National Scholastic Athletics Foundation

(includes late events from a.m. session)

High Jump Final – Women

A great day for Vashti Cunningham (Bishop Gorman, Reno, NV), breaking her own U.S. Junior and American high school record, clearing 6-05.  She first cleared 5-08.75, 5-10.75, 6-0 and 6-01.25, all on her first attempt.  She then passed at 6-02.25.  She cleared 6-03.25 on her second attempt.  She passed 6-03.5, then missed twice at 6-04.25.  She decided to pass her final attempt at that height, then passed 6-04.75.  The bar was raised to 6-05.  If she missed on her first attempt, her final height would have been 6-03.25 … but of course she cleared, and in doing so also tied the World Youth record.  Second and third, of course, were way back, with Ximena Esquivel (Mexico) jumping 6-0 for second and Ana Paula Oliveira (Brazil) jumping 5-10.75 for third.  Alexandria Florent (Harvard-Westlake, North Hollywood, CA) was tied for 5th at 5-7.

Discus – Women

Josephine Natrasevschi (Brown) was second to Shanice Love (Jamaica) until round four when she threw 172-07, besting Love who had led at 169-00.  Lloydricia Cameron (Florida) was sitting in third until her final throw when she unleashed a toss of 170-06, 1 inch off her personal best, to move into second.  So the U.S. took 1-2 with Love getting the bronze.

Decathlon Pole Vault

Harrison Williams (Stanford) had a decent vault, 16-04.75 to win that event.  Travis Toliver (Episcopal, Houston, TX) had the next best performance, jumping 14-05.25.

Decathlon Javelin

Toliver, who had placed high in the Texas Relays javelin, won this event at 185-08.  Williams had a best of 169-10.  (Both had attended the NSAF Javelin Gold clinics the past two years).

Decathlon 1500m

Williams had to break 4:32 to get the U.S. Junior record of 8,018 set by Gunnar Nixon in 2012, and did so, running 4:29.20 and scoring 8,037 points.  Toliver (Episcopal, Houston, TX) was second with 7,346 points, short of his 7,440 US Junior Championships performance.

Heptathlon Shot Put

Ayesha Champagnie (Jamaica) was the leader here, throwing 44-05.5. 

Heptathlon 200m

Kaylee Hinton (Rockwall, TX) led the field here, running 24.79.  After day 1, here are the standings: 1) Ashtin Zamzow (Texas A+M) 3293; 2) Fiorella Chiappe (Argentina) 3208; 3) Kaylee Hinton (Rockwall, TX) 3165.

1500m Final – Men

It was a classic “kickers” race, with the 400m splits:  68.7, 2:13.9 and 3:16.2.  The field (just about all of them) passed 1100 meters (1 lap to go) at about 4:00.  Everyone was in contention for the medals and the Americans held on to take one-two, with .19 separating the top 4.  It was Blake Haney (Oregon) winning in 3:56.49, with Brandon Pollard (Gonzaga) second in 3:56.51 and Rodrigo Silva (Brazil) third in 3:56.73.  It was quite an accomplishment for Pollard who finished fifth at the U.S. Junior champs and was only on the team because places 2-3-4 chose not to be a member of the team.

800m Final – Women

It was the Raevyn Rogers (Oregon) show, as she totally controlled the race and won in 2:04.62.  Priscilla Morales (Puerto Rico) was 2nd in 2:08.46, edging Evelyne Guay (Canada/Iowa State U) who ran 2:08.52.  Ruby Stauber (Wayzata, Plymouth, MN) was 5th in 2:11.62.

110m Hurdles Final – Men

Misana Viltz (UCLA) edged Cuban Roger Valentin Irabarne, 13.30 to 13.32 in a great race.  Ricardo Morales (Puerto Rico) was third at 13.49 with Marquis Morris (USC) finishing 6th at 13.70.

3000m Steeplechase – Women

U. of Washington signee Charlotte Prouse (Canada) was never really tested in winning this event in 10:12.44.  The U.S. took second and third, with Hannah Christen (North Carolina) finishing second (10:24.32) and New Balance Nationals Outdoor 2000m Steeplechase champ Alex Harris (North Rockland, Thiells, NY) third in 10:31.79.  Both set PRs.

200m Final – Women

Deanna Hill (USC) won handily in 23.18.  Second was Brazilian Vitoria Cristina Sosa in 23.42, with Kansas State U. signee Sada Williams (Barbados) third in 23.49.

200m Final – Men

This was Noah Lyles’ revenge.  After losing to Cuban Reynier Mena at the Caribbean Scholastic Invitational in June and again in the 100 meters yesterday, he finally prevailed, edging Mena 20.27 to 20.34.  Ryan Clark (Banneker, College Park, GA) was third in 20.62.

Javelin Final – Men

This was another field event that came down to the final throws.  The leader after round 1 was Chris Mirabelli (Rutgers) at 233-03 (71.09), his 1st career throw over 70m.  Teammate and fellow Jerseyite, Curtis Thompson (Mississippi State) threw 233-03 (71.11) in round 3 to take the lead.   The final three throwers were Anderson Peters (Grenada), Mirabelli and Thompson.  Peters took the lead on his final throw (236-07) … but Mirabelli answered on his final throw with another PR, 238-03, to take the lead.  Thompson did not better his prior best to finish third.

Triple Jump Final – Men

The Cubans, Leslie Caesar Wilson and Lazaro Martinez, took 1-2 as expected -- but not in the expected order.  Wilson was the winner at 55-02.75w with 2014 IAAF World Junior Champion Martinez second at 54-02.5w.  Both will be eligible for the 2016 IAAF World Junior Championships.  Obrien Wasome (Jamaica) was third with 53-00.75.  John Warren (Missouri) was 5th at 52-01.75 and Nate Moore (Oregon) 6th at 51-07.

400m Hurdles Final – Men

Norman Grimes (Canyon, TX) proved that winning the IAAF World Youth Championships was no “fluke.  He ran another near-perfect race over the slightly higher hurdles to win in a PB 50.10, #12 all-time high school.  US Junior champ Kenny Selmon (North Carolina) was second in 50.29 and Marvin Williams (Jamaica) was third in 50.44.

5000m Final – Women

Rachael Reddy (U. of Texas) ran virtually solo, setting the meet record of 16:23.35, and breaking the old one set in 1997 by over 10 seconds.  Anne-Marie Comeau (Canada) was second in 16:35.38 and Carolina Alcorta (North Carolina) was third in 16:48.48.

10000m Final – Men

Connor Hendrickson (Texas) pulled away from the 4-man pack with 300 meters to go and the win was never in doubt.  He won at 30:46.66, with Vidal Bosco (Bolivia) second in 30:50.08, and Chase Weaverling (Virginia) third in 30:53.13, just holding off Christopher Escamilla (Mexico) by .24.