Final day of competition at World Juniors in Moncton, CA

by Joy Kamani

Men's 4x400m Final

The U.S. kept up the great tradition in this event, winning with relative ease in 3:04.76. Josh Mance (Chino, CA) led off in 46.5 and was just off the lead. Errol Nolan (U. Of Houston) brought the team in lead with a fast 45.5 leg. David Verburg (George Mason U.) ran 46.7 for the third leg, and Michael Berry (Rainier Beach, Seattle, WA) anchored in 46.0, the same as in yesterday's prelims). Nigeria was second in 3:06.36 and Great Britain, with a great anchor by Jack Green, bring them from fifth with 200 meters to go, got the bronze in 3:06.49. The time is the World Junior leader and number 8 all-time.


Women's 4x400m Final

The U.S. would have a serious challenge from Nigeria and Jamaica. The U.S. was well back after the first exchange with Diamond Dixon (Westside, Houston, TX) leading off in 54.2. Katherine Reid of brought home country Canada to the early lead with a fine 52.8 leg. Nigeria took over after the second exchange with American Stacey-Ann Smith (Texas) running 52.3. It was Laura Roesler (South, Fargo, ND) who brought the U.S. to the lead, passing the Nigerian 40 meters before the final exchange and running 52.4. Regina George (U. Of Arkansas) never relinquished the lead, running 52.3, with the U.S. running 3:31.20, # 10-all time World Junior. Nigeria was second in 3:31.84, with legs of 53.2, 53.0, 53.9 and Margaret Etim anchoring in 51.8.


Men's Hammer Throw Final

Conor Mc Cullough of the U.S. (Princeton), the silver medallist in 2008 in this event, got the gold and the meet record. His throw of 265-0 is also number 6 all-time World Junior. His series was: 254-6, 265-0, 263-1, 256-1, 264-8, F. Second was the pre-meet favorite, Akos Hudi of Hungary. He had come into the meet with a best of 266-3 but could manage only 257-1 for second.

Conor McCullough

1. Conor Mc Cullough USA 265-0

2. Akos Hudi Hungary 257-1

3. Alaa El-Din El-Ashry Egypt 251-6

4. Bartlomiej Krupa Poland 244-2

5. Daniel Szabo Hungary 244-1

6. Pavel Bareisha Belarus 240-3

7. Quentin Bigot France 234-7

8. Paul Hutzen Germany 220-6

9. Marcin Pastuszko Poland 220-6

10. Justin Welch USA 220-6

11. Edgards Gailis Latvia 219-10

12. Tomas Kruzliak Slovakia 218-4


Men's Triple Jump Final

The favorite, Aleksey Fedorov of Russia, coming in with the world lead of 56-2, got the win as expected with a jump of 54-8.75. All battled a negative wind. American Omar Craddock of the U.S. (U. Of Florida) was in third after the first round with a jump of 53-0, but relinquished it to Alexandru Baciu of Romania in 3 who jumped 53-1. Craddock responded in round 4 with a jump of 53-1.5 to get back in to bronze medal position, then improved to 53-3 in the final round. His series: 53-0, 52-9.5, 52-6, 53-1.5, 52-6.5, 53-3. Marquis Dendy made the final round

Omar Craddock

1. Aleksey Fedorov Russia 54-8.75

2. Erenesto Reve' Cuba 54-0.5

3. Omar Craddock USA 53-3

4. Alexandru Baciu Romania 53-1

5. Andrea Chiari Italy 52-11

6. Yuriy Kovalev Russia 52-4.5

7. Zhongwei Xia China 52-4.5

8. Marquis Dendy USA 50-11.5

9. Jose Adrian Sornoza Ecuador 50-9.5

10. Gaetan Saku Baya France 50-8

11. Benjamin Williams Great Britain 50-7.25

n.m. Kola Adedoyin Great Britain


Women's High Jump Final

Hannah Willms of the U.S. (Dike-New Hartford, Dike, IA) seemed to be in trouble after missing 5-10 twice. But she made that height convincingly on her third attempt. She then made 5-11.5 on her second, but could not convert at 6-1.25 which would have been a lifetime best by .24". Her fifth place finish was outstanding nonetheless. She did have a wonderful quote, saying after the qualifying round, "We don't get this kind of competition in Iowa". Marija Vukovic of Montenegro won at 6-3.25 which, we believe, is the first gold medal ever for that country.

Hannah Wilms

1. Marija Vukovic Montenegro 6-3.25

2. Alrine Palsyte Lithuania 6-2.25

3. Elena Vallortigara Italy 6-2.25

4. Hanne Van Hessche Belgium 6-1.25

5. Hannah Willms USA 5-11.5

6. Sietske Noorman Netherlands 5-11.5

7. Victoria Dronsfield Sweden 5-10

8. Amy Pejkovic Australia 5-10

9. Elizabeth Lamb New Zealand 5-10

10. France Paul France 5-8

11. Chiara Vitobello Italy 5-8

12. Michalina Kwasniewska Poland 5-8


Men's 800m Finals

It's so unusual to see Americans in the lead pack in any event at this level from the 800 meter up. The pace was quick: 24.72 52.19 and 1:18.90. For much of the race it was Dickson Tuwei of Kenya leading. Cas Loxsom of the U.S. (Penn State) took the lead down the homestretch with Robby Andrews (U. Of Virginia) chasing. But Loxsom started to pull away with Andrews struggling. It looked to be a 1-2 American finish. But, seemingly out of nowhere came the other Kenyan, David Mutua, charging down the homestretch and passing both Americans at the 790 point. Mutua won in 1:46.41 with Loxsom second in a personal bestr 1:46.57 and Andrews third in 1:47.00, just holding off fourth-placer Niall Brooks of Great Britain by .02. It was the first time Americans had gotten an medal in this event.

Men's 110m Hurdles

The American Caleb Cross (U of Arkansas) looked tremendous through nine hurdles leading all hurdlers and destined to pull the upset. But then he sensed Pascal Martinot-Lagarde to his right after the ninth hurdle and clobbered the final hurdle, moving from first to 5th in the last 10 meters. Martinot-Lagarde got the win in 13.52 (-2.4) with Vladimir Vukicevic (Norway) second and favorite and world leader third, both running 13.59. Cross's time was 13.86. After the race Martinot-Lagarde went to Cross to apologize, thinking that perhaps he had hit Cross with his arm near the ninth hurdle.

Martinot-Lagarde of France


Women's 1500 meter final

A really gutsy race for American Jordan Hasay (U. Of Oregon). She stayed with the inevitable east African pack for three laps and then just couldn't keep up with leaders. The pace was very fast with the leader covering 400 meters in 61.02. Hasay was fourth at that point at about 63 seconds. The pace continued, with the pack going through 800 meters in 2:10.14. By the three-quarter point it was the Ethiopian Bogale and 2009 World Youth champ Ciara Mageean of Ireland. Those two pulled away from the group down the final backstretch with Hasay feeling the results of the early fast pace. Tizita Bogale, the Ethiopian, pulled away down the homestretch after a valiant battle by Mageean.

Hasay held on down the homestretch for fourth in 4:13.95, very close to her PB. We believe it's the best ever performance by an American in this event.


Men's 3000m Steeplechase Final

No surprises here, as Kenya takes 1-2. Jonathan Ndiku, the world leader at 8:19.25 got the win in 8:23.48. The American, Jared Berman (Virginia Tech), showed his consistency in running 8:57.53 for tenth. He ran 8:55.xx two days ago for a nice series of races over three days. Given that his first try at this event was at the ACC meet in April, it's quite an accomplishment to make the world junior final with less than six months experience.



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