NSAF pair hope to contend: Girls’ Preview, 2014 Youth Olympics

by Steve Underwood
100 meters

American Entry:  Janie O’Connor, Zachary HS-LA, 2017
O’Connor was 2nd in the YOT to Mexico’s Cecilia Tamayo … has a solid chance to make the final with the #8 seed … has an 11.70 PR and was 2nd at Great Southwest.

Event Analysis:  Most of the world’s best Youth sprinters are Americans who either bypassed the YOT or focused on the Juniors, like Kaylin Whitney, Teanah Daniels and Candace Hill.  So the field’s top name is World #6 Ewa Nikola Swoboda of Poland, who sports a fine 11.42 PR and was 5th at World Juniors – after taking 4th at World Youths in 2013.  A half-dozen are in the 11.5-11.6 range, led by Tristan Cadija Evelyn of Barbados at 11.52.


200 meters

American Entry: Brandee’ Johnson, Nansemond River HS-VA, 2016
Johnson rolled the field with a 23.76w at the Trials, then lowered her PR to 23.64 in winning 4A state … that time ranks 2nd among entries here … she was 5th in the NBNO 200 … last meet was AAU Clubs in July.

Event Analysis:  As was the case in the 100, many of the World’s best finished their seasons in Eugene or earlier, and focused on other levels of competition.  World #5 Natallia Whyte of Jamaica appears to be the one to beat at 23.36 … and she did run a very solid 23.48 for 7th at World Juniors.  If Johnson can get back in the mid-high 23s, she’ll be in great shape for the podium.  Three others are in the high 23s, led by the Ukraine’s Dzhois Koba at 23.81.


400 meters

American Entry: Brittny Ellis, Warren Twp HS-IL, 2015
Ellis has heated up at the right time, with a recent 53.49 victory at the AAU JOs to bring into Nanjing … that was nearly a second faster than her season best, which she hit in taking 3rd at IL 3A state … was also 3rd at Great Southwest … her YOT finish was 2nd behind Canadian Kyra Constantine … she ranks 3rd among entrants here.

Event Analysis:  None of the world’s top three are here, so the favorite’s role goes to Tiffany James of Jamaica with her 53.21 best.  She won bronze at World Youths last summer and came close to making the WJ final in Eugene.  Sada Williams of Barbados, with a 53.39 best, and the above-mentioned Ellis could fight it out for the next two medals.


800 meters

American Entry: None

Event Analysis:  Five of the world’s top 10 this year are Americans, led by #1 Alexa Efraimson.  But none of them are here, so a quintet of contenders in the 2:06 range will battle for the gold.  Mareen Kalis of Germany tops the entries at World #5 2:06.01.  She was 7th in Donetsk last year at WYC.  Agnes Mulee Ngovi of Kenya at 2:06.20 and Martha Bissah of Ghana at 2:06.32 are next, followed by Hawi Alemu of Ethiopia and Elena Bello of Italy – both at 2:06.74.


1,500 meters

American Entry: None

Event Analysis:  The above-mentioned Efraimson and Ethiopia’s top stars focused on the Junior level this year, so the top entry is World #5 Winfred Mbithe of Kenya at 4:13.80.  She was 7th at World Juniors herself.  The only other sub-4:20 entry is Konstanze Klosterhalfen of German at 4:19.97, but expect Ethiopia’s Tesfaye Kokeb Alemu at 4:24.94 to be in the mix for medals, as well as Burundi’s Dalila Gosa at 4:21.54.


3,000 meters

American Entry: None

Event Analysis:  Without Kenya’s World-leading Lilian Kasait Rengeruk in the field, the World #2 Nozomi Musembi Takamatsu – 4th in the WJ 3k at 9:02.85 – is the favorite.  Kenya will be repped by Jackline Chepkoech at 9:10.12 and she’ll almost certainly contend for gold.  The Ethiopian entry is Demiesa Berhan Asgedom at 9:18.97.  But another prodigal star ahead of her is Germany’s Alina Reh with a big 9:05.05 best.  She was 5th in the WYC 3k in 2013.


2,000 meters steeple

American Entry: None

Event Analysis:  Rosefline Chepngetich of Kenya – the 2013 WY champ and #3 all-time with her 6:12.0 PR from last year and with a WL 6:20.99 this year – is the undisputed favorite.  Oh, and she was 2nd in the World Jr steeple last month over 3k, as well.  Ethiopian rival Mamo Zewdinesh Teklemaream has the best shot of pushing her with a 6:24.59 best.  The only other runner under 6:40 is Nicole Svetlana Reina of Italy at 6:37.85.


5,000 meters racewalk

American Entry: None

Event Analysis:  A pair of Australians lead the World list, but neither are here, so the favorite’s role goes to World #3 Naomi Stella of Italy at 22:20.46.  She was 3rd at World Youths last year.  China’s entry, Zhenxia Ma, has walked 23:59.22 this year, but 22:19.00 last year.  Another to watch is Valeria Ortuno of Mexico, who has clocked 22:55.35 and was 14th over 10k in the World Cup against older competition.


100 meters hurdles

American Entry: Kimani Rushing, Hallendale HS-FL, 2016
Rushing was actually the 3rd American at the Trials, but with Rhesa Foster doing the long jump and Brittley Humphrey opting out, Rushing was picked for the team … ran 14.07 at the Trials, but has a 13.81 best over the 30” hurdles … she’s ranked 12th among entries, but it’s easy to imagine her running mid- or low-13s over the shorter barriers … last competition was a 14.63 at AAU Clubs in July.

Event Analysis:  Elvira Herman of Belarus, the World leader at 13.31, heads up the entries – but Klaudia Sorok of Hungary is right behind at 13.32.  Add in World #3 Laura Valette of France at 13.38 and you have a satisfying competitive and representative field.  Rushing, as mentioned above, is a wild card with the knowledge that she should be under 13.50 with the shorter hurdles. 


400 meters hurdles

American Entry: None

Event Analysis:  One can only wish that World Youth leader Sydney McLaughlin of New Jersey had been inclined to compete in the Trials.  As it turned out, Canada’s best wasn’t there either in WY #2 Mariam Abdul-Rashid.  So #6-ranked Michaela Peskova of Slovakia winds up being the favorite with a 58.70 best, with Eileen Demes of Germany at 58.93 close behind.  Demes was 4th at WYC last summer.


High Jump

American Entry: Janae Moffitt, Oak Hill HS-IN, 2015
Moffitt was 2nd at the YOT to Mexico’s Ximena Esquival Jr., hitting her still-standing PR of 5-10.5 … she competed well again at NBNO, taking 2nd with 5-9.75 … hasn’t competed since NBNO.

Event Analysis:  With British superstar Morgan Lake, the World leader, having focused on Juniors – and Vashti Cunningham, the top U.S. jumper, absent for other reasons – the event loses a bit of luster.  But World #2 Michaela Hruba of the Czech Republic will still be formidable with a 1.91/6-3.25 best.  The above-mentioned Esquival is 2nd at 1.85/6-0.75, with the rest of the field bunched very closely behind.


Pole Vault

American Entry:  None

Event Analysis:  Two vaulters are head and shoulders above the rest: Venezuela’s Robeilys Peinado at 4.40/14-5.25 and Switzerland’s Angelica Moser at 4.32/14-2.  Moser is World #2 this year and Peinado #3 (4.31/14-1.75 best in 2014), with #1 Nina Kennedy of Australia not competing.  After winning World Youth last year, Peinado had a devastating NM at World Juniors, so she’s looking to atone here.  Moser will be in her first int’l champs.  Next on the list is Anna Shpak of Belarus at 4.05/13-3.5.


Long Jump

American Entry: Rhesa Foster, Clovis North HS-CA, 2016
With her 20-0.25 at AAU JOs a few weeks ago, Foster is peaking at the right time … was actually 2nd in the Trials to Canadian Magali Roche, who will also contend here … another highlight was a runner-up finish at Arcadia.

Event Analysis:  The World #1, Ekaterina Kropivko of Russia, has a big margin on the field with her 6.38/20-11.25 PR – but this is her first major champs.  She also has no big backup mark listed.  Eight jumpers, including Foster, are in the 6.07/19-11 to 6.18/20-3.5 range.  The 6.18 belongs to Beatrice Fiorsese of Italy.  She’s also jumped 6.26w/20-6.5w.


Triple Jump

American Entry: Chinne Okoronkwo, Mountlake Terrace HS-WA, 2016
Okoronkwo, a NSAF Project Triple Jump Gold athlete, set her season afire at the YOT when she won at 41-6.5w … She came very close to that legally with her 41-3.75 PR at USATF JOs (4th) … major meet placings also included 4th at NBNO and 5th at USATF Juniors … she ranks 11th among entries.

Event Analysis:  Four jumpers are over 13 meters (42-8).  They are led by Tatyana Blagoveshchenskaya of Russia at 13.34/43-9.25.  The others are Esmeralda Yanis Davis of France at 13.15/43-1.75, Nhayila Renteria Cuesta of Columbia at 13.10/42-11.75 and Kirthana Ramasamy of Malaysia at 13.06/42-10.25.


Shot Put

American Entry:  None

Event Analysis:  A trio of throwers seem well above the rest, and that starts with 2013 World Youth runner-up Alena Bugakova of Russia.  She’s now up to 19.60/64-3.75 with the lighter 3kg shot and more than meter beyond the global #2.  Maria Fernanda Orozco Castro of Mexico, the easy winner at our YOT, is World #2 at 18.23/59-9.75.  World #3 is here, too, in the person of Anika Nehls of Germany at 17.77/58-3.75.


Discus

American Entry: Haley Showalter, Valor Christian HS-CO, 2015
It’s somewhat ironic that Showalter will rep Team USA in this event when she’s really superior in the hammer … but despite a fine winner of 207-8 with the hammer, she was picked in the discus where she also won with 153-5 … her PR with the implement (same as HS) is 155-6 … Showalter will have to come back from a tough World Juniors (NM in the hammer qualifying) and tough recent meets in the discus where she’s been under 140 in three major meets … her PR ranks her #8 in the field.

Event Analysis:  The World leader is Iowan Kiana Phelps, from a throw back in early May, but she's not here.  But World #2 Alyona Belyakova of the Ukraine is one of three over 52m (170-7) with a best of 52.20/171-3.  Close behind are Kangping Sun of China at 52.07/170-10 and Lara Kempka of Germany at 52.03/170-8.  Kempka is the only one who has thrown a major; she was 12th at WYC last year.


Javelin

American Entry: Emma Fitzgerald, Thayer Acad.-MA, 2016
NSAF Project Javelin Gold student Emma Fitzgerald’s season started on the highest of notes as she won the YOT with a 168-2 (500kg implement) … unfortunately, that was followed by an injury that took a few months out of her season … she has returned with some solid, if not yet spectacular performances, including a PR 151-2 with the HS jav … may lead all YOG participants in frequent flyer miles since she just had returned from Finland before heading to China … ranks 10th among entries.

Event Analysis:  World leader Eda Tugsuz of Turkey is here and the girl to beat with a 58.96/193-5 best with the 500kg javelin.  Three of the others to beat 57m this year are absent, so the 2nd seed belongs to Hanna Tarasiuk of Belarus – 55.80/183-1 this year, but 57.95/190-1 last year.  Despite that mark, by the way, she had NM at World Youths – so she has something to prove.  Tugsuz was 5th in Donetsk last year and just missed qualifying for the WJ final.  Three others have thrown 176-11 or better.


Hammer

American Entry: None

Event Analysis:  There’s an overwhelmingly dominant entry here, too, like some other events.  She is Zsofia Bacskay of Hungary, who has the eight longest throws in the world this year and is five meters beyond anyone else at 73.97/242-8.  She’s coming off a 6th-place finish at World Juniors with the heavier implement.  Alex Hulley of Australia at 68.75/225-6 and Lucia Prinetti Anzalapya of Italy at 67.62/221-10 will lead the push for the lesser medals.

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