Johnson
wins heptathlon at 2001 USA Youth Athletics National Championships
USAT&F
4 July
2001 - Decatur - Jacquelyn Johnson wrapped up
her day at the 2001 USA Track & Field Youth Athletics National Championships with a
win in the young women’s heptathlon. Johnson, a member of the Yuma Valley Flyers, won
with a total of 4788 points, 136 points ahead of second-place finisher Josie Hahn. Johnson
will be competing for Team USA at the IAAF World Youth Championships in Debrecen, Hungary,
July 12-15.
“I ran my heart out, I’m used to this weather (conditions in Decatur were hot and humid, temperature was in the mid-80’s on Wednesday), but I’m not used to jumping in the rain (Tuesday),” said Johnson. “I’m looking forward to competing in Hungary, I’m going to do my best to represent the USA.”
In other multi-event competition Wednesday, Brandon Goebbert (Chicago & Sub Area TC) won the young men’s decathlon with 6096 points. Loren Groves (Jefferson County Jets) edged out Frannie Epps (Illini Heat) to win the intermediate girls heptathlon. Groves finished with 3957 points, while Epps, who scored higher in the final two events, finished with 3948 points.
In the finals of the race walks on Wednesday, Keelin Yenny (Sterling Track Club) won the youth girls 3000m race walk title in 16:25.09. Paul Regul (Elgin Sharks) won the youth boys 3000m race walk title in 15:43.61.
Lauren Olivieri, of Walk USA, won the young women’s 5000m race walk in 28:09.82, while Brian Davis (Southwest Ohio TC) won the young men’s 5000m race walk in 32:09.22.
5 July 2001 - Decatur - Ashleigh Keats, Lindsey Neuberger and Julene Bailey, set national youth records in the intermediate javelin throw, young women's shot put and intermediate girls pole vault respectively. Keats and Neuberger were both competing unattached, while Bailey is competing for Team Idaho.
Keats' throw of 38.56 metres, betters the previous record (37.96m) set by Abby Emsick in 1999, while Neuberger's throw of 14.60m broke Seilala Sua's mark of 14.59m set in 1995. Neuberger will compete at the IAAF World Youth Championships in Debrecen, Hungary, July 12-15. Bailey cleared 3.80m in the pole vault to break Samantha Shepard's record of 3.68m set in 1999.
In today's preliminaries, Ebony Collins broke the midget girls 200m dash record time of 26.47, set in 1992 by Angela Williams in heat two. Collins competing for the Quiet Fire, ran a time of 26.37. Her national record time lasted just until heat four when Latianna Hall (There to Care TC) ran 26.29, setting the new standard.
Also competing in Hungary, Michelle Sanford (Irvine Cougars) won the intermediate girls long jump (6.05m) and Elizabeth Boyle (Southwest Suburban) won the young women's pole vault (3.40m) as a final tune-up for the World Youth Championships.
In the intermediate division, Jessica Nevitt (Northside Red Runners) won the girls high jump (1.65m). Brady Maska (Hays Striders) won the boys discus with a throw of 49.62m. Pierre Bush (Indiana Storm) won the boys long jump (6.62m).
In the young men's division, Kevin Bookout, competing unattached, won the shot put (20.36m). West Valley Eagles' Chaunte Howard won the young women's high jump (1.80m), edging out her teammate Brignac Schquay (1.75m). In the young women's javelin throw, Rachel Walker, competing unattached, won with a throw of 42.50m.
In order to be eligible to compete at the 2001 USA Track & Field Youth Athletics Championships, a competitor must be a U.S. citizen and born after July 29, 1982. The athletes compete in one of five age divisions, determined by birth year: Bantam (1991 or later), Midget (1989-1990), Youth (1987-1988), Intermediate (1985-86) and Young Men/Women (1983-84).
For more information on the 2001 USA Track & Field Youth Athletics National Championships and the Verizon Youth Series, including full results and photos from the competition, visit the official website at www.usatf.org/youth.
