Johnson.

Isaiah Moore getting a PR in the qualifying, then another in the final to get the bronze.  It was only the second medal ever won by an American in this event (Christian Taylor was the lone medalist prior to this year).

Mikiah Brisco improving her PR through the 100m hurdle rounds and getting a bronze and #7 all-time high school mark.  She was second in her first round race, second in the semifinals and third in the finals.

Colin Minor getting the automatic qualifying mark in the hammer on his final attempt.  Since there were already 12 automatic qualifiers, he had to reach the auto qualifying mark on his last throw and he did by about an inch!

Ky Westbrook winning the 100m in a US high school low-altitude time of 11.33, with Ariana Washington second (Ky is a good enough shot putter – 47-9 - to have been invited to the NSAF’s Chicagoland Throwers Series).

Two Americans (Grant Fisher, Blake Haney) winning their semi-final heats in the 1500m

Ashlie Blake getting the bronze in the shot put, the first ever medal for a U.S. athlete in this event.

   Competition Day 3 – Morning

Heptathlon 100m Hurdles
Alexa Harmon-Thomas (Lawrence Free State, Lawrence, KS) won her heat in a PR 14.08, the 6th fastest time of all the runners, earning 967 points.

Heptathlon High Jump

Alexa cleared 5-8.75 on her first attempt.  She missed 3 times at 5-10.  She earned 916 points for a total of 1883 for 2 events.

High Jump Qualifying – Boys

(This actually took place).  Michael Monroe (Providence Catholic, New Lenox, IL) could manage only 6-8.25, short of the 6-10.25 automatic qualifying mark.

200m Qualifying – Girls (top 3 in each heat and next 3 fastest advance to the semis)

Hannah Cunliffe (Federal Way) ran a very smart opening round race, easing up with 30 meters to go and winning easily in 23.80.  Irene Ecklund (Sweden) ran 23.02 for the world lead in heat 4.  It seemed that Ariana Washington (Poly, Long Beach, CA) jogged the entre race.  She won her heat with an easy 23.72.

Hammer Qualifying – Girls (3kg)

Nyla Woods (Grady, Atlanta, GA) finished 10th in her group at 195-9 and will not advance. 

200m Quaifying – Boys (winner and next 11 fastest advance to the semis)

Kenzo Cotton (Papillion-La Vista, Papillion, NE) did not show for his race.  The injury sustained in yesterday’s 100m semifinal probably took its toll.  Noah Lyles (TC Williams, Alexandria, VA), just 15 years old and who will be a high school sophomore in September, ran a PR 21.28 [-0.6] from lane 1.  He will probably be the fastest time qualifier.

Pole Vault Qualifying – Boys (Automatic qualifying 15-11)

Devin King (Sumner, Kentwood, LA) and Paulo Benavides (Franklin, El Paso, TX) had no problem in qualifying.  King cleared 15-1, 15-5, 15-9 and 15-11 all on his first attempt.  Benavides cleared 15-1 and 15-5 on his first attempts, made 15-9 on his third, then made 15-11 on his first attempt.

Updates, photos, videos and more on our Facebook Page

110m Hurdles Semifinals – Boys

A confident Isaiah Moore (Cummings, Burlington, NC), the long jump bronze medalist from yesterday, kept his focus and finished a strong second in his semifinal.  His time of 13.66 is a personal best.  Marlon Humphrey (Hoover, AL) ran a very strong race to take the world junior lead in his semi, winning handily in 13.28.  The world junior lead did not last long as Jamaican Jaheel Hyde ran a strong 13.22 to win his heat.

Heptathlon Shot Put

Alexa Harmon-Thomas (Lawrence Free State, Lawrence, KS) threw the shot 34-3 for 558 points, giving her a total after 3 events of 2441, putting her in 12th place.

Heptathlon 200m

Alexa Harmon-Thomas ran this event immediately after leaving the high jump final.  She ran 25.58 for 834 points, giving her 3275 points, moving her up to 10th.

Triple Jump Qualifying – Boys (automatic qualifying 50-2.5)

Keandre Bates (Burges, El Paso, TX) would have to equal his personal best to get the automatic qualifying standard.  Maybe his would somehow make the final.  He fouled on his first attempt.  He did the same on his second, but we noticed that it was close to 16 meters (52-5.5).  Nah, couldn’t be.  Then, on his third attempt, he jumped 51-6.25 (+1.5) to get the overall lead going into the final!  He is a product of the National Scholastic Athletic Foundation (NSAF) Triple Jump project and his jump is #2 US behind  the U.S. leader Jeremiah Green (Hillsborough, Tampa, FL), another product of that program.

High Jump Final – Girls

Alexa Harmon-Thomas (Lawrence Free State, Lawrence, KS), doing double duty with this event and the heptathlon, took time out to run the final event of heptathlon, day 1, before continuing with the high jump.   She made 5-8.75 on her second attempt, but went out at 5-10.  She finished 10th overall.

800m Semis – Girls (top 3 in each heat and next 2 fastest advance to the final)

Raeyvn Rogers (Kinkaid, Houston, TX) led for almost the entire first lap.  At that point she was overtaken by the overall favorite, Anita Henriksdottir of Iceland.  Henriksdottir passed the first lap at 61.32.  Kokeb Tesfaye of Ethiopia passed Rogers just after that point.  Rogers maintained contact and finished 3rd in 2:05.35, .02 off her personal best.  But wait, it appears that Henriksdottir and Tesfaye have been disqualified via rule 163.3., “lane infringement”.  We’ll have to wait and see about a protest from those athletes’s federations.  Ersula Farrow (South, Grosse Pointe, MI) continues to surprise.  She was never out of the money, maintaining contact with the leaders.  She and the two ahead of her separated themselves from the field with 150 meters to go, with Ersula finishing third with a PR 2:06.75.  Both will advance to the final on Sunday.  After a review, Henriksdottir was put back in but Tesfaye was disqualified.

Triple Jump Final – Girls

Keturah Orji (Mt. Olive, Flanders, NJ), another product of the NSAF Triple Jump Project,  improved to a PB 44-1.25 [0.2] on her second jump in the trials after fouling on her first, moving into 4th place in the competition.  That’s =4th all-time high school, tied with former NCAA champion, Erica Mc Clain.  The next jump was 44-8 [0.5], moving her into 3rd place,  #2 all-time high school!!  She fouled on her 4th attempt, jumped 42-11.5 [0.5] on her fifth attempt, remaining in 3rd.  On her final attempt, she jumped 44-11 [0.8], missing the high school record by 3/4”.  Her jump was exactly the same as second placer Rong Wang of China, but Wang had a better second jump (44-8.25) to Orji’s 44-8.  What a spectacular performance by Keturah Orji!  Keturah’s medal is only the second ever at these championships, the other being the bronze by Michelle Sanford in 2001.

2000m Steeplechase Final – Boys

It didn’t take long for the pack to separate.  It was the Kenyans, the Ethiopians and one Moroccan.  Bailey Roth (Coronado, Colorado Springs, CO) maintained a solid 7th place throughout the race and that’s the way he finished, running 5:45.87, just off what he ran in the trials.  He and most of the rest of the pack were at least 100 meters behind the leaders.  The winner, in somewhat of an upset, was an Ethiopian, Meresa Kahsay, in a world record 5:19.99. 

400m Final – Boys

Ryan Clark (Benjamin Banneker, College Park, GA) led from the gun then, with 50 meters to go he began to tie up.  He could barely move from that point on and Michael Manley of Jamaica swept past him for the win in a yearly world best of 45.89.  Ryan barely held on for second, running 46.46.  Only Arman Hall, in 2011, has won this meet.  The U.S. now has a total of 5 medals in the history of this meet:  1 gold, 3 silver and 1 bronze.

400m Final – Girls

Olivia Baker (Columbia, Maplewood, NJ) went out very fast.  She had Sabrina Bakare of Great Britain to her outside.  Bakare was the tallest girl in the field, Baker the shortest.  With 100 meters to go, Bakare began her move and started to pull away.  Olivia, spent from the fast early pace, hung on for second.   It was Bakare with a personal best of 52.77 to Olivia’s 53.38.

Hammer Final – Boys  (5kg)

It was a gutsy performance yesterday for Colin Minor (South Brunswick, Southport, NC)
to get into the final as the 13th qualifier.  Today he managed 232-10 for 12th place, a very respectable performance for the high school junior.

110m Hurdles Final – Boys

It was a very solid race for Marlon Humphrey (Hoover, AL).  He really didn’t make any mistakes. He just got beat by a very good athlete.  It was Jaheel Hyde of Jamaica, the winner, with a meet record of 13.13 [-1.1] edging Marlon, who ran a personal best 13.24.  Isaiah Moore (Cummings, Burlington, NC) ran a respectable 13.68 for 6th.  The Jamaicans now have won both short hurdles.  It is the 6th medal ever for the US; 4 have been gold and 2 silver.

Updates, photos, videos and more on our Facebook Page

It was another very good day for the Americans on Friday.  Some highlights:

Keturah Orji jumping 44-11 in the triple jump for the bronze.  She missed the high school record by .75”

Two fine silver medalist performances in the 400 meters – Olivia Baker for the girls and Ryan Clark for the boys

A silver medal in the boys 110m hurdles by Marlon Humphrey.

    Day 4 Morning

Discus Qualifying – Boys (automatic qualifying standard is 190-3)

Amir Ali Patterson (Crespi, Encino, CA) threw 178-11, 179-4, then a longer foul to finish 8th in his group.  It is unlikely he will advance and did not.  Reno Tuufuli (Liberty, Henderson, NV) opened with 183-10 and was in 4th after the first round in his group.  He was sitting in 13th after a foul on his second throw.  With one to go, he needed to throw 185-1 to move ahead of the 12th place boy.  He threw 188-2 on his final throw to move into 10th place and advance to the final.

Heptathlon Long Jump

Alexa Harmon-Thomas (Lawrence Free State, Lawrence, KS) got a personal best on her first jump of 19-3, worth 810 points, giving her a total of 4085 and moving her to fifth place.  The big news is that Morgan Lake (Great Britain), with a best of 20-3.75, could only manage 15-2.25 and 2 fouls, moving her down to 3rd overall.  She had a world leading high jump mark yesterday of 6-2.75.  The leader now is Celina Leffler of Germany, whose jump of 19-11.75 helped to move her into first, her total now 4321 points.

Long Jump Qualifying – Girls (automatic standard 19-8.25)

Courtney Corrin (Harvard-Westlake, North Hollywood, FL) had an easy day of it, automatically qualifying on her first jump (20-8, +1.8).  Keturah Orji (Mount Holly, Flanders, NJ) just missed the auto standard on his first jump, jumping 19-7 [0.1].  Keturah had a very good second jump, leaping 20-6.25 [1.3] and qualifying automatically.

Swedish Medley - Girls (100-200-300-400; top 2 and next 2 fastest teams advance to final)

Jamaica took the world lead with their run – 2:07.85, with the very unofficial splits of 10.6, 24.3, 38.7 and 54.3.  The US took that lead  down with 2:07.13.  It was the team of Chyna Ries (East, Denver, CO) 10.8, Ky Westbrook (Chandler, AZ) 25.2, Olivia Baker (Columbia, Maplewood, NJ) 37.9 and Raevyn Rogers (Kincaid, Houston, TX) 53.1.  The U.S. is the leading qualifier with Jamaica second best.  These times compare to the 2013 New Balance Nationals Outdoor champion of Wakefield (Raleigh, NC) who ran 2:08.98.  Those were not all “youth” athletes, however.

Swedish Medley - Boys (100-200-300-400; top 1 and next 4 fastest teams advance to final)

The US team of Jaalen Jones (Thompson, Mobile, AL), 10.5, Noah Lyles (TC Williams, Alexandria, VA) 22.0, Ryan Clark (Benjamin Banneker, College Park, MD) 31.6 and Taylor Mc Laughlin (Union Catholic, Scotch Plains, NJ) 47.1 ran 1:52.19, the second leading qualifier to Japan by .01.  Jamaica, anchored by sub-50 400 meter champ Michael Manley, eased to a 1:53.78 heat 1 with Manley running 48.1.  As a comparison, Western Branch (Chesapeake, VA) won the 2013 NBNO in 1:53.54.

The World Youth Championships in Athletics continues through Sunday in Donetsk, Ukraine.  Team USA has continued to amaze us here with several personal bests and outstanding performances.  Our first gold medal came from our NBNO 100 and 200 meter champion, Ky Westbrook  in the 100 meters.  The meet marks the first time we've had two boys qualify for finals in the 1500 meters to be run later on Sunday.  

Other noteable performances include a #2 All-Time triple jump by NSAF Triple Jump Performance  Program member & NBNI and NBNO winner, Keturah Orji (44-11 just off the national high school record).

See who also snared medals for Team USA.  Follow our summaries of each day's events by Jim Spier posted after the morning and evening sessions on our meet webpage and our FaceBook page and Twitter are updated continuously with photos, stories, and video interviews.  

Stevie U joins Team NSAF  We are extremely pleased to announce that Steve Underwood will be joining our NSAF crew starting in August. Steve has covered prep track and field and cross-country for DyeStat since 2000, the last eight years as a senior editor and editor-in-chief -- the latter since John Dye retired and Runnerspace.com acquired DyeStat late last year. He has been working in sports media, both print and online, for nearly 20 years overall. Steve estimates he has covered more than 20 NSAF events.  "I'm excited to be working for an organization which I've admired since the first NSAF meet I attended 12 years ago," he says.  Steve will be traveling to Medellin, Colombia in August to cover the Pan American Juniors as one of his first major assignments.

The Cedric Walker Development Grant  A visit to our Grants Page may be well worth your while.  We are accepting applications for the Cedric Walker Development Grant which will be awarded in September.  Deadline for application is September 1st.  The grant is a major part of the continuing legacy of Cedric Walker who passed away earlier this year.

New Balance Nationals Outdoor Wrapup  One more huge shout out to all of our sponsors, athletes, coaches, fans, staff, officials and volunteers.  What a meet!!  Visit our statistical page for the meet records, all-time lists and other stats.  Special thanks to our partner, New Balance!  All-American Certificates are being emailed to recipients.  If you have not received yours by July 19th please drop us an email.

Next up

 The Great American Track Camps July 27-28 and July 29-August 2nd presented by Coach Lisa Morgan.  Special clinicians include Olympians Jackie Joyner Kersee and Sharrieffa Barksdale.  Register now and receive a special discount.

Our friends at the Running Summit are offering two coaches clinics in August and September in New Jersey and California.  More details on their website.

The Great American Cross Country Festival, the American Independent Schools XC Challenge and the Robert Shumake HBCU Challenge -October 5th in Cary, NC.  Registration is open.

Registration will be open this week for the first of our Kultan Keihas (Javelin Gold) Performance Clinics  October 17-20.  Finland's National Coach, Kari Ihalainen will return to join Jeff Gorski and Olympic medliast, Bill Schmidt for this exceptional clinic in Chapel Hill, NC.  A second clinic is scheduled for December 27-30 with Finland's National Junior coach and 1991 World Champion, Kimmo Kinnunen

The NSAF is looking for the male and female sophomore javelin thrower who has the most potential to be national class.  Be on the lookout for an NSAF application to be in the running to be selected to be part of the Kultan Keihas Javelin project.  The athletes selected will be part of the project and will have their way paid to the two domestic javelin clinics (Oct and Dec) and be part of the team that is taken to Finland next June-July for immersion in the javelin culture and high intensity training and competition.

Heptathlon Javelin

Alexa Harmon-Thomas (Lawrence Free State, Lawrence, KS) escaped a disaster getting a legal throw after fouling twice.  She only managed only 70-9.75 worth 318 points, giving her a total of 4403. She moved from 5th after the long jump, to 21st after the javelin.  Alexa is a spectacular athlete but, like with many Americans, could be much better in the weights.  The overall favorite, Morgan Lake of Great Britain, after a disastrous long jump, managed only 101-1 in the javelin and is in sixth place.

Heptathlon 800m

Alexa ran a personal best 2:21.99 to finish with a fine 5200 points.  She finished 16th.  The winner was Celena Leffler of Germany with 5747 points.  Morgan Lake of Great Britain did not show for the 800m.

Pole Vault Finals – Girls

The opening height is 11-11.75.  Zoe Mc Kinley (Grapevine, TX) made it on her second attempt.  Desiree Freier (Northwest, Justin, TX) passed at that height and missed on her first attempt at 12-5.5.  Mc Kinley made her first attempt at that height and Freier on her second.  The bar moved to 12-11.5 with 11 remaining.   Desiree made it on her second attempt, and Zoe went out at this height, finishing 11th.    The bar was moved up to 13-3.5 with 9 girls remaining.  Desiree missed at 13-3.5 and finished 8th overall.

200m Semifinals – Girls (top 2 in each heat and next 2 fastest advance to the final)

Ariana Washington (Poly, Long Beach, CA) looks like the one to beat (for now), running an easy 23.19 [0.0] just .01 off her PB.  Hannah Cunliffe (Federal Way, WA) also ran relaxed, finishing second to Irene Ekelund of Sweden, 23.56 to 23.63.

200m Semifinals – Boys (top 2 in each heat and next 2 fastest advance to the final)

Noah Lyles (TC Williams, Alexandria, VA) ran a decent race from lane 6, gaining at the end, but managing only 4th in 21.58 [-2.5].

Triple Jump Final – Boys

Keandre Bates (Burges, El Paso, TX) opened with 49-11.75 [0.2] and was in 7th after the first round.  He moved up to 6th in round 2 with 50-7.5 [0.1].  He improved slightly in round 3 to 50-8.25 [1.4], sitting in 9th and not moving on.  He had a great meet, nonetheless.

400m Hurdles Final – Girls

Samantha Gonzalez (Creekview, Carrollton, TX) ran a ragged first half of the race, then came on strong at the end to finish in 5th, running 59.74 close to her PR.

Discus Final – Boys

Reno Tufuuli (Liberty, Henderson, NV) was in 6th after a first round with a throw of 177-0.  He got a PR in round 2 of 196-6, moving him into 4th .  He fouled on his 3rd attempt and finished the round in 5th, moving on to the final.  He finished 7th overall with his 196-6 throw.

400m Hurdles Finals – Boys

One of the stranger races I have ever seen!  Marlon Humphrey (Hoover, AL) one of the favorites, did not start due to back issues.  The Kenyan Geofrey Cheruiyot, one of the leaders after the 7th hurdles, crashed the 8th hurdle and went down.  Then Okeen Williams (Jamaica), the world youth leader, crashed the 8th hurdle and also went down.  That opened the door for Marvin Williams (Jamaica), who won in a world youth leading time of 50.39.  Yang Wang of China was second in 50.78, and Kenneth Selmon (Pace Academy, Atlanta, GA) got the bronze in 51.30.

1500m Final – Girls

Alexa Efraimson (Camas, WA) showed now fear.  Running in a relative slow pack early, she was the leader after 400m at 69.93.  The packed stayed together until a little before the bell lap.  Then the Ethiopians went and Alexa stayed with them.  She was 2nd with 200m to go when the Ethiopians pulled away, it was Efraimson 3rd and Bobby Clay of Great Britain chasing.  Efraimson held off Clay for the bronze, running very close to her PR, 4:16.07.  Anna Maxwell (San Lorenzo Valley, Felton, CA) ran a great race as well, finishing 9th in a PR of 4:23.75.  It is the second medal ever in this event, the other being Jordan Hasay’s silver in 2007.

200m Final - Girls

Ariana Washington (Poly, Long Beach, CA) knew she’d have her “hands full” with world leader Irene Ecklund of Sweden.  Ecklund got out first and took the lead early.  Ariana could not match her and gained no ground.  Ecklund’s 22.92 is #8 all-time youth.  Meanwhile, Angela Tenorio of Ecuador was coming up on Ariana’s inside and got a PB 23.13 for the silver.  Ariana hung on for the bronze with 23.20, .02 off her personal best.  Hannah Cunliffe (Federal Way, WA), stuck in lane 8, came on strong the last half of the race to finish 4th in a PB 23.44.

Pole Vault Final – Boys

Devin King (Sumner, Kentwood, LA) cleared his first attempt at his opening height of 15-7.  Paulo Benavides (Franklin, El Paso, TX) missed on his first attempt at that height, then made his second.  The bar moved up to 16-1 with 10 of the original 12 remaining.  Both Americans made the height on their first attempt.  The bar was moved up to 16-5 with the same 10 remaining.  Paulo made a PR 16-5 on his first attempt and briefly moved into a tie for first.  Devin’s 2nd and 3rd attempts were way over the bar but he hit it on the way down and was eliminated, finishing 6th.  The bar was moved up to 16-8.75, with Paulo in a tie for 2nd among the 5 remaining.  He missed on 3 attempts and finished a commendable 4th.

Long Jump Final – Girls

Keturah Orji (Mt. Holly, Flanders, NJ) and Courtney Corrin (Harvard-Westlake, North Hollywood, CA) were 1-2 after the second round, 20-4.25 and 20-3.75.  Triple jump champ Florentina Marincu (Romania) had a big jump in round 3 (21-0.75) and moved into the lead going into the finals, with Orji and Corrin 2-3.  With big jumps by a Russian and a Pole, Keturah and Courtney were out of the medals, in 4th and 5th.  In the final round, Courtney fouled and Keturah jumped a lifetime best 20-11.75 [-1.2], =#14 all-time high school, to get the silver.  Courtney finished 5th.

800m Final – Girls

The favorite, Anita Henriksdottir (Iceland) won as predicted.  Raevyn Rogers (Kinkaid, Houston, TX) took the lead and was passed just before the bell lap by Henriksdottir who passed 400m in 58.25.  She pulled away from the field with the Ethiopian Dureti Edao passing Raevyn with 200m to go.  The battle was now for the silver between Edao and Rogers.  Raevyn had the silver wrapped up but committed the “cardinal sin of running”: easing up at the finish.  That allowed Edao to slip by and get second.  Henkiksdottir ran a meet record 2:01.13 with Rogers getting a big PR of 2:03.32, #10 all-time high school.  Ersula Farrow (South, Grosse Pointe, MI) had had better days, finishing 8th in 2:13.56.

1500m Final – Boys

There were 2 separate races:  race 1 had Robert Biwott (Kenya) whose splits were 59.41, 1:56.95, 2:54.39 en route to a championship record of 3:36.77.  His last 400m was 56.62. The rest of the runners chased, so the race was for the silver medal.  Blake Haney (Stockdale, Bakersfield, CA) moved up from 6th to 2nd between the 1100m and 1300m mark, only to have the Eritrean, a Kenyan and an Ethiopian pass him.  Haney held on for 5th in a big PR of 3:44.69, #11 all-time high school (worth about 4:02 for a mile).  Grant Fisher (Grand Blanc, MI) ran a fine race, but couldn’t maintain the fast pace, dropping back after 2 laps, finishing 9th in 3:52.00.

Swedish Medley – Girls

The lineup is Dior Hall (Washington, Denver, CO), Ky Westbrook (Chandler, AZ), Raevyn Rogers (Kincaid, Houston, TX) and Olivia Baker (Columbia, Maplewood, NJ).  They won handily in 2:05.15.  The splits (unofficially):  11.1, 24.0, 37.9 and 52.9 for Olivia Baker.  It is only the second gold for the U.S for the meet.

Swedish Medley – Boys

The lineup for the boys is Jaalen Jones (Thompson, Mobile, AL), Noah Lyles (TC Williams, Alexandria, VA), Taylor Mc Laughlin (Union Catholic, Scotch Plains, NJ) and Ryan Clark (Benjamin Banneker, College Park, GA).  It was quite a challenge for the Americans, as the Jamaican team had 2 gold medalists:  Michael O’Hara (200m) and Marvin Williams (400m).  The US team finished second in 1:50.14, with the splits (approximately):  10.4, 21.4, 32.4 and 46.0.

This was the best medal haul ever for the U.S. team with 17.  They amassed 16 on three prior occasions:  2001, 2009 and 2011.  However, it was the fewest gold medals ever, with only two (Ky Westbrook in the 100m and the Girls Swedish Medley Relay).  Here is the US medal history:

1999  4   7
2001  5 16
2003  6 14
2005  6 13
2007  7 14
2009  6 16
2011  6 16
2013  2 17

Hear what the 2013 participants in the Kultan Keihas (Javelin Gold) Project have to say about their experience at the Javelin Carnival and Olympic Training Center in Finland.

As we move into the 2013-14 season, the NSAF will be selecting one male and one female athlete to join other selected athletes in the program.  More information here.

Megan Glassman, Park City, UT

Todd Ogden, Montana

Coach Barry Krammes, Pennsylvania

Kristen Clark, Ruston, LA

Kaitlyn Gochenour, Iowa

Trevor Danielson, Oregon

Josh Richter, Spokane, WA

Christine Streisel, PA

Morgan Tanisijevich, GA

Hear what the 2013 participants in the Kultan Keihas (Javelin Gold) Project have to say about their experience at the Javelin Carnival and Olympic Training Center in Finland.

As we move into the 2013-14 season, the NSAF will be selecting one male and one female athlete to join other selected athletes in the program.  More information here.

Megan Glasmann, Park City, UT

Todd Ogden, Montana

Coach Barry Krammes, Pennsylvania

Kristen Clark, Ruston, LA

Kaitlyn Gochenour, Iowa

Trevor Danielson, Oregon

Josh Richter, Spokane, WA

Christine Streisel, PA

Morgan Tanisijevich, GA

In introducing myself to this organization and this great community of those participating in and supporting athletics, I can’t help but recall a day more than 13 years ago.  It was June 16, 2000, and I had walked from my parked car to the upper level entrance of Paul Derr Track at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, N.C., into the covered outdoor press area, and was gazing for the first time at a National Scholastic Athletics Foundation national championship event.  Of course it was the NSSF back then, the meet had yet to move to Greensboro, and the sponsor for the outdoor championships was Foot Locker, not New Balance.  I had written my first stories for the national high school track and XC site, DyeStat.com, the “Return of the Distance Gods” series, and now John Dye had invited me to cover my first nationals.

John introduced me to meet directors Jim Spier and Mike Byrnes, as well as Joy Kamani and others, and I went on to witness their first class production over the next two days.  Similarly, several months later in March of 2001, I attended for the first time what was then Nike Indoor Nationals at the PG Sportsplex in Landover – another fantastic event – and continued to get to know these folks who were doing so much for our sport.

And so it continued, year in and year out, as I eventually became a full-time editor for DyeStat and the site evolved under John Dye.  The NSSF and now NSAF events such as these, the Great American XC Festival, and others have always been highlights of every season.  There was the continued opportunity to get to know Jim and Joy and the rest of the Foundation’s staff and crew and, even as I loved what I was doing with DyeStat, it occurred to me what a bounty it would be to serve professionally with these folks who seemed to be at the epicenter of high school track and field and XC on a national level.

In 2012, ESPN discontinued its support of DyeStat and most of its high school coverage (we’d been with ESPN since 2008) and later in the fall, when John Dye retired, it seemed like DyeStat was dead – only to be resurrected by Ross Krempley and Runnerspace.com.  And so it was a little more than a month ago, while working with this new incarnation of DyeStat, that I received an unexpected offer.  The Foundation wanted someone working in the area of media and public relations.  Would I be interested in being that person?

Leaving DyeStat, where I’d been serving part- and then full-time for 13 years – and admittedly had become a huge part of my identity – was a hard decision.  But in this case I cannot help but invoke this cliche: It was an offer I couldn’t refuse.

I am extremely grateful to have this opportunity with the Foundation, as the new Director of Media and Public Relations.  On the one hand, it’s a chance to continue to cover as a journalist the same sport I grew up in, and continue to love and want to be involved with.  On the other hand, it means doing new and different things to promote and support athletics, and doing so from a different place, or “foundation,” if you will.  It will be an exciting mix of the new and familiar, and I look forward to sharing the mission and stories of the NSAF through every kind of media available and to both our athletics community and the world at large.

I think those of us involved with this organization, and all of us who love athletics in general, have these things on our mind and in our hearts:  One, we know what participation in the sports of track and field and cross-country can do for young people in their lives, whether it’s with many of the outstanding prep programs across this nation or with many of the fine clubs that work with youth and junior athletes.  Two, we also feel that if we can provide and enhance athletics opportunities for these young people, not only will their lives be touched, but our national and international teams will be strengthened all the way through to the senior and Olympic levels.

The NSAF’s stated mission is to “inspire youth to live active, healthy lifestyles, and to prepare them for future success.”  I’m proud to be part of an organization with this mission and look forward to adding to it my energy, experience, and ideas.  In the end, it’s all about serving all of you out there: The athletes, families, coaches and everyone who loves and is involved with our sport.  What I do, what we all do, is for you.

The 2012-2013 Kultan Keihas crew departing Finland last month after a great week of training and competition.

These mid-summer days, leading up to all the excitement of a final year of high school, just got a whole lot more interesting for Karen Bulger, a rising Northwest Christian (Lacey, Wash.) senior thrower, who specializes in the javelin.

Bulger won her Class 2B state title in that event this year (pictured at right with her state team points award, photo by Jeff Bulger), threw a US#3 161-5 in the Pasco Invite, and was second in the World Youth Trials this June.  It was tough not getting chosen for Team USA, but she was certainly ecstatic when she learned that she’s not only going to be able to participate in two of the outstanding clinics in the country this fall and coming winter, but be able to travel to, train and compete next summer in a country where her passion is a national pastime.

“I was very excited to be chosen to go to Finland,” she said this week.  “Before this past year, I had no clue this program existed.  But I heard about it this spring from Megan (Glasmann, the U.S. #2 thrower from Park City, Utah) ... it’s super cool that I’m going to be involved.”

Excited is probably an understatement.  “This program” is Project Kultan Keihas (“Javelin Gold”), the National Scholastic Athletics Foundation’s jewel of an opportunity about to start its fourth year and becoming known as a destination for aspiring standouts for an event that doesn’t always get a lot of acclaim in the U.S.  The program was the brainchild in 2011 of NSAF Director Jim Spier and COO Joy Kamani, always looking for ways to improve athletes’ prospects in various events. 

Finding a way to do something for the javelin and its enthusiasts was a natural target.  No American male has medaled in the Olympics since NSAF board member Bill Schmidt did so at the 1972 Summer Games in Munich.  No American female has done so, either, since Kate Schmidt (no relation) in the 1976 Montreal Olympics, and success has been limited in Youth and Junior competition as well.  Certainly, there have been prep standouts in recent years like Sam and Haley Crouser, Avionne Allgood, Hannah Carson and others.  But the Project seeks to further develop athletes at this level and, in particular, those who show great promise at a young age.

“Joy and I were talking at the 2011 Pan Am Jrs in the Miami area,” recalled Spier, “and lamenting why we (U.S. in general) were not doing better in the triple jump and javelin.  So we came up with the idea of having a javelin training camp – and actually bringing kids to Finland, which is the mecca for javelin throwers.

“So we presented that to our board, and got immediate approval, and met with Jeff Gorski – who’s a javelin guru in the U.S. as a coach and former javelin thrower.  And he said he’d been waiting for my call for five years.  This is the dream that he wanted.”

Gorski is practically a neighbor of Spier in Chapel Hill, N.C., and has a bit of a “field of dreams” there for javelinists that might be the closest thing stateside to Finland’s paradise.  That’s how the Project goes beyond the international opportunity for the select few: the domestic portion of the program at Gorski’s facitities, October and December clinics, are open to all.

The prep athletes just returned a few weeks ago from the project’s section excursion to Finland.  In both 2012 and 2013, athletes enjoyed several days at the IAAF-certified national training center in Kourtane, and during that first year also enjoyed a meet in Oulu (4 hours away) against a Finnish junior team.  But this time the trip was enhanced by the stupendous opportunity to participate in Javelin Carnival Pihtipudas (pictured at left).  “It’s almost like a national holiday in Finland,” said Spier of an event attended by more than 4,000 – all to watch all ages in a single event.  After the finals of the carnival, he would write in his daily blog from the trip, “I’ve been at this a long time and never quite experienced anything like what I was part of today.”

Leading the coaching for athletes in Finland is Kimmo Kinnunen, the 1991 IAAF World Champion in the jav.  Finnish national jav coach (17 years) Kari Ihalainen has also trained the athletes, including coaching with Gorski in North Carolina as well.  Ditto for Barry Krammes, a still-active two-time Olympic Trials qualifier.  Also helping on the home front is the aforementioned Bill Schmidt.  It truly has been a coaching staff with the best from two nations.

To date, the Foundation has invested just under $133,000 on the Project: $25,350 in 2011 (no Finland trip), $52,625 in 2012 (includes trip for six to Finland), and $55,000 this year (includes trip for eight to Finland). 

Gorski said “you can’t put a price” on how valuable the experience is of traveling to Finland, training there, and a competing in a meet like the Carnival. “Words can’t describe how positive it is. It’s such a benefit to go where the event is revered like it is in Finland, for them to experience that, as well as the cultural aspects of the trip ... the openness of the Finnish people and their willingness to share what they have.  They’re so welcoming.

“When they’re back home and out training the kids can think back to what it was like in Finland.  It will keep the them motivated.”

“I’m really excited,” Gorski added, reflecting on the accomplishments of Year Three of the Project.  “The main thrust is long-term ... we hope to see these kids competitive at the NCAA level and challenging for Team USA berths in the Olympic Games and World Championships.  But look at what the kids did at the Javelin Carnival, with Katelyn winning the MVP, and Megan and Todd throwing personal bests.  They’re achieving short term goals, too.”

Gorski was speaking of Katelyn Gochenour, the aforementioned Megan Glasmann, and Todd Ogden – who certainly epitomize both the short term success and long term aspirations of the Project.  Gochenour, who just completed her freshman year at Marian Catholic in Omaha, Nebraska, earned the terrific bounty of the Javelin Carnival Pihtipudas’ Most Valuable Performer (pictured at right) for her victories in both the 15-and-Under and 17-and-Under divisions.  Shortly after arriving home from Finland, Gochenour threw a PR 156-8 in a USATF region meet, good for US#6 and the top freshman mark in the country.

Todd Ogden (pictured below left), a rising senior at Glacier HS in Kalispell, Montana, was a 199-footer as a soph in 2012, then had improved through the Project to 210-8 during the regular season.  At the Carnival, he reached a PR US#4 211-11.  “It’s great to see the javelin appreciated like it is here,” he said.  Talking about what he’s learned through a year in the Project, he added, “I’ve really learned how to train differently, to mix it up and not just go out and throw five days a week.  I’ve learned I need to run and build some endurance.  Technically, for example, I’ve learned about focusing on using my hip flexor more.”

As for Megan Glasmann (pictured below right), headed to Stanford after completing her senior year at Park City, a stupendous US#2 168-1 PR was the latest and greatest of a season full of accomplishments.  A 149-footer as a junior, she reached 159-1 to win New Balance Nationals Outdoor, then 166-7 to take USA Juniors and qualify for the Pan Am Junior team.  She’s also added a USATF JO title. 

“This trip was absolutely spectacular,” she told Paul Limmer in a video interview while in Finland.  “Last year, watching the girls throw, to be completely honest, I was jealous!”

Glasmann had attended the October 2011 clinic in Chapel Hill (but missed the December clinic due to a concussion) and recalled working towards a goal of being able to earn an invitation for the trip.  “As a rising thrower, it was yet another goal to work toward, and seeing up close the type of training and coaching available to the selected team members motivated me to work even harder than I would have otherwise, knowing the unbelievable learning possibilities that would be open to me if I became an elite thrower and was selected.”

For 2013-14, the selected participants (who will ultimately travel to Finland next summer) so far are Bulger plus the five returnees from this past year: Gochenour, Ogden, Newberg OR rising senior Trevor Danielson, Mead WA soph Josh Ritchter, and Ruston LA junior Karen Clark.  Two more are to be selected.

As Gorski and Schmidt look toward growing the Project and improving javelin results for U.S. athletes in general, there’s a few things they agree are keys to developing more outstanding preps and internationally competitive athletes at the top. 

Both would like to see more clinic opportunities spread around the country.  “I’d like to see the clinics become a road show,” said Gorski, “to get our guys to travel to different areas and expose more athletes to this.”

“Why not have a javelin carnival here?” said Schmidt.  “And I would like to see regional clinics, as well.”

There are those who might point to the fact that there are only 17 states where the javelin is contested at the high school level, but Gorski doesn’t see that as an impediment.  “There are kids who throw it in every state in the Junior Olympics.  There are plenty of numbers.”

Another big thing is this: Developing more coaches who can competently teach the event. “The coaches have got to get motivated,” said Gorski, citing numbers that indicate that out of 300 clinic participants the past year, less than 20 were coaches.  “There’s a woeful lack of knowledgeable coaches in this event.  That’s the biggest bugaboo.  Most track coaches are former distance runners and come from that background.”  He added that it doesn’t really take a lot of hours of focused training for a coach to become significantly more competent in the javelin and other throws.

Another issue helping to ensure that qualified athletes in the event are afforded the same opportunities as their peers in other events.  Why the top girls javelin finishers at the Youth Trials didn’t get chosen for Team USA is “beyond my comprehension,” said Gorski.  He also pointed out a situation in a previous World Trials, in 2009, when athletes were compelled to use inferior javelins provided by the USATF while attempting to qualify.  Gorski now provides javelins himself for that competition.  Arionne Allen, the Associate Director of Youth Programs for USATF, has been invited to this fall’s first camp in October.

Schmidt would like to see cooperation at all levels, including the collegiate coaches association and the USATF, with the goal of building prospects in the javelin.  “It has to be results-driven, focused on how we get better.  We’ve got to help each other to get there.”

In addition to Project Kultan Keihas, another NSAF event that is benefitting javelinists and all throwers is the Chicagoland Throwers Series, a handful of competitions scheduled at Illinois Benedictine that began June 7.  Schmidt is spearheading that program.

“The NSAF has done a phenomenal job with this and afforded me an opportunity from a funding standpoint,” he said.  The unique aspect of the events, in particular the first one, was structuring a competition where prep athletes throwing their own implements could compete alongside Olympic team contenders and other active post-collegians.

“When these kids get to see and compete alongside people better than themselves, they realize it can happen for them, too,” he said.

And, when athletes get a chance to do what Bulger and the rest will do in Project Kultan Keihas in 2013-14, the “it” Schmidt mentioned starts happening for them.

(Photo at left of 2013 Kultan Keihas group enjoying dinner during the Finland trip)

“We are thrilled she is getting this opportunity to really work on her javelin skills,” said Brenda Bulger, Karen’s mother.  “I think it will be instrumental in how far she can throw in the 2014 season, doing the off season clinics to pick up tips and be critiqued by top experts.

“I think it’s wonderful that NSAF recognizes the need for the United States to develop and train young javelin throwers who have the potential to compete at the international level ... The fun part will to be at these clinics with other top guy and gal throwers, they all have that in common, to strive to be their best with the help of the expert coaches Jeff Gorski and Kimmo Kinnunen.

“Karen is going into her senior year and has had quite a lot of interest from colleges across the country, and to add Project Kultan Keihas to her resume is outstanding. We have been telling friends and family what a great opportunity the National Scholastic Athletics Foundation is giving these elite youth athletes.”

The NSAF will be selecting one female and one male individual to be part of the 2013-14 Project Kultan Keihas elite athlete team. It is open to those who are sophomores, freshman or 8th graders in the Fall of 2013 (this fall). Selected athletes will receive their travel, accommodations and related clinic expenses covered for two Kultan Keihas Javelin clinics, October 17-20, 2013 and December 27-30, 2013 in Chapel Hill, NC, and for the Kultan Keihas Javelin Immersion Experience trip to Finland in the summer of 2014 to the Javelin Carnival in Pihtipudas and to Finland's Olympic Training Center in Kuortane. The application deadline is September 1, 2013.

The original 2011 Kultan Keihas crew at Jeff Gorski's javelin facility in Chapel Hill that October.

The following are the men's and women's rosters for Team USA for the 2013 Pan American Junior Championships, August 23-25 in Medellin, Columbia.  The roster is made up of athletes qualifying from the June's USA Junior Championships in Des Moines.  For more about the team and the meet, go to the USATF.org home page for the meet HERE.

Prep athletes on the roster are listed in bold.

MEN

Event
Place (at USA Jrs) - Name - School

100m
  1 Trayvon Bromell Gibbs, St. Petersburg, FL Senior
  2 Tevin Hester Clemson 
  Relay Cameron Burrell Ridgeview, Missouri City, TX Senior
  Relay Raymond Bozmans TCU 
        
200m
  1 Just'N Thymes Riverside CC (CA) 
  3 Riak Reese Lincoln, Gahanna, OH Senior
        
400m
  1 Marcus Chambers Foss, Tacoma, WA Senior
  2 Juan Paul Green Illinois 
  Relay Lamar Bruton Howard Tech, Wilmington, DE Senior
  Relay Alexis Robinson Eureka, CA Senior
        
800m
  1 Nicholas Rivera Texas Tech 
  2 Marcus Dickson BYU 
        
1500m
  1 Justin Brinkley Stanford 
  2 Craig Engels North Carolina State 
        
5000m
  1 Thomas Awad Pennsylvania 
        
10,000m
  1 Matt McClintock Purdue 
  3 Brandon Shemonia Southern Illinois - Carbondale 
        
3000m SC
  1 Tate Schienbein Purdue 
  2 Brendan Smith Pennsylvania 
        
110mH
  1 Tony Brown Ozen, Beaumont, TX Junior
  2 Trey Holloway Hampton 
        
400mH
  1 Scottie Heams Mississippi State 
  2 Khallifah Rosser Chaffey JC (CA) 
        
Decathlon
  1 Wolf Mahler Benton, TX Senior
  2 Devon Williams Georgia 
        
High Jump
  1 Justin Fondren Alabama 
  2 Wally Ellenson Minnesota 
        
Pole Vault
  1 Daven Murphree Big Sandy, TX Senior
  2 Dylan Duvio John Curtis, River Ridge, LA Senior
        
Long Jump
  1 Andre Jefferson John Tyler, Tyler, TX Senior
  6 Kaelan Washington Jr Oklahoma 
        
Triple Jump
  1 Timothy White-Edwards College of the Canyons (CA) 
  2 Felix Obi Baylor 
        
Shot Put
  1 Coy Blair Purdue 
  2 Joshua Freeman Southern Illinois 
        
Discus
  1 Hayden Reed Alabama 
  2 Reginald Jagers Kent State 
        
Hammer
  1 Rudy Winkler Averill Park, NY Senior
  2 Alex Young Gardner-Webb 
        
Javelin
  1 Robert Smutsky William and Mary 
  4 Jay Stell US Naval Academy 

WOMEN

Event
Place (at USA Jrs) - Name - School

100m
  1 Morolake Akinosun Illinois
  2 Jennifer Madu Texas A+M
  Relay Mary Beth Sant Valor Christian, Highlands Ranch, CO Senior
      
200m
  1 Ana Holland Regis Jesuit, Aurora, CO Senior
  2 Morolake Akinosun Illinois
  Relay Destinee Gause Florida
      
400m
  1 Courtney Okolo Texas
  2 Kendall Baisden Detroit Country Day, Bloomfield Hills, MI Senior
  Relay Robin Reynolds Florida
  Relay Breigh Jones Austin Peay
      
800m
  1 Olicia Williams Baylor
  2 Claudia Saunders Stanford
      
1500m
  1 Kelsey Margey Villanova
  2 Rachel Stewart BYU
      
5000m
  3 Hannah Oneda Johns Hopkins
      
3000m SC
  1 Brianna Nerud Syracuse
  2 Bethany Neeley Eastern, Greentown, IN Senior
      
100mH
  1 Sasha Wallace Castro Valley, CA Senior
  2 Alexis Perry North Carolina State
      
400mH
  1 Autumne Franklin Harvard
  2 Jade Miller Great Oak, Temecula, CA Senior
      
Heptathlon
  1 Kendell Williams Kell, Marietta, GA Senior
  2 Kendall Gustafson Palisades, Pacific Palisades, CA Senior
      
High Jump
  1 Rachel Proteau West Albany, OR Senior
  4 Claire Kieffer-Wright South Pasadena, Pasadena, CA Junior
      
Pole Vault
  1 Megan Clark Duke
  2 Bonnie Draxler Wrightstown, WI Junior
      
Long Jump
  1 Alexis Faulknor Central Florida
  3 Mimieux Land Clemson
      
Triple Jump
  1 Brianna Richardson Baylor
      
Shot Put
  1 Stamatia Scarvelis Dos Pueblos, Goleta, CA Junior
  2 Chase Ealey Oklahoma State
      
Discus
  1 Magdalyn Ewen St. Francis, MN Junior
  2 Rebecca Famurewa Kentucky
      
Hammer
  1 Cara McClain Modeso JC (CA)
  2 Avana Story North Carolina
      
Javelin
  1 Megan Glasmann Park City, UT Senior

The following are mini-previews for Team USA men and other leading athletes for the 2013 Pan American Junior Championships, August 23-25 in Medellin, Columbia.  Full previews will appear early the week of the meet (Aug. 19-20).  For more about the team and the meet, go to the USATF.org home page for the meet HERE.

Prep athletes on the roster are listed in bold.

Event
Place(at USA Juniors), Athlete Name, School

SPRINTS

100m
1. Trayvon Bromell, Gibbs, St. Petersburg, FL, Senior
2. Tevin Hester, Clemson
Relay: Cameron Burrell, Ridgeview, Missouri City, TX, Senior
Relay: Raymond Bozmans, TCU

200m
1. Just'N Thymes, Riverside CC (CA)
3. Riak Reese, Lincoln, Gahanna, OH, Senior

400m
1. Marcus Chambers, Foss, Tacoma, WA, Senior
2. Juan Paul Green, Illinois
Relay: Lamar Bruton, Howard Tech, Wilmington, DE, Senior
Relay: Alexis Robinson, Eureka, CA, Senior

Mini-Preview: The Pan Am Junior sprints are often loaded with some of the world’s best talent and 2013 will be no exception.  In the 100, Team USA has won three of the last four golds, and collegian Tevin Hester as the likely fastest entrant (10.21) has a good chance to continue that trend.  Prep Trayvon Bromell (photo at right from USA Juniors, by Joy Kamani), the USA Junior champ with bests of US#1 10.27/9.99w also is a good candidate for the medal stand.  The 200, where an American hasn’t won since 2007, could be a little tougher – with World Youth champ Michael O’Hara JAM (20.63) the expected top seed.  But collegian Just’N Thymes (20.68) should fight for a medal.

Even more challenging for Team USA will be the 400, where World #2 Javon Francis JAM (45.24) and #3 Yoandys Lescay CUB (45.39) would be favored if they follow their expected appearances at the IAAF World Seniors with the PAJs.  Even if they don’t show, World Youth champ Michael Manley (45.89) has the sub-46 creds that the Americans don’t and will put in jeopardy the trend of American champs (three of last four).  USA Junior champ Marcus Chambers is coming off a 6th-place finish in the USATF JO 400 final.

DISTANCES

800m
1. Nicholas Rivera, Texas Tech
2. Marcus Dickson, BYU

1500m
1. Justin Brinkley, Stanford
2. Craig Engels, North Carolina State

5000m
1. Thomas Awad, Pennsylvania

10,000m
1. Matt McClintock, Purdue
3., Brandon Shemonia, Southern Illinois - Carbondale

3000m SC
1. Tate Schienbein, Purdue
2. Brendan Smith, Pennsylvania

Mini-Preview: Team USA did quite well in the five longest men’s races in 2011, with the PAJ being in Florida, claiming four golds and seven total medals.  They have typically won at least five or six distance medals in other recent games.  In 2013, Americans could have top entrants in four of the five races with collegians Thomas Awad (14:04.24 5,000), Matt McClintock (29:37.89 10,000), and Brendan Smith (9:00.58 3k ST).  In the 1500, Canadian Adam Palamar has a spanking new 3:38.92 PR that ranks him in the world’s top 10, but Team USA will battle for a few medals with collegians Justin Brinkley (3:46.13) and Craig Engels (3:45.51).

The 800 could be very interesting as Puerto Rico has the potential top two seeds, including Florida prep Andres Arroyo, who ran 1:47.74, way back in April.  That country could also send Hector Hernandez, a Texas A&M frosh who prepped at Killeen Ellison TX.  Team USA’s collegians Marcus Dickson and Nick Rivera will be in the hunt, though.

HURDLES

110mH
1. Tony Brown, Ozen, Beaumont, TX, Junior
2. Trey Holloway, Hampton

400mH
1. Scottie Heams, Mississippi State
2. Khallifah Rosser, Chaffey JC (CA)

Mini-Preview: Two of the world’s current top 5 in the 110s will clash when #5 Texas prep Tony Brown (photo at right from USA Juniors, by Joy Kamani) meets #2 Jamaican Omar McLeod – a double World Youth finalist in 2011 who has improved to 13.24 this year.  However, will we see the Brown who dominated USA Juniors and ran 13.38 and 13.40 at the Texas Relays and Texas 4A state, respectively, or the Brown who missed making the NBNO final and also lost at USATF JOs?  Collegian Trey Holloway should also be a finalist and possible medal threat.  In the 400H, McLeod is also favored with his World #3 49.98 best.  Collegians Scottie Hearns and Khallifa Rosser should also be in the final with Hearns a good bet for silver.  Americans have won every hurdle race since 2007, with Wayne Davis II nailing a HSR and WJR 13.08 in 2009.

JUMPS

High Jump
1. Justin Fondren, Alabama
2. Wally Ellenson, Minnesota

Pole Vault
1. Daven Murphree, Big Sandy, TX, Senior
2. Dylan Duvio, John Curtis, River Ridge, LA, Senior

Long Jump
1. Andre Jefferson, John Tyler, Tyler, TX, Senior
6. Kaelan Washington Jr, Oklahoma

Triple Jump
1. Timothy White-Edwards, College of the Canyons (CA)
2. Felix Obi, Baylor

Mini-Preview: Team USA has a good chance for multiple medals in both men’s vertical jumps, but the horizontals will be more of a challenge.  In the high jump, the U.S. actually has the top three and seven of the top 10 on the world list during what is a weak year, globally, but the top two – Logan Brittain and Randall Cunningham – did not compete at USA Juniors.  With collegians Wally Ellenson and Justin Fondren (2011 World Youth medalist), however, Americans will likely battle for the medals with Jamaican Christophe Bryan – a two-time Penn Relays champ.  Canadian superstar Shawn Barber, who set the HSR (and grabbed WJ Bronze) last year while finishing up at Kingwood TX HS, is the overwhelming PV favorite with a World #1 18-8.75 best.  He is also on Canada’s Senior WC team for Moscow this week.  Team USA is missing its best junior, 2011 WY bronze winner and collegian Jacob Blankenship, but Texas prep Daven Murphree – unbeaten this year with a 17-8.5 best – is a great bet for silver.  Louisiana prep Dylan Duvio, a 17-3.5 performer, could also nail bronze.  In the last four PAJs, Americans have grabbed four golds and 10 total medals in these two events.

In the long jump, Brazilian Higor Alves, the only eligible over 8 meters (26-3.75), is the man to beat.  Top U.S. junior Jarrion Lawson (26-0.5), who won WJ bronze in 2012, did not compete at USA Jrs this time.  So the top American medal hopes are 25-0.5 performers Texas prep Andre Jefferson and collegian Kaelan Washington.  Jefferson won USA Juniors and while Washington was a poor sixth, he had his 25-footer for Oklahoma at Big-12s earlier in the spring.  Similarly, the World #1 in the triple jump should be here in the person of Cuban Lazaro Martinez, a 54-6.75 performer who took the World Youth title last month.  Still, Team USA has two solid contenders for at least bronze in collegians Timothy White-Edwards (53-1) and Felix Obi (51-11/52-9.25w).  Americans have three golds and nine total horizontal jump medals in the last four PAJs.

THROWS

Shot Put
1. Coy Blair, Purdue
2. Joshua Freeman, Southern Illinois

Discus
1. Hayden Reed, Alabama
2. Reginald Jagers, Kent State

Hammer
1. Rudy Winkler, Averill Park, NY, Senior
2. Alex Young, Gardner-Webb

Javelin
1. Robert Smutsky, William and Mary
4. Jay Stell, US Naval Academy

Mini-Preview: The shot put and discus should be battles between the Team USA duos in each event (all collegians) and Jamaican Fedrick Dacres.  Dacres captured both the 2011 World Youth and 2012 World Junior titles, and won bronze in this meet in 2011, too.  In 2013, however, he’s World #3 at 206-5 and American Hayden Reed is right behind at 206-2.  Reggie Jagers is a U.S. contender for bronze, too.  In the shot, Dacres is looking up to the Americans as the #3 likely entrant, with Coy Blair (65-6) and Josh Freeman (64-8.5) the favorites for gold and silver.  Jamaicans Ashinia Miller and Travis Smikle broke a string of U.S. domination in this event in 2011 with gold-medal performances.

In the hammer, New York prep HSR-setter Rudy Winkler hopes to stay unbeaten, as well as improving on his finishes of 9th in the 2011 World Youths and 11th in the 2012 World Juniors.  He’s the top entrant (245-5), with Chile’s Hevertt Alvarez following at 238-4.  Collegian Alex Young (226-10) should be a bronze contender.  Top junior javelinist Billy Stanley did not throw at USA Juniors and the title went to collegian Robert Smutsky (226-8).  He should fight for at least a bronze with the Caymen Islands’ Alexander Pascal (235-8) being the favorite.  Americans have won three golds and six total medals in these two events at the last four PAJs.

MULTIS

Decathlon
1. Wolf Mahler, Benton, TX, Senior
2. Devon Williams, Georgia

Mini-Preview: Despite his superb 7,419 at USA Juniors, Texas prep Wolf Mahler will not be a favorite in the decathlon.  7,701-performer Abdel Larrinaga of Cuba and 7,550 scorer Felipe dos Santos of Brazil will be the guys to beat.  The Brazilian has the top international record with a third at 2011 World Youths and 11th at World Juniors last year, while Larrinaga was 13th at WJs.  Americans Kevin Lazas and Curtis Beach have won the past two PAJ decas.

RELAYS

Mini-Preview: The relays are tough to assess because most squads don’t compete until international championships.  In the 4x100, Team USA has the last four titles here, with times ranging from 39.06 to 39.43, and winning by solid margins.  The U.S. roster has Texas prep Cameron Burrell (10.36/10.07w) and collegian Raymond Bozmans (10.42) joining Hester and Bromell and it seems highly likely the quartet can rip a similar time to its previous winners.  While Jamaica has only two bronzes during the last four PAJs, it’s hard to imagine with three performers at 10.37 or better that they can’t challenge for at least silver.

In the 4x400, Americans have won three of the past four titles by large margins, running 3:03 to 3:08, with Trinidad and Tobago breaking that up in 2007 with a narrow win.  This year’s Team USA crew doesn’t have any sub-46 performers, so they could be vulnerable to T&T again or a potentially very strong Jamaican squad.  Back in April, junior teams from Jamaica and T&T ran 3:05.68 and 3:06.23, respectively.  That may not necessarily mean they’re suited to run the same in August, but it’s pretty likely.

The following are mini-previews for Team USA women and other leading athletes for the 2013 Pan American Junior Championships, August 23-25 in Medellin, Columbia.  Full previews will appear early the week of the meet (Aug. 19-20).  For more about the team and the meet, go to the USATF.org home page for the meet HERE.

Prep athletes on the roster are listed in bold.

Event
Place(at USA Juniors), Athlete Name, School

SPRINTS

100m
1. Morolake Akinosun, Illinois
2. Jennifer Madu, Texas A+M
Relay: MaryBeth Sant, Valor Christian, Highlands Ranch, CO, Senior

200m
1. Ana Holland, Regis Jesuit, Aurora, CO, Senior
2. Morolake Akinosun, Illinois
Relay: Destinee Gause, Florida

400m
1. Courtney Okolo, Texas
2.  Kendall Baisden, Detroit Country Day, Bloomfield Hills, MI Senior
Relay: Robin Reynolds, Florida
Relay: Breigh Jones, Austin Peay

Mini-Preview: After sweeping the 100/200 golds in 2007 and 2009 in this meet, Team USA was shut out in 2011, even at home (Florida).  Meanwhile, there hasn’t been a U.S. 400 winner since Natasha Hastings in 2005.  Chances look strong in the 100 this time, but 200/400 hopes could be contingent on what one of the world’s best young sprinters does. 

That sprinter is Shaunae Miller of the Bahamas, the World #1 Junior at both long dashes (22.45/50.70).  She’s also entered for her country at this week’s IAAF World Champs in Moscow, so whether she come to Medellin, too, is questionable.  She was the 2010 World Junior and 2011 World Youth 400 champ, but then just 4th at last summer’s WJ.  Team USA is hardly short of talent in Miller’s events, though.  They will counter with collegian Courtney Okolo, who hit a super World #2 51.04 at USA Jrs, and US#2 prep Kendall Baisden, who is World #7 at 52.03.  Also well worth watching is U.S. prep Kadecia Baird, running for Guyana.  She was the WJ silver medalist last year with 51.04, had significant ups and downs her senior year here, but then recently ran 51.32.

In the 200, medal threats include Miller, World #2 Shericka Jackson of Jamaica (22.84), and WY silver medalist Angela Tenorio of Ecuador (23.13).  At USA Juniors, prep Ana Holland impressed with 23.04w in her first major meet and will hope to battle for a medal here (23.29 legal best).  Collegian Morolake Akinosun (23.26/23.18w) will be in the hunt, too.  Americans will be favored in the century, though, even with World #1 MaryBeth Sant having been just 6th at USA Juniors and only here on relay duty.  Collegian Jennifer Madu (pictured, above right, photo by Joy Kamani) is the second fastest entry at 11.31 and was the 2011 World Youth champ, while Akinosun was actually the US champ in this one even her 11.45 PR is further down the list.

DISTANCES

800m
1. Olicia Williams, Baylor
2. Claudia Saunders, Stanford

1500m
1. Kelsey Margey, Villanova
2. Rachel Stewart, BYU

5000m
3. Hannah Oneda, Johns Hopkins

3000m SC
1. Brianna Nerud, Syracuse
2. Bethany Neeley, Eastern, Greentown, IN, Senior

Mini-Preview: In 2011, Team USA captured all five women’s races between 800 and 5,000 meters and added four other silver or bronze medals.  This year, it’s more likely that the American haul will revert back to the norm from the three previous PAJs of a couple golds and 2-4 other medals – especially because there’s just one entrant between the 3k and 5k races.  The strongest U.S. threat is World #7 steepler Brianna Nerud, who set two HSRs last year at World Juniors in taking 5th at 10:00.72.  She was also a World Youth finalist in 2011.  Prep Bethany Neeley, with a 10:19.83 best, also has a medal shot.  1500 prospects also look good as collegian Kelsey Margey (4:17.14 PR) basically shares a favorite role with Canadian Julia Zrinyi (4:16.48).

In the 800, Cuban Sahily Diago has run 2:01.30, #8 in the world and likely the best in this field.  Jamaican Simoya Campbell is a 2:03.08 performer and Americans collegians Olicia Williams (2:05.20 best) and Claudia Saunders (2:06.46) should be in the fight for at least bronze.  Team USA has no one in the 3,000, but collegian Hannah Oneda in the 5,000 – while just the #3 finisher at USA Juniors – should have a shot at a medal if she can run around 17:00.

HURDLES

100mH
1. Sasha Wallace, Castro Valley, CA, Senior
2. Alexis Perry North Carolina State

400mH
1. Autumne Franklin, Harvard
2. Jade Miller, Great Oak, Temecula, CA, Senior

Mini-Preview: The hurdle races have been high-octane battles, usually between Americans and Jamaicans – who have captured 18 of 24 medals in the past four PAJs.  That could continue this year.  In the 400H, current and future Harvard stars Autumne Franklin and Jade Miller are 1-2 in the world with 57.10 and 57.21 marks from USA Juniors.  Canadian Sage Watson is next among the likely entries, with Jamaicans Camira Haughton and Kimone Green following.  In the 100H, Jamaican Megan Simmonds has run a World #3 13.33, a tenth faster than unbeaten U.S. prep Sasha Wallace (pictured, at right, photo by Joy Kamani).  Collegian Alexis Perry, with a 13.70 PR, might also contend for a medal. 

JUMPS

High Jump
1. Rachel Proteau, West Albany, OR, Senior
4. Claire Kieffer-Wright, South Pasadena, Pasadena, CA, Junior

Pole Vault
1. Megan Clark, Duke
2. Bonnie Draxler, Wrightstown, WI, Junior

Long Jump
1. Alexis Faulknor, Central Florida
3. Mimieux Land, Clemson

Triple Jump
1. Brianna Richardson, Baylor

Mini-Preview: The most successful Team USA jumps event in recent PAJs has been the pole vault, with golds earned in the past three meets.  But 2013 will be tougher with Venezuelan vaulter Robeilys Peinado the newly crowned WY champ with a best of WJ#5 14-3.25.  The top four on the U.S. Junior list didn’t compete at USAs, but collegian Megan Clark (13-7.25) is still a solid medal contender, with prep Bonnie Draxler four inches back at that meet but with the same PR.  A short streak of two straight HJ wins for Americans in this meet might be in jeopardy, too, especially if St. Lucia’s WJ#1 Jeanelle Scheper (6-3.5) competes after having jumped for her country at the IAAF WCs in Moscow.  Prep Rachel Proteau is the only athlete who was also on the 2011 squad (5th) and, with a 6-1 PR, has a great chance at a medal.  Prep Claire Kieffer-Wright is a 6-footer in the running, too.

Other than the LJ/TJ sweep by Jamesha Youngblood and Ke’Nyia Richardson in 2007, horizontal jump medals have been harder to come by for Team USA in recent years.  Collegian Alexis Faulknor could change that, though, with her 21-4.75 best likely to lead the field.  She’ll duel with Cuban Paula Beatriz Alvarez (21-3) for the gold, while collegian Mimi Land (20-4.25) also in the thick of it.  The triple jump will be the toughest event for Team USA with 42-6 performer and collegian Brianna Richardson ranking 9th among likely entrants.

THROWS

Shot Put
1. Stamatia Scarvelis, Dos Pueblos, Goleta, CA, Junior
2. Chase Ealey, Oklahoma State

Discus
1. Magdalyn Ewen, St. Francis, MN, Junior
2. Rebecca Famurewa, Kentucky

Hammer
1. Cara McClain, Modeso JC (CA)
2. Avana Story, North Carolina

Javelin
1. Megan Glasmann, Park City, UT, Senior

Mini-Preview: Team USA grabbed three throws golds with a trio of current or would-be prep record-holders in 2011, one of its best hauls in meet history.  The lineup isn’t quite as strong this time, but results should still be strong.  With its duo of collegian Chase Ealey (52-6.5) and prep Stamatia Scarvelis (52-1.75) that ranks 6-10 globally, the U.S. is in good position to sweep the shot put.  Cuban Saily Viart looks like the third best, with a 51-7.75 PR.  While Shelbi Vaughan – the HSR-holder, World Junior medalist and World #2 – did not compete in the USA Juniors, fellow collegian WJ#4 Rebecca Famurewa is a strong gold threat with a 187-4 best.  She threw just 171-10 at USA Juniors behind prep leader Maggie Ewen (179-6), who ranks #3 among likely entrants.  Splitting them is Cuban Rosalia Vazquez, the 2011 World Youth titlist, at 181-0. 

The Cubans, traditionally strong in the hammer, look to lead the field for that event with the 1-2 punch of Hassana Divo (210-8) and Elianne Despaigne (203-4), #7 and #13 on the WJ list. Collegiate Americans Cara McClain (190-11) and Avana Story (190-4) will hope to challenge at least for bronze.  Prep Megan Glasmann, off her recent US prep #2 168-1 with the Kultan Keihas Project at the Pitapudas Javelin in Finland, is the leading entrant in the javelin – followed closely by Puerto Rico’s Odalys Romero (167-3).

MULTIS

Heptathlon
1. Kendell Williams, Kell, Marietta, GA, Senior
2. Kendall Gustafson, Palisades, Pacific Palisades, CA, Senior

Mini-Preview: Team USA hasn’t won a hept gold since 2005 and it will be tough to do so again this year.  World Junior #2 Yorgelis Rodriguez (6,186) will be with Cuba’s team for the IAAF WCs, but even if she doesn’t come back for PAJs, her teammate Yusleidys Mendieta has scored 6,024 and is WJ#4.  Canadian Niki Oudenaarden is also ranked very high with her 5,774 best.  Top prep Kendell Williams scored a HSR 5,578 at World Juniors last year, giving her 8th.  Here, she’ll be 3rd or 4th seeded, with teammate Kendall Gustafson 5th or 6th.

RELAYS

Mini-Preview: Only a DNF in the 2011 women’s 4x100 has kept Team USA from a clean sweep of both relays since 2001.  A high 43s or low 44s will typically do it in the 4x100 and, with veterans collegians like Jennifer Madu and Morolake Akinosun, and the 11.25 and 11.33 talents of Colorado preps MaryBeth Sant and Ana Holland, Team USA should again be golden – provided it can get the stick around.  The Bahamas (defending champs) and Jamaica, though, are certainly capable of competing with them.  In the 4x400, the Americans haven’t really even been pushed in recent PAJs and with a group mostly in the 51s and 52s – Courtney Okolo, Kendall Baisden, Robin Reynolds and Breigh Jones – the prospects look very good again.

IAAF WC photos by John Nepolitan; 2010 CSI photo by NSAF Staff

MOSCOW - For sure, for sure, Gunnar Nixon knows his second day in the decathlon “needs a lot of work.”

Then again, he’s reminded of the brilliant first-day results he posted in the 14th edition of the World Championships of Track and Field at Luzhniki Stadium.

Youth spoiled on the young?   Certainly not on Gunnar Nixon.

Only USA world record-holding teammate Ashton Eaton was better than the sizzling young Nixon after Saturday’s first five events.  After high-jumping 7 feet and a quarter inch, Nixon actually led the world – yes, yes, the entire track and field universe – after four events.

Reigning Olympic champion Eaton would eventually push Nixon back into second place with his 46.02 400-meter, fifth-event performance late Saturday, as Nixon ran a creditable 48.56.

Reality, of course, set in through Sunday’s concluding five as Nixon dropped 11 places and wound up 13th in the Worlds with a total of 8,312 points – still a PR by more than 100 points.

The 25-year-old Eaton, who set the world record of 9,039 points at the 2012 USA Olympic Trials and won the London Olympic gold medal with 8,869, would go on to win his first Worlds gold with an 8,809 score – and continuing to prove to track and field purists, anyway – that he is “the greatest athlete on earth.”

Newlywed Eaton’s next role: Cheering wife Brianne (competing for Canada) to glory in the women’s heptathlon.

But back to decathlon’s future, back to Gunnar Nixon.

Numbers told just a fraction of his story.

The wiry lad from Edmond, Oklahoma came to the Russian capital with bright hopes and big-time ambitions.  And he’ll leave town brimming all kinds of new confidence.

At 20 days and 208 days old, Nixon was the youngest of 33 decathletes who reported for duty Saturday morning, and he wound up outscoring an array of his elders.

“No doubt about it, this whole trip to the World Championships was an incredible experience for me,” said Nixon. “I’ll be able to put so many things to work in my training once I get back.”

Nixon’s rise to global recognition as a senior athlete should surprise no one.

Certainly not Jim Spier, Joy Kamani and other staffers at the National Scholastic Athletics Foundation.

They’ve been cheering his performances all along.

NSAF funding enabled Nixon to travel to the 2010 Caribbean Scholastic Invitational, where he high jumped 6-4 3/4 for third place (photo, lower right), threw the javelin 159-9 to place third, and capped it with a leg on the winning 3:17.55 4x400 relay team.

The 2010 Nike Indoor Nationals and the 2011 New Balance Indoor Nationals rank among Nixon’s favorite meets, too – for obvious reasons. He collected championship rings in both of them, registering 4,141 points in 2010 (with a 7-0 1/2 high jump included) and national-record 4,307-point total in 2011.

Further NSAF travel grants enabled Nixon to compete in the 2010 Youth Olympic Trials and Junior Olympic Nationals, and the 2011 Simplot Games, Arcadia Invitational and USATF Junior Championships.  He set three national records during the 2011 outdoor season.

The hotly-recruited Nixon chose the University of Arkansas as his collegiate destination but stayed in Fayetteville just a year and a half. That 2012 campaign saw him place third in the SEC decathlon and fifth in the NCAAs, then win the USATF Junior Nationals en route to a big-big victory in the World Junior Championships in Barcelona, Spain.

These days, he’s based at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, California.

These 2013 Worlds also represented just his seventh “dec” competing with senior-level implements.

“I feel absolutely great right now,” said Nixon in the mixed zone underneath Luzhniki Stadium Sunday night, after the 1500 meters wrapped it all up and the entire field set out on the ritual lap of honor – to the cheers of an appreciative audience – round the outer edges of the 400-meter track.

Most decathletes turn that concluding 1500 into a trudge – but Nixon summoned the energy to put on a strong last-lap burst, to pass at least five rivals, and complete the three-and-three-quarter-lap run in 4:35.82.

Here’s how Nixon analyzed his second-day performance:

“The 110 hurdles, they went decent for me (14.57)  I was close to my season-best. There were a couple of re-starts. The race felt good, I just couldn’t get over them fast enough.

“The discus, that’s where I set a personal best (42.38 meters/139-0) so I was pretty happy with that. You can’t ever complain when you get a personal best.

“But I know I can eventually do 52 (meters).”

Next up, though, was the pole vault, where he’d flirt with disaster.

“I had two scratches on my opening height, was pretty close to a no-mark, and that would have wrecked my whole decathlon.

“I just wasn’t running well, and knew I’d have to gear up for that third attempt and bring some heat on the runway.”

So he did just that, went up-up-up and over, and saved his day.

“My javelin was decent (57.97 meters/190-2), two meters under my best, so not too bad.

“Then in the 1500, I felt my hamstring grab a couple of times and couldn’t really push as hard as I’d have liked.”

But he still had that final burst in him to complete the biggest 10-event performance of his life.

“This is the best I’ve ever felt after a decathlon,” he summed.

“The thing is, I know I can do a lot better, especially in the throws, especially second day.

“There’s still a lot more there.”

To Dr. Frank Zarnowski, considered the leading world guru of the multi-events, this 2013 decathlon was a huge indicator in the run-up to the 2016 Rio De Janeiro Olympics....and likely beyond.

“The future of the event was right out there, for all to see, these two days,” said Dr. Z.

He knows that 25-year-old Eaton’s current rule is unquestioned.

But he also sees Canada’s Damian Warner (age 23, who placed third); Russia’s Ilya Shkurenev (22, eighth place); Serbia’s Mihail Dudas (23, 14th place), and Belgium’s Thomas Van Der Plaetsen 22, 15th place) as rapid climbers on the world scene.

Then again, he wouldn’t be surprised to see America’s Gunnar Nixon climb past all of them.

Nixon has huge first day; distance alums solid

First in a 9-part series! Keep checking back for the next 8!

2013 IAAF World Champs photos by John Nepolitan | John's NSAF Alums Saturday 0810 Gallery
NSAF file photos by Vic Sailer, Photorun.net, for the NSAF

     
Gunnar Nixon: 2013 IAAF World decathlon long jump at left, 2010 CSI high jump at right (NSAF staff photo)

The 2010 Nike Indoor Nationals (NIN) and 2011 New Balance Nationals Indoor (NBNI) pentathlon champ and national record-setter – indeed the holder of three prep decathlon records as well – highlighted the efforts of National Scholastic Athletics Foundation “alums” competing for Team USA during the opening day of the IAAF World Championships in Moscow.

Gunnar Nixon, who at 20 was the youngest of 33 competitors in the decathlon, used big marks of 7-0.25 in the high jump and 25-7.25(+0.4w) in the long jump  to hold down an impressive second place behind American teammate Ashton Eaton after the first five events of the 10-eventer. 

That was one of just three finals Saturday, the other two also featuring NSAF alums.  Galen Rupp (photo at left) and Dathan Ritzenhein placed 4th and 10th for Team USA in the men’s 10,000 meters, while highly decorated American Deena Kastor, now 40, took 9th in the marathon.  In preliminary action, 12 more NSAF alums (eight Team USA) were in action, with three moving on to the next round.

In total, 74 Team USA athletes here at the Worlds, plus another 21 representing other countries, have competed in NSAF indoor and/or outdoor championships – and/or Caribbean Scholastic (CSI) Invites!

Nixon’s Day 1 prowess; Rupp just misses

His rivals and fans know by now that Gunnar Nixon’s best decathlon events are on the first day – at least at this point in his career – and, boy, did he impress with his first five events.  With the above-mentioned LJ/HJ combo, plus a 10.84 100(-0.5w) and 48-2 shot put, Nixon (Edmond, Okla.) led by 110 points after four events with 3,611 points.  When Eaton ran 46.02 to Nixon’s 48.36, he went into the lead, but the youngster still trailed by just nine points with 4,493.

Nixon scored 4,141 points to take the 2010 NIN pentathlon as an Edmond Santa Fe (Okla.) junior, then became further involved with the NSAF, funded to the Caribbean Scholastic Invite where he competed in three events.  As a senior, he was ready to chase national records and captured the first NBNI 5-eventer with a 4,307 national record point total, using a big kick in the final event, the 1,000 meters, to get the mark.  Outdoors that year, he set prep records for the decathlons with HS implements and hurdle heights, Junior implements and hurdle heights, and Senior implements and hurdle heights.

In the 10,000, 2012 Olympic Silver Medalist Galen Rupp (Portland, Ore.) wasn’t able to quite duplicate his feat of last year, taking 4th in 27:24.39 behind training mate and Olympic champ Mo Farah, and two others.  Dathan Ritzenhein (also from Portland), who had taken the lead with about 1,000 to go, wound up 10th with 27:37.90 (photo, below left).

Ritzenhein, of course, was a huge star as a prep at Rockford (Mich.).  Among his many accomplishments were six NSAF titles, making him possibly the most decorated of any distance runner in the history of the Foundation’s championships.  He captured four 2M crowns – at the 1999 and 2000 Foot Locker Outdoor Champs (FLO), the 2000 Nike Indoor Classic (NIC), and the 2001 adidas Outdoor Champs (AOC) (photo, above right) – the outdoor three-peat a feat which may never be topped.  And outdoors in 2000, he also anchored winning 4x1 Mile and DMR efforts.

Rupp’s outstanding prep career at Central Catholic (Portland, Ore.) included outdoor HSRs at 3k and 5k, and two NSAF meet appearances: with a best of third in the 2003 NIC 2M behind winner Chris Solinsky.

Deena Kastor led the Team USA marathon contingent Saturday (photo, left) , starting in the top 15 in the first 5k and finishing 9th in 2:36.12.  She has been the rare athlete who was a star at the prep and collegiate levels, then for nearly two decades beyond.  She’s the 2004 Olympic Marathon bronze medalist and current American record holder in that event, and her list of titles, records and top rankings is too numerous to detail.  Way back in 1991, as Agoura (Calif.) senior Deena Drossin, she was second in the first National Scholastic Outdoor Champs 2M with a 10:41.20, less than a second behind Monal Chokshi.

Gatlin, Hastings, McCorory advance

In the 100, veteran Justin Gatlin (Clermont, Fla.) led two Americans to the semifinals with a 9.99 – becoming the fastest ever on Russian soil hitting the fastest first-round 100 performance in meet history.  Back in 2000, Gatlin as a Woodham (Pensacola, Fla.) senior was 3rd in the Foot Locker Outdoor 100, running 10.36(+0.7w).  Interestingly, the winner of that FL 100 that year was Dwight Thomas of Northwest (Hyattsville, Md.) in a still-standing record of 10.14.  Thirteen years later, Thomas is also here in Moscow, running the 110H for Jamaica.  But in the 2000 FL meet, Gatlin also ran the 110H (he didn’t make the finals) while Thomas did not.  Of course, Gatlin has long given up running over barriers.

In the women’s 400 qualifying, Nathasha Hastings (Atlanta, Ga.) and Francena McCorory (Hampton, Va.) were two of three Americans who qualified easily for the semis.  McCorory won the 3rd heat in 50.56, while Hastings was second in the 2nd heat in 50.64.

McCorory authored one of the greatest performances in any NSAF indoor or outdoor meet, when as a Bethel (Hampton, Va.) senior in 2006, she set the still-standing 400 indoor HSR with her epic 51.91 on the flat track at the PG Sportsplex in Landover, Md.  Hastings also owns an NSAF title during multiple appearances in Foundation meets: the 2004 adidas Outdoor Champs 400 in 52.89 while competing as an A. Philip Randolph (New York, N.Y.) senior.  She would go on to take the World Junior 400 crown that year.

Meanwhile, Medgar Evers NY senior Kadecia Baird was one of only two “current preps” to compete at the Worlds, along with fellow Empire Stater Mary Cain.  Baird made the team for her native Guyana and bowed out in the first round of the 400 (photo, at right) with a 53.73.  In 2012, Baird claimed the NBNO 400 title in 52.14, then went on to earn a World Junior 400 silver with a PR 51.04, #5 all-time for preps.  She’s had a very up and down senior year, but had recently run a nation-leading 51.32 to qualify for Worlds.

Women’s long jump qualifying featured NSAF alums Aranxta King and Chantel Malone.  Malone leapt 21-0 (+0.0w) while competing for the British Virgin Islands in 21st overall, and King jumped 20-10.5(+0.1w) while competing for Bermuda in 23rd overall.  King prepped at Medford (Mass.) and had a sterling career.  She won back-to-back NON long jump titles in 2005-06, then was 2nd in 2007 while going for the three-peat.  She also was 2nd and 4th in the NIN triple jump and long jump in 2007.  On top of all that, she won the World Youth and Pan Am Junior LJs in 2005 and the World Junior LJ in 2006.  Malone competed in the 2006, 2007 and 2008 CSI meets, winning the triple jump in 2007.

Then in pole vault qualifying, Team USA’s Jack Whitt (Norman, Okla.) cleared 17-8.5, but couldn’t clear the next height and did not advance.  He was the nation’s top prep vaulter in 2009 as a Norman North senior, hitting 18-0.5 at Texas Relays and then winning NON (photo, above left) with a 17-8.25.  Fast-rising Canadian star Shawn Barber, already making Worlds just a year after becoming the HSR-setter at 18-3.5 while at Kingwood Park (Houston), also could go no higher than 17-8.5 (photo, above right) and finished just behind Whitt.  He won NBNO and was 2nd at NBNI in 2012.

Ashley Higginson and Nicole Bush were two of three Americans in the women’s 3k steeple semis, both missing the final while running 9:45.78 (11th, H2) and 9:58.03 (13th, H2), respectively.  Higginson (photo, below left) finished a great career at Colts Neck (N.J.) by winning the 2007 Nike Outdoor 2M (10:17.44), while Bush was 13th in the 2004 AOC 2M as Kellogsville (Wyoming, Mich) senior – before her career began to really take off at Michigan State.  Also competing in the steeple prelims was Puerto Rico’s Beverly Ramos (10th, H1, 9:49.60), the runner-up in the 2006 CSI 1,500.

In the women’s discus qualifying, Liz Podominick (Beaverton, Ore.) threw 185-1, but did not advance.  While at Lakeville (Minn.) HS, Podominick (photo, above right) was the shot put AND discus runner-up in both the 2002 and 2003 AOCs (facing American shot megastar Michelle Carter didn’t exactly make it easy).

Nixon has huge first day; distance alums solid

First in a 9-part series! Keep checking back for the next 8!

2013 IAAF World Champs photos by John Nepolitan | John's NSAF Alums Saturday 0810 Gallery
NSAF file photos by Vic Sailer, Photorun.net, for the NSAF

     
Gunnar Nixon: 2013 IAAF World decathlon long jump at left, 2010 CSI high jump at right (NSAF staff photo)

The 2010 Nike Indoor Nationals (NIN) and 2011 New Balance Nationals Indoor (NBNI) pentathlon champ and national record-setter – indeed the holder of three prep decathlon records as well – highlighted the efforts of National Scholastic Athletics Foundation “alums” competing for Team USA during the opening day of the IAAF World Championships in Moscow.

Gunnar Nixon, who at 20 was the youngest of 33 competitors in the decathlon, used big marks of 7-0.25 in the high jump and 25-7.25(+0.4w) in the long jump  to hold down an impressive second place behind American teammate Ashton Eaton after the first five events of the 10-eventer. 

That was one of just three finals Saturday, the other two also featuring NSAF alums.  Galen Rupp (photo at left) and Dathan Ritzenhein placed 4th and 10th for Team USA in the men’s 10,000 meters, while highly decorated American Deena Kastor, now 40, took 9th in the marathon.  In preliminary action, 12 more NSAF alums (eight Team USA) were in action, with three moving on to the next round.

In total, 74 Team USA athletes here at the Worlds, plus another 21 representing other countries, have competed in NSAF indoor and/or outdoor championships – and/or Caribbean Scholastic (CSI) Invites!

Nixon’s Day 1 prowess; Rupp just misses

His rivals and fans know by now that Gunnar Nixon’s best decathlon events are on the first day – at least at this point in his career – and, boy, did he impress with his first five events.  With the above-mentioned LJ/HJ combo, plus a 10.84 100(-0.5w) and 48-2 shot put, Nixon (Edmond, Okla.) led by 110 points after four events with 3,611 points.  When Eaton ran 46.02 to Nixon’s 48.36, he went into the lead, but the youngster still trailed by just nine points with 4,493.

Nixon scored 4,141 points to take the 2010 NIN pentathlon as an Edmond Santa Fe (Okla.) junior, then became further involved with the NSAF, funded to the Caribbean Scholastic Invite where he competed in three events.  As a senior, he was ready to chase national records and captured the first NBNI 5-eventer with a 4,307 national record point total, using a big kick in the final event, the 1,000 meters, to get the mark.  Outdoors that year, he set prep records for the decathlons with HS implements and hurdle heights, Junior implements and hurdle heights, and Senior implements and hurdle heights.

In the 10,000, 2012 Olympic Silver Medalist Galen Rupp (Portland, Ore.) wasn’t able to quite duplicate his feat of last year, taking 4th in 27:24.39 behind training mate and Olympic champ Mo Farah, and two others.  Dathan Ritzenhein (also from Portland), who had taken the lead with about 1,000 to go, wound up 10th with 27:37.90 (photo, below left).

Ritzenhein, of course, was a huge star as a prep at Rockford (Mich.).  Among his many accomplishments were six NSAF titles, making him possibly the most decorated of any distance runner in the history of the Foundation’s championships.  He captured four 2M crowns – at the 1999 and 2000 Foot Locker Outdoor Champs (FLO), the 2000 Nike Indoor Classic (NIC), and the 2001 adidas Outdoor Champs (AOC) (photo, above right) – the outdoor three-peat a feat which may never be topped.  And outdoors in 2000, he also anchored winning 4x1 Mile and DMR efforts.

Rupp’s outstanding prep career at Central Catholic (Portland, Ore.) included outdoor HSRs at 3k and 5k, and two NSAF meet appearances: with a best of third in the 2003 NIC 2M behind winner Chris Solinsky.

Deena Kastor led the Team USA marathon contingent Saturday (photo, left) , starting in the top 15 in the first 5k and finishing 9th in 2:36.12.  She has been the rare athlete who was a star at the prep and collegiate levels, then for nearly two decades beyond.  She’s the 2004 Olympic Marathon bronze medalist and current American record holder in that event, and her list of titles, records and top rankings is too numerous to detail.  Way back in 1991, as Agoura (Calif.) senior Deena Drossin, she was second in the first National Scholastic Outdoor Champs 2M with a 10:41.20, less than a second behind Monal Chokshi.

Gatlin, Hastings, McCorory advance

In the 100, veteran Justin Gatlin (Clermont, Fla.) led two Americans to the semifinals with a 9.99 – becoming the fastest ever on Russian soil hitting the fastest first-round 100 performance in meet history.  Back in 2000, Gatlin as a Woodham (Pensacola, Fla.) senior was 3rd in the Foot Locker Outdoor 100, running 10.36(+0.7w).  Interestingly, the winner of that FL 100 that year was Dwight Thomas of Northwest (Hyattsville, Md.) in a still-standing record of 10.14.  Thirteen years later, Thomas is also here in Moscow, running the 110H for Jamaica.  But in the 2000 FL meet, Gatlin also ran the 110H (he didn’t make the finals) while Thomas did not.  Of course, Gatlin has long given up running over barriers.

In the women’s 400 qualifying, Nathasha Hastings (Atlanta, Ga.) and Francena McCorory (Hampton, Va.) were two of three Americans who qualified easily for the semis.  McCorory won the 3rd heat in 50.56, while Hastings was second in the 2nd heat in 50.64.

McCorory authored one of the greatest performances in any NSAF indoor or outdoor meet, when as a Bethel (Hampton, Va.) senior in 2006, she set the still-standing 400 indoor HSR with her epic 51.91 on the flat track at the PG Sportsplex in Landover, Md.  Hastings also owns an NSAF title during multiple appearances in Foundation meets: the 2004 adidas Outdoor Champs 400 in 52.89 while competing as an A. Philip Randolph (New York, N.Y.) senior.  She would go on to take the World Junior 400 crown that year.

Meanwhile, Medgar Evers NY senior Kadecia Baird was one of only two “current preps” to compete at the Worlds, along with fellow Empire Stater Mary Cain.  Baird made the team for her native Guyana and bowed out in the first round of the 400 (photo, at right) with a 53.73.  In 2012, Baird claimed the NBNO 400 title in 52.14, then went on to earn a World Junior 400 silver with a PR 51.04, #5 all-time for preps.  She’s had a very up and down senior year, but had recently run a nation-leading 51.32 to qualify for Worlds.

Women’s long jump qualifying featured NSAF alums Aranxta King and Chantel Malone.  Malone leapt 21-0 (+0.0w) while competing for the British Virgin Islands in 21st overall, and King jumped 20-10.5(+0.1w) while competing for Bermuda in 23rd overall.  King prepped at Medford (Mass.) and had a sterling career.  She won back-to-back NON long jump titles in 2005-06, then was 2nd in 2007 while going for the three-peat.  She also was 2nd and 4th in the NIN triple jump and long jump in 2007.  On top of all that, she won the World Youth and Pan Am Junior LJs in 2005 and the World Junior LJ in 2006.  Malone competed in the 2006, 2007 and 2008 CSI meets, winning the triple jump in 2007.

Then in pole vault qualifying, Team USA’s Jack Whitt (Norman, Okla.) cleared 17-8.5, but couldn’t clear the next height and did not advance.  He was the nation’s top prep vaulter in 2009 as a Norman North senior, hitting 18-0.5 at Texas Relays and then winning NON (photo, above left) with a 17-8.25.  Fast-rising Canadian star Shawn Barber, already making Worlds just a year after becoming the HSR-setter at 18-3.5 while at Kingwood Park (Houston), also could go no higher than 17-8.5 (photo, above right) and finished just behind Whitt.  He won NBNO and was 2nd at NBNI in 2012.

Ashley Higginson and Nicole Bush were two of three Americans in the women’s 3k steeple semis, both missing the final while running 9:45.78 (11th, H2) and 9:58.03 (13th, H2), respectively.  Higginson (photo, below left) finished a great career at Colts Neck (N.J.) by winning the 2007 Nike Outdoor 2M (10:17.44), while Bush was 13th in the 2004 AOC 2M as Kellogsville (Wyoming, Mich) senior – before her career began to really take off at Michigan State.  Also competing in the steeple prelims was Puerto Rico’s Beverly Ramos (10th, H1, 9:49.60), the runner-up in the 2006 CSI 1,500.

In the women’s discus qualifying, Liz Podominick (Beaverton, Ore.) threw 185-1, but did not advance.  While at Lakeville (Minn.) HS, Podominick (photo, above right) was the shot put AND discus runner-up in both the 2002 and 2003 AOCs (facing American shot megastar Michelle Carter didn’t exactly make it easy).

Gatlin's silver leads NSAF alum army of 30

Second in a 9-part series! Keep checking back for the next 7!

2013 IAAF World Champs photos by John Nepolitan | John's NSAF Alums Sunday 0811 Gallery
NSAF file photos by Vic Sailer, Photorun.net, for the NSAF

  
Justin Gatlin: 2000 FLO at left, 2013 IAAF WCs at right.

Justin Gatlin’s silver medal in Sunday’s men’s 100 meter final, behind the megastar defending champ and current WR-holder Usain Bolt, was the highest finish by a National Scholastic Athletics Foundation “alum” in the second day of IAAF World Championship action in Moscow.

While Ashton Eaton (8,809 pts in the decathlon) and Brittany Reese (23-0) won gold medals for Team USA, there were five other NSAF alums competing in four of the day’s six finals: Gunnar Nixon finished 13th in the decathlon behind Eaton with a PR 8,318 points; Shalane Flanagan, Jordan Hasay and Amy Hastings took 8th, 12th and 14th in the 10,000 meters; and Tim Seaman was 53rd in the 20k racewalk.

In qualifying and semifinal rounds, a whopping 24 more NSAF alums (16 Team USA) were in action, with 20 moving on to the next level.  In total, 74 Team USA athletes here at the Worlds, plus another 21 representing other countries, have competed in NSAF events!

Gatlin earns silver, Nixon PRs, 10k trio solid

Justin Gatlin (Orlando, Fla.) was not quite considered a superstar in prep sprinting when he was third in the NSAF’s Foot Locker Outdoor Champs (FLO) 100 in 2000 while at Woodham (Pensacola, Fla.) HS.  As most fans know, he came into real prominence the following year at Tennessee with his NCAA 10.08 100/20.11w 200 double and a career ensued which has seen highs like a world record 9.85 100 and Olympic gold in 2004, and lows like a doping suspension from 2006-2009.  Sunday’s silver was his second medal since coming back from the suspension, following his London Olympic bronze last year.

In the decathlon, while Eaton was pushing to victory, Gunnar Nixon (Edmond, Okla.) was seeing his position fall all day long from the 2nd spot he occupied after five events to the eventual 13th he finished in his first senior championship meet.  Slippage in the standings was expected, however, since Nixon is so strong on Day 1.  What he was shooting for was some personal bests and raising his PR while staying competitive.  He did get a discus lifetime best, was reasonably close in other events, and accomplished the overall PR with his 8,318.  Not bad for a 20-year-old, who about 2-1/2 years ago was winning his second NSAF indoor pentathlon (New Balance Nationals Indoor) and breaking the national record there (see Saturday story and Elliott Denman profile).

  
Shalane Flanagan: 2013 IAAF World 10k at left, 2000 FLO mile at right.

The 10,000 final featured three NSAF alums: one a dominant American distance star with a 2008 Olympic bronze to her credit, another an experienced pro who made her first Olympic team in 2012, and the third a young former prep megastar and Team USA veteran who was in her first senior global championship.  Shalane Flanagan (Portland, Ore) set the still-standing 10k American record in Beijing in 2008 (30:22.22) when she was 3rd, one of a galaxy of accomplishments for the 3-time Olympian.  She was in her fourth IAAF World Outdoor final here and this time was 8th (31:34.83).  As a prep at Marblehead (Mass.), she was 4th in the 2M and 5th in the mile at the 1999 FLO, then improved to 2nd in the 2000 FLO mile behind Alicia Craig at 4:48.47.

  
Jordan Hasay: 2013 IAAF World 10k at left, 2006 NON 1M at right.

Jordan Hasay (Portland, Ore.) was under the microscope for four amazing years at Mission College Prep (San Luis Obispo, Calif.) and then four more at U. of Oregon.  Her two forays into NSAF competition included a 3rd as a frosh at the 2006 Nike Outdoor Nationals (NON) mile (4:42.27) and a victory in the Nike Indoor Nationals (NIN) 2M as a senior in 2009 (10:10.89).  Hasay’s many prep accomplishments also included a 2007 World Youth 1,500 silver and 2008 World Junior 1,500 4th-place finish.  Sunday, she was 12th (32:17.93) in her first meet at this new level. 

Amy Hastings (Providence, R.I.) was the third American in the 10,000, finishing 14th in 32:51.19 – which followed her 11th in the Olympic 10k last year.  She took 14th in the Adidas Outdoor Champs (AOC) 2M; her rise to this type of level has come mostly in the past three years.

At 41, Tim Seaman (Chula Vista, Calif.) beats even Deena Kastor among Team USA members who basically have prep-to-masters level longevity at a high level.  Back in 1990, Seaman was 4th in the National Scholastic Indoor Champs (NSIC) mile racewalk with 6:47.58.  Since he has won more than 40 national titles and holds eight national records at various distances.  He was 53rd in the 20k RW Saturday, his 5th time at the World Champs.

Hopeful medalists advance to finals

  
Francena McCorory: 2013 IAAF World 400 semis at left, 2005 NON 200 at right.

  
Natasha Hastings: 2013 IAAF World 400 semis at left, 2004 World Junior 400 at right (NSAF file photo).

In the women’s 400H semis, the Team USA duo had fine performances to move through to Monday’s final.  Francena McCorory (Hampton, Va.), in fact, blasted a PR 49.86 to win SF3 and advance 3rd overall, while Natasha Hastings (Atlanta, Ga.) ran a seasonal best 49.94 to net 2nd in SF2 and notch 4th overall.  Their NSAF accomplishments were mentioned in Saturday’s story.

  
Michelle Carter: 2013 IAAF World Shot Put qualifying at left, 2003 AOC discus at right.

Team USA’s best hope in the throws, shot putter Michelle Carter (Dallas, Texas), powered a 64-10 to easily advance to Monday’s final in second overall, trailing only 3-time defending World champ Valarie Adams of New Zealand.  Of course, Carter is one of the all-time NSAF and prep throws greats as well, holder of both the indoor (54-9.5) and outdoor (54-10.75) prep HSRs from her days at Red Oak (Dallas) HS.  That indoor HSR came during her NIC victory in 2003.  Outdoors, she claimed both the 2002 and 2003 AOC shots, as well taking 3rd in the discus both years.  Her prep career also included the 2001 World Youth silver and 2003 Pan Am Junior gold.

Several prelims loaded with past NSAF stars

  
Wayne Davis II: 2013 IAAF World 110H qualifying at left, 2009 NON 110H at right.

No event was more packed with NSAF alums than the qualifying round of the men’s 110H, where no less than eight had competed in the Foundation’s meets – four of them who now represent other nations besides the U.S.A.  That latter group includes Wayne Davis II, the Southeast Raleigh (N.C.) star still at Texas A&M and one of the all-time prep greats.  He captured 2007 and 2009 NON 110H crowns, as well as the 2008 and 2009 NIN 60H titles – setting a HSR 7.60 in the latter.  He also won the World Youth 110H title in 2007 as a soph, the Caribbean Scholastic Invite (CSI) 110H in 2008 and then in his final meet as a senior broke the HSR for the 110s at Pan Am Juniors with 13.08.  Representing Trinidad & Tobago Sunday, he advanced in 9th overall to the semis with 13.38(-0.3w) for 2nd in H2.

Also making the 110H semis after a 4th in H1 was Davis's teammate Mikel Thomas at 13.41(+0.5w).  He was an unremarkable 18th in the 2005 NON 400H, but has obviously improved much since.  Two NSAF’ers who didn’t advance were Eddie Lovett of the Virgin Islands – 6th in H1 with 13.52(+0.5w) and the first man out – and Dwight Thomas of Jamaica, the 2000 FLO 100 champ mentioned yesterday, who did not start.  Lovett was the NON 110H champ (13.61) as a Palm Lakes Beach (West Palm Beach, Fla.) senior in 2010, as well as the national leader at 13.46.

Not surprisingly, all four Americans made it through the first round of the 110H: David Oliver (Kissimmee, Fla.) won H4 (1st overall) with 13.05(-0.6w), 2012 Olympic champ and WR-holder Aries Merritt (Bryan, Texas) took H3 (4th overall) in 13.32(+0.5w), 2011 World Champ and London silver medalist Jason Richardson (Los Angeles) captured H1 (5th overall) with 13.33(+0.5w), and Ryan Wilson (Los Angeles) claimed H2 (8th overall) in 13.37(-0.3w).

Richardson was quite accomplished in NSAF meets while at Cedar Hill (Texas).  He was runner-up in the AOC 110H and 400H in 2003, then in 2004 won the 400H in a U.S.-leading 49.79.  He was also the NIC 60H runnerup as a senior, led the nation at 110H (13.38A) and was #2 at 300H in 36.05.  As for the others, Wilson as a Westerville North (Ohio) senior took 3rd in the 1999 Nike Indoor Classic (NIC) 60H (7.88), then 4th in the FLO 110H (13.70); Merritt was 6th in the AOC 110H (13.93) while a senior at Wheeler (Marietta, Ga.) HS; and Oliver’s relatively modest accomplishments as a prep at Denver East (Colo.) included 7th in SF2 of the 2000 NIC 60H.

     
Sarah Brown and Cory McGee: 2013 IAAF World 1500 qualifying at left and right, McGee at 2010 NBNO at center.

The 1,500 was also loaded with NSAF alums repping Team USA.  Defending World Champ Jenny Simpson (Boulder, Colo.) was a close 2nd in H2 at 4:07.16 and 4th overall; sensational prep record-holder Mary Cain (Bronxville, N.Y.) continued her dream season with 6th in H1 in 4:08.21 (13th overall); Sarah Brown (Knoxville, Tenn.) got through with 8th in H3 in 4:09.00 (22nd overall); and Cory McGee (Pass Christian, Miss.) did not advance while running 4:12.33 for 10th in H2.

Cain, of course, is still just a junior at Bronxville and has been in the headlines all year with her record-smashing performances from 800 to 5,000 meters under Coach Alberto Salazar.  During her first two seasons, when she was merely “one of the best ever,” she anchored Bronxville’s winning 4x800 as a frosh and was 5th in the mile at the 2011 New Balance Nationals Outdoor (NBON), then was 2nd the following March to Ajee Wilson in the 2012 New Balance Nationals Indoor (NBNI).

Brown, as Sarah Bowman for Fauquier (Warrenton, Va.) had a stellar NSAF career with some of the truly great victories in Foundation meets during her era.  As a soph in 2003, she was a surprise NIC mile champ indoors, but struggled in that year’s AOC.  As a junior, she didn’t have a good NIC mile, but in the AOC 800 stormed to a 2:04.90 triumph.  Then it all came together during her senior year in 2003 as she won her 2nd NIN mile, was 2nd in the NIN 800, then in the AOC mile in June ran one of history’s great miles to that point with a 4:36.95.

McGee ran six NSAF championship miles (3 indoor, 3 outdoor) during her long prep career as an elite from Pass Christian, contending for the win nearly every time and with a best of 2nd in the 2010 NIN mile.  Simpson, on the other hand, had four fine years at Oviedo (Fla.), but in her three NSAF appearances had a best of just 7th in the 2004 AOC mile as a junior.

Then the women’s 100 prelims sported a trio of NSAF alums from Team USA, plus two more representing other nations.  The top performance came from American English Gardner (Voorhees, N.J.), who won H3 and was the only one under 11 overall at 10.94(-0.5w).  Alexandria Anderson (Austin, Texas) was 2nd in H2 (6th overall) with 11.13(-0.4w), and Octavious Freeman (Lake Wales, Fla.) was 2nd in H1(8th overall) with 11.16(-0.3w). 

Freeman and Anderson both topped the medal stand at NSAF meets.  As soph at Lake Wales in 2009, she was twice NON runner-up behind Chalonda Goodman, but the following year she captured both NBNO titles with an outstanding 11.27/23.24 double.  Finally, she defended the 100 title crown as a senior.  Anderson, while a Morgan Park (Chicago) senior, won the 2005 NON 200 in 23.05, before a US#1 at Juniors and a silver at Pan Am Juniors.  She was previously 6th in the 2003 AOC 200 and 2nd in the 2004 AOC 100.

Gardner’s prep career at Eastern Regional (Voorhees, N.J.) saw her miss her junior year with injuries and didn’t compete in nationals as a senior, but as a frosh in 2007 she was 3rd in the NON 400 (54.00) and as a soph in 2008 2nd in the NON 100 (11.82).

Meanwhile, addition qualifiers to the semis Nigerian Gloria Asumnu (3rd in H4, 15th overall, 11.27, -0.3w) and the Ivory Coast’s Murielle Ahoure (1st in H6, 12th overall, 11.22, -0.6w) also competed in NSAF meets.  Asumnu was the AOC 100 runner-up (11.71) as an Elsik (Houston) senior in 2003, while Ahoure was a non-advancing 2nd in her heat of the NIC 200 in 2004 as a Hayfield (Va.) junior.

  
Arman Hall: 2013 IAAF World 400 qualifying at right, 2011 NBNO 400 at right.

The men’s 400 featured two former NSAF one-lap champs, one from back in 2004 and the other from just two years ago.  LaShawn Merritt (Suffolk, Va.) – the 2009 World Champ and 2007/2011 runnerup – showed readiness with a field-leading 44.92 in H3, while Arman Hall (Pembrook Pines, Fla.) was 5th in H2 (17th overall) with 45.45.  Merritt actually doubled the 200 (20.72) and 400 (45.38) at the 2004 AOC as a Woodrow Wilson (Portsmouth, Va.) senior, before taking the World Junior crown with a US#1 45.25.  He also took the NIC 400 earlier that year in 47.88.

Hall emerged as the nation’s top 400 prep as a St. Thomas Aquinas (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) junior in 2011, winning NBNO (46.23) then taking the World Youth title (46.01).  As a senior, he was 2nd in the NBNI 200 (21.22) and 4th in the 400.  He would later take the World Junior 400 silver. 

Another NSAF alum is Luguelin Santos of the Dominican Republic, who won H4 in 45.23.  He was 2nd to Hall in the 2011 Caribbean Scholastic Invite (47.29). 

Finally, in the women’s pole vault qualifying, Ireland’s Tori Pena was a non-qualifying 18th at 14-1.25.  She was 14th in the 2006 NIN while a Edison (Fresno, Calif.) HS senior.

Oliver, Wilson net Gold, Silver for Team USA

Third in a 9-part series! Keep checking back for the next 6!

2013 IAAF World Champs photos by John Nepolitan | John's NSAF Alums Monday 0812 Gallery
NSAF file photos by Vic Sailer, Photorun.net, for the NSAF

110H Gold and Silver medalists David Oliver (right) and Ryan Wilson (left).

When the men’s 110m hurdles final began Monday, during the third night of the IAAF World Championships in Moscow, all four Americans off the line also happened to be National Scholastic Athletics Foundation “alums.”

Interestingly, the one who were least accomplished at the prep level was the one who came up the biggest.  David Oliver captured the gold with a sterling 13.00(+0.3w), followed by Ryan Wilson in the silver medal spot, Jason Richardson 4th and Aries Merritt 5th. 

Eight more NSAF alums – all women – competed in Monday finals, with the Ivory Coast’s Murielle Ahoure also claiming silver: in the 100.  Americans English Gardner, Alexandria Anderson and Octavious Freeman trailed Ahoure in the 100 – taking 4th, 7th, and 8th.  Shot putter Michelle Carter – like Gardner – just got nosed out for bronze, while Natasha Hastings and Francena McCorory were 5th and 6th in the 400 final. In the first day of the heptathlon, Bettie Wade completed the first four events in 15th place.

Two other NSAF alums were among those eliminated in men’s 110H and women’s 100 semifinals, contested earlier in the evening.  A dozen others competed in preliminary or semifinal rounds.  Check out these links to read about the NSAF accomplishments of all of the relevant athletes who started competition Saturday and Sunday.

There’s 76 Team USA athletes here at the Worlds, plus another 22 representing other countries, who have previously competed in the Foundation’s events.

Team USA’s 1-2 the big story

You could say that David Oliver (Clermont, Fla.) was a bit of a late bloomer.  As a prep at Denver East (Colo.), he had the relatively modest distinction in NSAF action of finishing 7th in his semi of the 60H in the 2000 Nike Indoor Classic (NIC).  He was third and fifth in his 5A state 110H and 300H.  Through 2004 while at Howard U., his best over the 42” hurdles was 13.60 for 4th in the 2003 NCAAs. 

  
2013 IAAF 110H semis: At left, Aries Merrit and at right, Jason Richardson.

But Oliver’s times really started coming down the next few years and he made his first IAAF Worlds in 2007.  He won Olympic bronze in 2008, set a world record in 2010 (12.89) and was fourth in the 2011 Worlds.  In Oliver’s wake were defending champ Jason Richardson (Los Angeles) in 4th at 13.27, and world-record holder/2012 Olympic champ Aries Merritt (Bryan, Texas) in 5th at 13.31.  Neither was able to muster their ‘A’ game; instead, it was Ryan Wilson (Los Angeles) who got the silver in 13.13.  He was the 2003 NCAA 110H champ, had run as fast as 13.02 back in 2007, and ranked as high as #4 in the world two other years – but this was his first international team and medal.

The Team USA quartet had qualified for the final through the semis earlier in the evening.  Two other NSAF alums repping Trinidad & Tobago who had made it through qualifying, however, were eliminated at that point.  Mikel Thomas was 4th in SF1 (10th overall) with 13.46(-0.3w) and Wayne Davis II finished 7th in SF2 with 13.47(-0.3).

  
English Gardner: 2013 IAAF World 100 at left, 2008 NON 100 at right.

The women’s 100 final also started with four NSAF alums, with Nigerian Murielle Ahoure beating the American trio for silver with 10.93(-0.3w) – finishing between Jamaican gold medalist Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce’s huge win and the US’s Carmelita Jeter’s bronze.  Ahoure's runnerup spot matched what she achieved in the 2012 IAAF World Indoor 60, while improving on her 6th/7th finishes in the London Olympic 200 and 100.

English Gardner (Voorhees, N.J.) – won who her third NCAA title while finishing up at Oregon this spring – just missed bronze by .03 with her 10.97.  Alexandria Anderson (Austin, Texas), representing Team USA for the first time as a Senior, took 7th in 11.10 and Octavious Freeman – a new pro after two years at Central Florida junior and who’s even younger than Gardner – was 8th in 11.16.  Nigerian Gloria Asumnu, the fifth NSAF alum who had made the women’s 100 semis, was 7th in SF3 and didn’t make the final.

  
Alexandria Anderson: 2013 IAAF World 100 at left, 2005 NON 200 at right.

  
Octavious Freeman: 2013 IAAF World 100 at left, 2011 NBNO 100 at right.

In the shot, NSAF alum Michelle Carter (Dallas) nearly earned her first global outdoor medal to go with her IAAF World Indoor bronze from 2012.  The indoor/outdoor prep record holder had previous bests of 6th in the 2009 Worlds (and 2012 Olympics), but seemed primed for the top three after qualifying second on Sunday.  She was in 2nd after the first round, in 3rd after the second, and stayed there until the final round when she was knocked off the podium.  Still, a 65-5 to top her best-ever big meet series was definitely an improvement over anything she’s done outdoors previously.

Natasha Hastings (Atlanta, Ga.) and Francena McCorory (Hampton, Va.) had both been under 50 in Sunday’s semis – with McCorory getting a PR 49.86 – and also seemed in good shape for at least bronze.  But the NSAF alums had to settle for 5th and 6th, respectively, with 50.30 and 50.68.  Each had hoped for better, partly since Hastings was 3rd in the 2012 World Indoor 400 and McCorory 4th in the 2011 World Outdoor one-lapper (and 7th in London) – but this field was tougher than either of their previous World outings.

Monday’s other final was the first day of the heptathlon and Team USA’s Bettie Wade (Manhattan, Kan.) came in with NSAF ties, having won as a Farmington (Northville, Mich.) senior the 2005 Nike Outdoor Nationals (NON) high jump with 5-8.75.  In her first four events here, she ran a 13.84 100H-0.4w), high jumped 5-10.75, threw the shot 41-11.75, and ran 24.87(-0.2w) for the 200.  That left her in 15th out of 33 starters with 3,591 points.

L. Merritt, W400 hurdlers look good in rounds

Two-time IAAF World Outdoor champ LaShawn Merritt (Suffolk, Va.) of Team USA paced the men’s 400 semis as he had qualifying the day before, running 44.60 to take SF2.  Of the above-mentioned dozen NSAF alums competing in semis or qualifying Monday, he looked the mostly likely to contend for gold.  The Dominican Republic’s Luguelin Santos also looked like a medal contender, taking 2nd in SF3, his 44.83 just .02 behind defending World champ and 2012 Olympic champ Kirani James’ 44.81.  On the other hand, young American Arman Hall (Pembrook Pines, Fla.) – who beat Santos once two years ago – was not quite able to ascend to the next level as his 45.54 left him 5th in SF3.  Nonetheless, Hall had an amazing 2012, most of his duties for the Florida Gators as a frosh.

In the opening round of the women’s 400 hurdles, Team USA’s NSAF alums Lashinda Demus (Los Angeles) and Dalilah Muhammad (Bayside, N.Y.) looked the part of medal contenders as Demus won H4 in 54.94 and Muhammad was a fairly close 2nd in H3 at 54.90.  They qualified 2nd and 3rd, respectively, overall.  Of course, Demus has been here and done this many times before: She’s the defending champ here off her 52.47 in Daegu – after silvers in 2005 and 2009 –  and won Olympic silver in 2012.  As fans know, she was a prep legend at Long Beach Wilson (Calif.); her 39.98 300H as a senior in 2001 is still the only mark ever under 40 seconds.  Her lone NSAF appearance was a Nike Indoor Classic (NIC) flat 400 victory as a junior in 2000.

Muhammad, on the other hand, is competing on her first senior team.  She’s worn the Team USA vest before, though, and topped the 400H medal stand at the 2007 World Youths.  Her prep career at Benjamin Cardozo (Bayside, N.Y.) also included the Nike Outdoor Nationals 400H triumph that same year in a nation-leading 57.09.  She had placed 4th and 7th the previous two years in the same race as a soph and frosh.

  
Kerron Clement: 2013 IAAF World 400H at left, 2003 AOC 110H at right.

The men’s 400H also took off Monday morning, with Team USA veterans Kerron Clement (Gainesville, Fla.) and Bershawn Jackson (Raleigh, N.C.) among four NSAF alums advancing.  Clement, who won the 2007 and 2009 Worlds, was 2nd in H3 (6th overall) with 49.43, while Jackson – the 2005 World Champ – was 3rd in H4 (14th overall) in 49.73. 

Clement was an adidas Outdoor Champs victor in consecutive years while at LaPorte (Texas), taking the 110H (13.63) in 2002 and the 400H (50.96) in 2003.  He also took the 2003 NIC 60H in 7.84.  Jackson was 4th behind Clement in the 2002 110H (13.92) and 3rd in the 400H (52.96).

Then there was the amazing Dominican Republic super vet Felix Sanchez, who was the 2001 and 2003 World Champ, as well as the improbable 2012 Olympic Champ.  Few know that Sanchez was the National Scholastic Outdoor 400H champ back in 1995, clocking 52.39, while at University City (San Diego) HS.  He topped Clement in H3, his 49.20 qualifying 3rd overall to the semis.  Finally, Puerto Rico’s Eric Alejandro, 16th in the AOC 400H while at Flanagan (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) HS, was 4th in H5 (15th overall) in 49.79 to move on.

     
Evan Jager: 2006 NON 2M at left, 2013 IAAF World 3k ST at right -- De'Sean Turner: 2013 IAAF World 3k ST.
 

Barriers of another kind were scaled by yet another pair of NSAF alums as Evan Jager (Portland, Ore.) and De’Sean Turner (Indianapolis, Ind.) tried for the 3,000 steeplechase final.  Jager, who set the American Record last year, made sure he got in with an 8:23.76 triumph in H2, but Turner’s 8:28.44 left him a non-advancing 5th in H3.

Jager, while at Jacobs (Algonquin, Ill.) HS, had an outstanding 8:47.68 2M/4:05.68 1M double in the 2007 Nike Outdoor Nationals that netted him 4th and 3rd, overall, respectively.  He had been 3rd in the 2M and 9th in the mile the previous year.  Turner was 23rd overall in that 2007 NON mile, an off-form effort in his only Foundation meet that did not represent his fine career at Warren Central (Indianapolis).

Finally, the men’s discus was the only field event prelim that included an NSAF alum.  India’s Vikas Gowda – 7th in Daegu and 8th in London – threw 208-9 to qualify 7th overall to the final.  While at Frederick (Md.) HS in 2001, he won the AOC discus at 199-2 and took 3rd in the shot at 63-11.5.