2015 Pan Am Jrs 7/31 a.m. Report: Showalter’s GOLD leads trio of medalists

by Jim Spier

Hammer Throw Final – Women

Haley Showalter’s (Valor Christian, Aurora, CO) first throw was all she needed to win.  Her winning toss was 191-09, equal to her second longest throw ever.  Her second attempt, at 190-11, was her fifth-best throw ever.  She now owns the five best throws of any U.S. high schooler this year.  Lena Giger (Stanford) had two PR’s, first throwing 190-01 in round 5, then finishing with 190-03.  Sabrina Gaitan, the Georgia high schooler (Sprayberry, Marietta) representing Guatemala, was fourth at 184-10 -- just missing her lifetime best of 185-03.

Pole Vault Final – Women

Robeilys Peinado (Venezuela) came in as the big favorite, having jumped 15-05 in May, and won handily at 13-05.25.  Sara-Kathryn Stevens (Texas A+M) was second at 13-01.5.  Desiree Freier (Arkansas) hurt her ankle warming up and was not able to compete.

Decathlon – first 3 events

Harrison Williams (Stanford) leads after 3 events with 2455, ahead of Kayden Johnson (Canada, 2363) and Travis Toliver (Episcopal, Houston, TX, 2304).  Williams’ marks were 10.67w, 22-10.75w and 44-11.75 (SP).  Toliver won the shot put competition with a personal best 48-08.

  

100m Qualifying – Women

No less than six American high schoolers are entered.  Included are Aleih Hobbs (LSU) and Teahna Daniels (First Colonial, Orlando, FL) of the US, then Khalifa St. Fort (Trinidad and Tobago – Aquinas, Fort Lauderdale, FL), Quashira McIntosh (Virgin Islands – Hope, Providence, RI), Ariel Strunkey (Antigua – Taft, Bronx, NY) and Brenessa Thompson (Guyana - Medgar Evers, Brooklyn, NY).

Aleih Hobbs (LSU) was the leading qualifier with a windy 11.37.  Teahna Daniels (First Colonial, Orlando, FL) finished second in her heat in 11.46, also windy.  Khalifa St. Fort was the other U.S. high schooler who qualified for this evening’s final.

  

100m Qualifying – Men

Noah Lyles (TC Williams, Alexandria, VA) ran the sixth-fastest 100 meters ever under any conditions, 10.07w [4.3].  His Cuban rival, Reynier Mena, to whom he lost at this year’s Caribbean Scholastic Invitational 200m, ran 10.08w [4.8], setting up a showdown for tonight’s final.  Christian Coleman (Tennessee) was the third fastest qualifier, winning his heat in 10.16 [3.3].

400m Qualifying – Women

Zola Golden (Arlington, LaGrangeville, NY) won her heat in 53.70, the second fastest qualifier.  Canadian qualifier Taylor Sharpe was third.  She had finished fifth at the 2014 New Balance Nationals Indoor, coincidentally also behind Zola Golden.  Kendall Ellis (USC) was fourth in her heat (53.90), but advanced on the basis of her qualifying time. 

400m Qualifying – Men

Jamal Walton, the Florida high schooler representing the Cayman Islands, was the leading qualifier at 46.89.  U.S. athletes My’Lik Kerley (Stephen F. Austin, 47.55) and Cordell Lamb (Clemson, 48.14) also advanced.

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