EUGENE, OREGON, June 19–20 — The USATF U20 Championships, held two days before the Nike Outdoor, lost many potential entrants to the latter meet. Despite the smaller fields, and thanks to better weather, there were numerous fine performances.
Jackson Cantwell (Nixa HS, Missouri) entered what was touted as his penultimate meet as a shot putter, and overcame unexpected competition from North Dakota’s Ethan Thomas for a 69-8 (21.23) win—short of his record aspirations but good for No. 3 on the high school all-time list for the 6kg (13.2lb) bulb.
Thomas opened at 68-7¾ (20.92) before Cantwell, throwing next in the order, lofted one out to 69-2½ (21.09) to take the lead for good. Cantwell launched his longest in round 5.
Although Cantwell just finished his prep junior year, he has indicated he has signed with Miami to play football only (reportedly no track) in college. The rumor mill says he intends to graduate high school early after the fall gridiron season.
The anticipated meeting between the nation’s top two high school 100 girls yielded a convincing victory for Dana Wilson (Greensboro, North Carolina), whose 11.14 into a 1.1 mps wind topped the 11.21 of Mia Maxwell (Atascocita, Texas). This was their only confrontation, but Wilson would return for a 22.71 win at 200 in the Nike meet, while Maxwell took the U20 200 and the Nike 100 and triple jump.
A very close 110 hurdles final saw Ja’Shaun Lloyd (Corsicana, Texas) edge Joshua Kai-Smith (Gar-Field, Woodbridge, Virginia) 13.31 to 13.32 (0.3), just ahead of Div. III collegian Jamir Brown (Rowan) in 13.35 and frosh sensation Jamir Fontenot (San Diego, California) 13.39.
The long hurdle rematch between Nos. 2 & 3 on the HS 300H all-time list —Morgan Herbst (Carlsbad, California) and Jasmine Robinson (North Cobb, Kennesaw, Georgia) — went decisively to Herbst.
“My strength lies in that first 200, and I knew I had to push it,” said the winner, who caught her rival after the first barrier and was never challenged. Herbst finished in 55.78 (after a 55.89 heat) to claim No. 5 on the corresponding 400H ATL plus No. 10 among U.S. Juniors.
Fifteen minutes later, Herbst’s sister Makenna ran away from the 800 field for a 2:02.48 win, likely making these the first twins to win national championships the same year.
Additional noteworthy marks were recorded by Jalen Johnson (Clemson) with his 20.43 (0.6) 200; Jonathan Simms (Allen HS, Texas), 45.44 at 400; High Point collegian Camerin Williams, 1:46.81 at 800; Victor Oleson (St. Christopher’s HS, Richmond, Virginia), 18-0 (5.49) in the vault; Braelyn Baker (Duke), 51.78 at 400; and Meagan Humphries (Texas), who prevailed in 5 of 7 heptathlon events to score 5791, No. 4 on the all-time US U20 list.
USATF JUNIOR MEN’S RESULTS
100(0.5): 1. Brayden Williams (TxHS) 10.24; 2. Dillon Mitchell (TxHS) 10.28; 3. Justin Stewart (TxHS) 10.31.
200(0.6): 1. Jalen Johnson (Clem) 20.43 PR; 2. Stewart 20.68.
400: 1. Jonathan Simms (TxHS) 45.44; 2. Ronnie Kendrick (TCU) 45.81 PR; 3. Josiah Wrice (SC) 45.82.
800: 1. Camerin Williams (HPt) 1:46.81 PR; 2. Luke Bone (TxHS) 1:46.87 PR (7, x HS); 3. Mason Page (OkSt) 1:48.88 PR.
1500: 1. Brendan Herger (Mi) 3:48.77; 2. Colin Eckerman (Furm) 3:50.55.
3000: 1. Brennan McEwen (OrHS) 8:22.98.
St: 1. Elijah Gentry (Pep) 9:05.40 PR; 2. Tyler Rader (PennSt) 9:07.48 PR; 3. Parker Campbell (Lee) 9:09.23 PR.
5000: 1. Colin Eckerman (Furm) 14:37.71.
110H(0.3): 1. Ja’Shaun Lloyd (TxHS) 13.31; 2. Joshua-Kai Smith (VaHS) 13.32 PR; 3. Jamir Brown (Rowan) 13.35 PR; 4. Jasir Fontenot (CaHS) 13.39.
400H: 1. Kendrick Joshua (GaHS) 50.53 PR; 2. Andrew Jones (TxHS) 50.85 PR; 3. James Coleman (NCSt) 50.85 PR.
10,000W: 1. Jonny Jurchen (ConcNb) 48:43.04 PR; 2. Rowan McDonald (MeHS) 49:59.42.
HJ: 1. Etoro Bassey (TxHS) 7-1½ (2.17).
PV: 1. Victor Olesen (VaHS) 18-0 (5.49) PR; 2. Caelan Harland (MoHS) 17-5 (5.31) PR; 3. Khaliq Muhammad (CaHS) 17-5.
LJ: 1. Jayden Keys (Ga) 26-0 (7.92); 2. Jayden Burris (Voor) 24-3½ (7.40) PR.
TJ: 1. Xavier Drumgoole (Stan) 52-4¾ (15.97); 2. Jaylen Burris (Voor) 51-11¼ (15.83) PR; 3. Burris 51-2¼ (15.60) PR.
SP: 1. Jackson Cantwell (MoHS) 69-8 (21.23) PR (6, x AJ); 2. Ethan Thomas (ND) 68-7¾ (20.92) PR (10, x AJ);
3. Ben Smith (Or) 66-10¾ (20.39) PR.
DT: 1. Reece Ihenacho (Il) 204-2 (62.23) PR (8, x AJ); 2. Kai Twaddle-Dunham (WaSt) 202-9 (61.80) PR (9, x AJ);
3. Ashton Hearn (TnHS) 202-3 (61.66) PR.
HT: 1. Aidan Ifkovits (Tn) 232-3 (70.78) PR; 2. Charlie LaFore (Wy) 230-7 (70.29) PR; 3. Gannon Traymore (Bing) 224-5 (68.40).
JT: 1. Preston Kuznof (TCU) 213-10 (65.18).
Dec: 1. Jaden Marlow (WaHS) 6971; 2. Matthew Malmstrom (PittSt) 6951; 3. Joshua Haven (CaHS) 6857.
USATF JUNIOR WOMEN’S RESULTS
100(-1.1): 1. Dana Wilson (NCHS) 11.14; 2. Mia Maxwell (TxHS) 11.21; 3. Mariah Maxwell (TxHS) 11.40.
200(0.2): 1. Mi. Maxwell 23.10 PR; 2. Ma. Maxwell 23.36; 3. Skylar Cunningham (GaHS) 23.58.
400: 1. Braelyn Baker (Duke) 51.78; 2. Olivia Harris (GaHS) 52.34 PR; 3. Sophia Castaneda (OrHS) 53.16 PR.
800: 1. Makenna Herbst (CaHS) 2:02.48; 2. Addyson Abner (OhHS) 2:07.46 PR.
1500: 1. Zariel Macchia (NYHS) 4:21.53; 2. Jaelyn Williams (CaHS) 4:22.32 PR.
3000: 1. Ella White (Char) 9:19.94 PR; 2. Gentry Turner (OkSt) 9:21.44 PR.
St: 1. Sara Morefield (Tulsa) 10:38.86.
5000: 1. Lily Kriegel (Vand) 16:18.36 PR; 2. Ella White (Char) 16:20.24; 3. Macchia 16:30.91.
100H(-0.7): 1. Joslyn Hamilton (SC) 13.36; 2. Anisa Bowen-Fontenot (CaHS) 13.36; 3. Chelsi Williams (FlHS) 13.40.
400H: 1. Morgan Herbst (CaHS) 55.78 PR (10, x AJ; 5, x HS);
2. Jasmine Robinson (GaHS) 57.49; 3. Cenaiya Billups (How) 57.50.
10W: 1. Talia Green (CMS) 52:25.62; 2. Kayleia Lindsey (IlHS) 57:07.92 PR.
HJ: 1. Zoey Brinker (MoHS) 5-9¼ (1.76) PR; 2. Hannah Riolo (PennSt) 5-9¼; 2. Nia Harrison (TxHS) 5-9¼.
PV: 1. Anna Willis (SD) 14-3¼ (4.35); 2. Jathiyah Muhammad (Az) 14-1¼ (4.30).
LJ: 1. Ava Kitchings (GaHS) 20-¼ (6.10); 2. Kassidi Watkins (OkHS) 19-11½ (6.08).
TJ: 1. Destini Smith (PaHS) 42-7½ (12.99); 2. Danah Nembhard (Ga) 41-10½ (12.76).
SP: 1. Abigail Russell (Mi) 52-8¾ (16.07); 2. Maddie Fey (Ks) 51-5 (15.67).
DT: 1. Fey 174-7 (53.22); 2. Olamide Ayeni (De) 173-8 (52.93) PR; 3. Russell 173-7 (52.92).
HT: 1. Hannah Alexander (In) 196-2 (59.80) PR; 2. Kimberly Beard (OrHS) 190-2 (57.96) PR.
JT: 1. Jenessa Ruder (Nb) 151-11 (46.31).
Hept: 1. Meagan Humphries (Tx) 5791 (4, 7 AJ);
2. Valerie Jirak (Duke) 5586; 3. Destiny Look (HiHS) 5068.
