2014 IAAF World Junior Champs DEEP Previews! MEN’S FIELD
Event-by-event capsule previews of the men's field events, noting Team USA hopes and leading global contenders for the 2012 IAAF World Junior Championships:
Men’s High Jump: Favorite not really clear cut
WJR: 7-9.25, Dragutin Topic, YUG, 1990 and Steve Smith, GBR, 1992
AJR: 7-7, Andra Manson, Team USA/TX, 2002
CR: 7-9.25, Dragutin Topic, YUG, 1990 and Steve Smith, GBR, 1992
Recent Champs (plus/other top U.S. finishers)
2012: Andreil Churyla, BLR, 7-4.25 (T7Q/GrpA-Dartis Willis, 15Q/GrpB-Trey McRae)
2010: Mutaz E. Barshim, QAT, 7-6.5 (2-David Smith, 11-Q/Grp A-Maalik Reynolds)
2008: Bohdon Bondarenko, UKR, 7-05 (10-Q/GrpA-Erik Kynard, 11-Q/GrpB-Ryan Fleck)
Recent marks to medal / make final
2012: 7-4.25 / 7-0.25
2010: 7-3 / 7-0.25
2008: 7-3 / 7.0.25
Top Contenders (in order of 2014 IAAF Outdoor Ranking)
(including/plus Team USA, in bold)
1. Andrei Skabeika, BLR, 2.26
T2. Chris Kandu, GBR, 2.24
T2. Danil Lysenko, RUS, 2.24
4. Christoffe Bryan, JAM, 2.23
T5. Tobias Poyte, GER, 2.22
T5. Sanghyeok Woo, KOR, 2.22
T7. Mikhail Akimenko, RUS, 2.21 (2.24i)
T7. Dmitri Nabokau, BLR, 2.21
…
19. Landon Bartel, USA/MO HS, 7-1
--- Jonathan Wells, USA/IL HS, 7-0 (7-1.75i)
Analysis: Three former World Youth and Junior medalists are in the field, but the favorite is Andrei Skabeika of Belarus – at least if you consider he’s the only man in the field to clear 7-5. At 7-4.25 are Chris Kandu of Great Britain and Danil Lysenko of Russia. Lysenko also has a teammate, Mikhail Akimenko, who’s at 7-3 outdoors but did 7-4.25 indoors. All are international championship neophytes.
As far as the more experienced trio of contenders: Korea’s Woo Sanghyeok was the 2013 World Youth champ (7-3.25 PR), 3-time Penn Relays champ Christoffe Bryan was the WY bronze winner (7-3.75 PR), and Falk Wendrich of Germany the WJ silver winner two years ago – he’s at 7-2.5 this year but has a 7-4.25 PR.
Team USA includes Grant Community, IL senior Jonathan Wells, the USATF Jr champ at 6-10.75 (but with a PR of 7-2), and Landon Bartel (Southern Boone, MO senior) – 2nd with just 6-8.75 at Juniors, but the holder of a 7-1 qualifier as well. Both would do extremely well to make the final. David Smith was the last medalist for Team USA with silver in 2010, while the last gold was captured by Andra Manson in 2002.
Men’s Pole Vault: King hopes for 18', 2nd-ever U.S. medal
WJR: 19-0.25, Maksim Tarasov, URS, 1989 and Raphael Holzdeppe, GER, 2008
AJR: 18-8.75, Lawrence Johnson, U. Tenn., 1993
CR: 18-8.75, German Chiaraviglio, ARG, 2006
Recent Champs (plus/other top U.S. finishers)
2012: Thiago da Silva, BRA, 18-2.25 (8-Nikita Kirillov, T11Q-GrpB-Casey Bowen)
2010: Anton Ivakin, RUS, 18-0.5 (7-Kyle Ballew, 8-Q/Grp B-Mark Thomas)
2008: Raphael Holzdeppe, GER, 18-0.25 (7-Joe Berry, 10-Maston Wallace)
Recent marks to medal / make final
2012: 18-2.25 / 16-6.75
2010: 17-6.5 / 16-6.75
2008: 17-4.5 / 16-4.75
Top Contenders (in order of 2014 IAAF Outdoor Ranking)
(including/plus Team USA, in bold)
1. Alex Chappell, FRA, 18-1.25
T2. Bokai Huang, CHN, 17-8.5
T2. Harry Coppell, GBR, 17-8.5
T2. Oleg Zernikel, GER, 17-8.5
T2. Devin King, USA/LA HS, 17-8.5 (17-10.5i)
T7. Adam Hague, GBR, 17-6.5
T7. Eirik Greibrokk Dolve, NOR, 17-6.5
T7. Cole Walsh, USA/Oregon, 17-6.5
Analysis: The eyes of U.S. prep fans will be firmly fixed on Devin King, to see if the Sumner, LA senior can help get an American back on the medal stand and achieve his long-sought goal of an 18-footer. Devin rocked The Armory back in March with a HSR 17-10.5 at New Balance Nationals Indoor (NBNI) and then won our outdoor champs (NBNO) with a meet record 17-8.5 in June. At USA Juniors he lost for the first time this year, but it was to a collegian – as Oregon frosh (Brophy Prep AZ alum) Cole Walsh and King each went 17-6.5, but Walsh won on misses. Both are good candidates to battle for the medals, possibly gold.
And King, you’ll remember, competed for the U.S. at World Youths last summer. Amazingly, the only American medalist ever in this event was Rocky Danners in Santiago in 2000 – the year the meet was in October.
Frenchman Alex Chappell is the leading contender for gold, being the only 18-footer in the field at 18-1.5 and having some consistency in that range. He’s improved eight inches this year. The 1-2 finishers from that World Youth champs, where King was 6th, are here: Brit Harry Coppell and China’s Bokai Huang. Really, anyone in the top 8 or better could pull off a win.
Men’s Long Jump: White wants nothing less than gold
WJR, 27-4.75, Sergey Morgunov, RUS, 2012
AJR: 27-4.5, Randy Williams, Team USA, 1972
CR: 26-11, James Stallworth, Team USA, 1990
Recent Champs (plus/other top U.S. finishers)
2012: Sergey Morgunov, RUS, 26-6.5 (3-Jarrion Lawson, 6Q-GrpB-Jarrett Samuels)
2010: Luvo Manyonga, RSA, 26-2.75 (6-Justin Hunter, 15-Q/Grp B-Carlton Lavong)
2008: Marquise Goodwin, USA, 25-04.75 (7-Christian Taylor)
Recent marks to medal / make final
2012: 25-0.75 / 24-9
2010: 25-0.5 / 24-6.25
2008: 24-11 / 23-11.5
Top Contenders (in order of 2014 IAAF Outdoor Ranking)
(including/plus Team USA, in bold)
1. Jianan Wang, CNH, 26-7
2. Travonn White, USA, 26-4.5
3. Qing Lin, CHN, 26-2.75
4. Duwayne Boer, RSA, 25-10.75
T5. Shamar Rock, BAR, 25-8.75
7. Lucas Marcelino Dos Santos, BRA, 25-7.5
…
9. Kenneth Fisher, USA/Bethune-Cookman, 25-6.25
Analysis: This represents one of the better opportunities for an American man to win a field event medal – especially if Travonn White can duplicate his Hayward magic from three weeks ago. He had only two fair jumps in the competition, but the Central Arizona College freshman’s final attempt hit a monster PR 26-4.5. And the Mountain Pointe, AZ alum is confident he can do it again here and become the first American to win since Marquise Goodwin did it in 2008.
Two Chinese bounders stand in White’s way: Jianan Wang and Qing Lin – both big-time 26-footers. Both Chinese have experience in IAAF championships – Lin being the 2011 World Youth champ – while White does not … but White has won at Hayward, so maybe it evens out. Duwayne Boer of South Africa, Shamar Rock of Barbados and Lucas Marcelino dos Santos of Brazil are other key contenders. The other American, Kenneth Fisher of Bethune-Cookman, is close to the top group on the list and should make the final and possibly contend, as well.
Men’s Triple Jump: Young superstar Martinez is overwhelming favorite
WJR: 57-5, Volker Mai, GDR, 1985
AJR: 56-4.75, Will Claye, U. of Okla., 2009
CR: 55-11, Yoelbi Quesada, CUB, 1992
Recent Champs (plus/other top U.S. finishers)
2012: Pedro Pichardo, CUB, 55-1 (10Q-GrpA-Felix Obi, 12Q-GrpB-Jarrion Lawson)
2010: Aleksey Fedorov, RUS, 54-8.75 (3-Omar Craddock, 8-Marquis Dendy)
2008: Teddy Tamgho, FRA, 56-10.25 (6-Austin Davis, 8-Christian Taylor)
Recent marks to medal / make final
2012: 53-8.5 / 51-8.25
2010: 53-3 / 50-10.25
2008: 54-5.25 / 51-1
Top Contenders (in order of 2014 IAAF Outdoor Ranking)
(including/plus Team USA, in bold)
1. Lazaro Martinez, CUB, 56-6.75
2. Max Hess, GER, 53-9.25
3. Miguel Van Assen, SUR, 53-7
4. Yaoqing Fang, CHN, 53-6.5
5. Levon Aghasyn, ARM, 53-5.5
9. Andy Diaz, CUB 53-0.75
…
25. Hayden McClain, USA/Oklahoma, 51-9.25
--- John Warren, USA/VA HS, 51-3
Analysis: Lazaro Martinez of Cuba is one of the huge, young sensations of this championship, with a jaw-dropping best of 56-6.75 – and with tremendous consistency as well. His top eight meets this year are better than anyone else has done – and he’s just 16! He’s already won the World Youth champ, hitting his 2013 PR of 54-6.75 in Donetsk. Even that would be better than any Junior in 2014. He’s simply amazing and, if he won, would follow four previous WJ champs from his country –which obviously has a great TJ tradition.
Max Hess of Germany, Miguel Van Assen of Surinam, Fang Yaoqing of China, Levon Aghasyan of Armenia and Martinez’s teammate – Andy Diaz – are a closely bunched group of contenders for silver and bronze. Yaoqing won silver behind Martinez at WY last summer.
U.S. fans are still lamenting the absence of Castro Valley CA senior and rising Oregon Duck Nate Moore – who blasted a windy 53-7 at the USATF Juniors, but lacked a wind-legal qualifier for this meet. Carrying American hopes instead are Oklahoma frosh Hayden McClain (2nd USA Jrs) and John Warren (4th), a recent grad from Prince George, VA. Both had the qualifier and are high-51-footers who will hope to make the final. Warren is a 2013 CSI alum and won the NBNO triple jump in June.
Men’s Shot Put: Days, Jr. looks for 2nd IAAF medal
WJR: 75-5.5, Jacko Gill, NZL, 2012
AJR: 67-9, Sean Shields, Team USA, 2002
CR: 72-10, Jacko Gill, NZL, 2012
Recent Champs (plus/other top U.S. finishers)
2012: Jacko Gill, NZL, 72-10 (10-Stephen Mozia, 10Q-GrpA-Nick Scarvelis)
2010: Jacko Gill, NZL, 68-1.5 (4-Nick Vena, 12-Hayden Baillio)
2008: David Storl, GER, 69-02 (8-Q/GrpB-Dan Block, 9-Q/GrpA-Eric Plummer)
Recent marks to medal / make final
2012: 69-4.25 / 62-10
2010: 66-1 / 61-11
2008: 65-4.75 / 60-10.75
Top Contenders (in order of 2014 IAAF Outdoor Ranking)
(including/plus Team USA, in bold)
1. Mostafa Amr Ahmed Ahmed Hassan, EGY, 71-6
2. Konrad Bukowiecki, POL, 70-2.25
3. Braheme Days, Jr., USA/UCLA, 69-5.25
5. Patrick Muller, GER, 67-3.5 (67-8.25i)
T7. Henning Prufer, GER, 65-3.25 (67-7i)
T7. Denzel Comenentia, NED, 65-3.25
…
14. Amir Ali Patterson, USA/CA HS, 63-7
Analysis: Braheme Days, Jr. knows what it is to be on a medal stand in an IAAF championship; he did so with a bronze in Lille at the 2011 World Youths. He also knows what it’s like to win a title, as he did many times as a Bridgetown, NJ prep – at NBN indoor and outdoor meets. He’s ranked 3rd coming in here, with a 69-5.25 best after his win at USATF Juniors. Don’t bet against him for a medal, possibly gold. Don’t bet either against the competitive verve of Amir Ali Patterson (Crespi, CA senior), who repped Team USA at World Youth last year and hit a 63-7 on his final throw to make the team and get the standard at Juniors. That was surprisingly close to his PR with the lighter prep shot. The last U.S. gold (and medal of any color) in this event was by Chris Carter in 2006.
The man to beat overall has to be Mostafa Amr Ahmed Ahmed Hassan of Egypt, who’s hoping to make African history in this event with a victory. He’s more than a foot ahead of the field. Konrad Bukowiecki of Poland has progressed two meters with the 6 kg shot this year after taking 5th in Donetsk last year, making him the silver favorite. Two Germans will also contend strongly as well: The two that beat Bukowiecki and went 1-2 at World Youths last year, Patrick Muller and Henning Prufer.
Men’s Discus: Skagestad, Markovic are favorites
WJR: 230-1, Mykyta Nesterenko, UKR, 2008
AJR: 214-4, Mason Finley, Team USA/CO, 2009
CR: 220-10, Margus Hunt, EST, 2006
Recent Champs (plus/other top U.S. finishers)
2012: Federic Dacres, JAM, 206-0 (7-Dalton Rowan, 11Q/GrpA-Rodney Brown)
2010: Andrius Gudzius, LTU, 209-3 (10-Andrew Evans, 10Q/Grp A-Alex Rose)
2008: Gordon Wolf, GER, 203-05 (12Q/GrpB-Brian Bishop, 15Q/GrpA-Geoffrey Tabor)
Recent marks to medal / make final
2012: 202-0 / 186-3
2010: 200-5 / 186-11
2008: 200-2 / 175-11
Top Contenders (in order of 2014 IAAF Outdoor Ranking)
(including/plus Team USA, in bold)
1. Sven Martin Skagestad, NOR, 215-5
2. Martin Markovic, CRO, 214-5
3. Domantas Poska, LTU, 209-5
4. Matthew Denny, AUS, 208-10
5. Henning Prufer, GER, 207-2
6. Ola Stunes Isene, NOR, 206-11
…
9. Kord Ferguson, USA/KS prep, 201-0
13. Ryan Njegovan, USA/St. Francis Coll., 195-11
Analysis: Matt Denny of Australia was the World Youth champ in 2013, but hasn’t quite reached the top of the list with the heavier discus here, yet. He’s definitely among the medal contenders, though. Sven Martin Skagestad of Norway and Martin Markovic of Croatia are the guys to beat right now, though. Skagestad is in his first global championship, while Markovic was 4th and 9th in the WY shot and discus, respectively, last year. Henning Prufer of German, doubling as he did at WY last year, is also a threat here. Skagestad’s teammate, Ola Stunes Isene, rounds out the top six on the list.
Ottawa KS grad Kord Ferguson, the Great Southwest and USATF Junior champ, leads U.S. hopes and has a good chance to make the final and possibly contend for a medal. Ditto on Ryan Njegovan, if he can perhaps get closer to 200.
Men’s Javelin: Youth champ Muhar looking for gold again
WJR: 277-10, Zigismunds Sirmais, LAT, 2011
AJR: 255-4, Sam Crouser, USA/OR HS, 2010
CR: 272-6, John Robert Oosthuizen, RSA, 2006
Recent Champs (plus/other top U.S. finishers)
2012: Keshorn Walcott, TRI, 258-0 (12Q/GrpA-Devin Bogert, 12Q/GrpB-Sean Keller)
2010: Till Woschler, GER, 270-9 (5-Joseph Zimmerman, 13-Q/Grp A-Derek Eager)
2008: Rober Szpak, POL, 255-11 (9Q/GrpA-Luke Laird)
Recent marks to medal / make final
2012: 250-3 / 226-0
2010: 250-8 / 222-9
2008: 247-1 / 222-1
Top Contenders (in order of 2014 IAAF Outdoor Ranking)
(including/plus Team USA, in bold)
1. Matija Muhar, SLO, 247-3
2. Pieter Kriel, RSA, 243-7
3. Shu Mori, JPN, 243-5
T4. Ioannis Kiriazis, GRE, 241-8
T4. Raul Stefan Rusu, ROU, 241-8
7. Norbert Rivasz-Toth, HUN, 240-8
…
--- Curtis Thompson, USA/NJ HS, 224-10
Analysis: It’s fairly simple: With an improvement of more than five meters with the heavier jav in 2013, last year’s World Youth champ – Matija Muhar of Slovenia – is this year’s World Junior favorite, too. He turned 18 years old on the first day of these championships and is knocking on the door of 250 feet – a significant number (if you’re American). Several others, in the 241-243 range, hope to pull an upset. Norbert Rivasz-Toth of Hungary was 2nd to Muhar in Donetsk, and is within seven feet of him now.
Curtis Thompson, the USATF champ after getting edged at NBNO, got here with his 224-10 qualifier when he set a New Jersey state record. He might get into the final with that mark, but will need to improve several feet to contend. No American has ever medaled in this event here.
Men’s Hammer: El-Seify goes for repeat
WJR: 280-9, Ashraf Amgad El-Seify, QAT, 2012
AJR: 265-0, Conor McCullough, Team USA/Princeton, 2010
CR: 280-9, Ashraf Amgad Elseify, QAT, 2012
Recent Champs (plus/other top U.S. finishers)
2012: Ashraf Amgad El-Seify, QAT, 280-9 (11-Rudy Winkler, 11Q/GrpB-Matthias Tayala)
2010: Conor McCullough, USA, 265-0 (10-Justin Welch)
2008: Walter Henning, USA, 252-4 (2-Conor McCullough)
Recent marks to medal / make final
2012: 249-10 / 235-10
2010: 251-6 / 219-2
2008: 247-5 / 229-5
Top Contenders (in order of 2014 IAAF Outdoor Ranking)
(including/plus Team USA, in bold)
1. Ashraf Amgad El-Seify, QAT, 277-9
2. Bence Pasztor, HUN, 263-5
3. Ilya Terentyev, RUS, 256-8
4. Igor Evseev, RUS, 255-5
5. Maksim Mitskou, BLR, 253-9
6. Matija Greguric, CRO, 251-0
…
--- Charles Ionata, USA/Wake Forest, 222-1
--- Clarence Gallop, USA/Charleston Southern, 222-0
Analysis: Ashraf Amgad El-Seify of Qatar falls in that rare category of reigning World Junior champs, having won with 280-9 in Barcelona. This year, he’s “only” at 277-9, but that’s still good for a 14-foot edge on the field. He’s one of the surest bets for a title here. Similarly, Bence Pasztor of Hungary is the returning silver medalist from that 2012 meet and at 263-5 is almost seven feet up on the #3 contender. He also won the 2011 World Youths. A pair of Russians, Ilya Terentyev and Igor Evseev, are the top hopes for bronze.
Team USA had stunning glory in 2008 and 2010 as Walter Henning and Conor McCullough won back to back titles. Admittedly, they didn’t have to contend with a 280-footer like Elseify, but they were the nation’s two best young throwers in history. Charles Ionata of Wake Forest and Clarence Gallop of Charleston Southern, seeded near the bottom, will hope to just make the final.
