USATF Junior Champs Analysis - Part 1

The National Scholastic Sports Foundation was formed in order to help athletes attend the USATF Junior Championships. It is the only method to make any international teams (World Junior Championships, Pan American Junior Championships, etc).

Each year, the NSSF provides $10,000.00 + towards athlete travel. There is a conflict this year, with the USATF Junior Championships being held on the same weekend as the Nike Outdoor Nationals, our premier event.

Team USA to the World Junior Championships for 2002, 2004 and 2006, by event, is listed in a separate document. What follows is an event by event analysis of the chance of a high school athlete to make the 2008 team which will compete in Poland in July. (The performances noted may have been from 2007).

This analysis will be updated periodically.

Men

100m - For those in the low 10.30's or better, there is an excellent chance. High schoolers Jeff Demps (10.17, Rynell Parson (10.23 in 2007), and Jeremy Rankin (10.32 in 2007) are the leaders.

200m - It would take a PB of the mid 20's to make the team - 3 of the top 4 returnees are collegians, led by Bryshon Nellum (USC, 20.43 in 2007) and Jahvid Best (California, 20.65 in 2007). Antonio Sales (U of South Carolina) was the world junior leader indoors at 20.83.

400m - The low 46's would make the team. The top 3 returnees are: Nellum (45.38 in 2007), Gil Roberts (Texas Tech, 46.16 in 2007) and Robert Simmons (Hightower, Sugarland, TX, 46.40 in 2007).

800m - There has been 1 high schooler and 1 collegian on each of the past 3 teams. Sub-1:50 may get a high schooler on the team. Two (Nectaly Barbosa, Arizona State, 1:49.87 and James Gilreath, Baylor, 1:49.98 in 2007) of the four in this category are collegians. High schoolers Dylan Ferris (1:49.27) and Blake Shaw (1:49.41) lead the list.

1500m - The World Junior qualifying standard is relatively tough (3:48.00, or about 4:06 for a full mile). Nectaly Barbosa (Arizona State) with 3:45.49 recently is the only American to make the standard thus far.

3000m Steeplechase - Another tough qualifying standard for high schoolers (9:10.0). Only one (Ryan Mc Dermott of Duke, 9:08.11 in 2007) has made it thus far, though Dylan Knight (UCLA) has come painfully close (9:10.01 on April 4).

5000m - 14:15.0 standard - Five collegians are under that, lead by Matt Tebo (Colorado, 13:53.60i) and Hassan Mead (Minnesota, 13:57.87)

10000m - 31:00.0 standard - a high schooler has not made the team in 2002, 2004 nor 2006. Kevin Schwab (Oklahoma) is the only qualifier thus far, having run 30:56.75 in 2007.

110m Hurdles - The World Junior Championships now run the 39" hurdles. Though there are some excellent high school hurdlers, led by Wayne Davis, they will have to contend with Johnny Dutch (South Carolina), Robert Griffin (Baylor) and Terry Prentice (USC). Additionally, Dutch has run 13.79 and Jarius Cooper (Florida) 13.98 over the 42" barriers.

400m Hurdles - High schoolers William Wynne (49.70 in 2007) and Reggie Wyatt (50.10 in 2007 and 51.36 in 2008) have a good chance of making at least one of the spots. They will have to contend with Robert Griffin (Baylor, 49.56 in 2007) and Johnny Dutch (South Carolina, 50.07 in 2007 and 51.36 on March 22)

High Jump - Two high schoolers (Andra Manson and Jesse Williams) made the team in 2002, but none in 2004 nor 2006. Randal Carter, Johnson County C.C. is the leader at 7-4 in 2007 (and 7-3 indoors in 2008). High schooler Erik Kynard (Rogers, Toledo, OH) jump 7-3.75 indoors on January 19)

Pole Vault - Two high schoolers made the team in 2006 (Phillip Hanson and Scott Roth), but the leading four returnees this year are collegians (Spencer Mc Corkel, Arkansas 17-9; Maston Wallace, Texas, 17-8.5; Shea Kearney, Rice, 17-3; Mike Uhle, Akron, 17-0.75).

Long Jump - Four 25 "footers" are in contention: high schoolers Christian Taylor (25-6.75 indoors) and Marquise Goodwin (25-0 in 2007) and collegians Gary Lee (Fresno State, 25-4) and Edward Turner (Houston, 25-0).

Triple Jump - The WJR standard is 51-2.25. Three of the leading contenders are collegians (Tyron Stewart, 52-9.5, Troy Doris, 52-5 in 2007, Chris Carter, Houston, 52-1.25 in 2007 and Austin Davis, North Carolina, 51-9.25), with Christian Taylor at 52-5.25 in 2007 and 52-0 indoors in 2008.

Shot Put - Of the six athletes who were on the teams in 2002, 2004 and 2006, only one (Eric Werksey) was a high schooler. Eric Plummer (Princeton, 58-0.5 with the 16 pound ball in 2007 and 56-8.75 in 2008) and Blake Eaton (Pennsylvania, 57-3.5) are the leading contenders.

Discus - The WJR standard is 165-8 for the international discus (and 177-2 for the collegiate discus). Abilene Christian teammates Tyler Fleet (184-1) and Nick Jones (179-9) lead the US Juniors.

Hammer - Collegians dominate this event, with Walter Henning (North Carolina) the dominant force here with a recent throw of 225-6 with the 16 pound implement.

Javelin - Only collegians have made the three teams. The WJR standard is 218-2, and there are no Americans who have made standard yet.

Decathlon - This is anyone's guess, but the event is usually dominated by collegians.

Women

100 - High schoolers have an "outside shot" of making the top 2, but they may have a better shot at the relay pool. They will have to contend with the likes of Tiffany Townsend (Baylor), Janeba Tarmoh (Tennessee), Shataya Hendricks (Stanford) and Shayla Mahan (South Carolina)l of whom have run 11.37 or better.

200 - This is similar to the 100, with Townsend the leader (22.84 in 2007 and 23.52 indoors this year) and Tarmoh (23.26 indoors) behind.

400 - Three of the four leading returnees are high schoolers, but the one to beat is Jessica Beard (Texas) at 51.63 in 2007 and 52.48 indoors in 2008.

800 - Chanelle Price (Easton, PA) is the dominant force here should she opt for the Juniors (she may just go to the Olympic Trials). Nichole Jones (Baylor) has run 2:04.69 in 2007.

1500 - Jordan Hasay had the great 4:16.98 at the 2007 World Youth Champs and is the leader. Nichole Jones (Baylor) has run 4:18.50 with Alex Kosinski (Oregon) running 4:19.88 in the early Spring.

3000 - Hasay has been under 9:30 this year. Right behind are Catherine White (Arkansas, 9:32.01) and Marissa Treece (Notre Dame, 9:33.95). Those three are the only ones thus far to be under the 9:35 standard.

3000m Steeplechase - The standard is 11:00.00, and only Becky Wade (Rice) is under that so far.

5000 - This is usually dominated by collegians. The WJR standard is 16:30, with three collegians under that (Lara Crofford, Nebraska, 16:28.08 Alexandra Gits, Standord, 16:29.14 and Catherine White, Arkansas, 16:29.88).

100m Hurdles - High schoolers have an excellent chance in this event. The leading returnees are Vashti Thomas (13.03 in 2007), Jackie Coward (13.21 in 2007) and Julian Purvis (13.32 in 2007). Collegians are likely to make a late surge, led so far by Teona Rodgers of Florida State (13.35)

400m Hurdles - Another good event for high schoolers, let b Dalilah Muhammad (57.09 in 2007), Ryann Kraiss (57.20 2007) and Jackie Coward (57.21 in 2007). Athletes form the U. of Miami have the fastest times for 2008: Tierra Brown (57.49), Takecia Jameson (58.43) and Tameka Jameson (58.45)!

High Jump - Preps have fared well in the high jump for the last 3 junior teams. Victoria Lucas, a consistent 6-footer, leads at 6-1 (6-0 in 2008), with Shanae Briscoe (Cypress Christian, Houston, TX) at 5-11.5 in 2007 and 5-10 in 2008. Patience Coleman (U. of North Carolina) is the leading collegian at 5-11.25i.

Pole Vault - High Schoolers Rachel Laurent (14-0) and Shade Weygandt (13-9.25) have been dominant this season, but collegians Tori Anthony (UCLA, 14-1.25 in 2007, 13-7.75 in 2008), Allison Stokke (California, 13-7 in 2007 and 13-3.5 in 2008) and Melissa Gergel (Oregon, 13-7 indoors) could contend.

Long Jump - This is generally a collegian-dominated event. This year it is no different, led by Jamesha Youngblood (Oregon, 21-0 in 2007, 20-6 indoors in 2008) and Ke'Nyia Richardson (UCLA, 20-10.25 in 2007). Jacinda Evans (Southern, Durham, NC) had a recent US leading 20-3.5 to lead the preps.

Triple Jump - Richardson (44-5.5 in 2007) and high schooler Vashti Thomas (42-8.75 indoors) are the only two who have made the WJR standard of 42-4.

Shot Put - Preps Karen Shump (52-4i) and Becky O'Brien (51-5i) have a definite shot at making the team, but will have to contend with US Junior leader Kamorean Hayes (Florida State, 53-5.25i)

Discus - It's still a bit early to tell, but the dominant force here is Emily Pendleton (Michigan) with a best of 183-3 in 2007 and 176-0 in 2008. Surprising junior Anna Jelmini (Shafter, CA) has been a consistent long thrower, with a great toss of 175-8 recently.

Hammer - Noone qualified for the World Junior Champs in 2006 and none have yet to make the 2008 standard (180-5), though Gabby Midles (U of Idaho) is very close at 179-5, as is Irene Cooper (Western Michigan) at 178-0.

Javelin - The amazing high school freshman Hannah Carson (Mesa, AZ, 173-7) is one of two US athletes to make the world junior standard of 162-5. The other is Karlee Mc Quillen (Penn State, 164-3). Only one American made the standard in 2004 and 2006.

Heptathlon - Ryann Krais (Methacton, PA) is the only athlete to make the WJR standard (5150). Krais' best is 5377.

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