* Nazzio John ran 10.33 seconds on Tuesday in the 100m preliminaries
- - - -
HUMBLE, TEXAS -- Who's going to take the title of AAU's fastest athlete in 2021?
There are a host of challengers in the 100m, including the likes of Nazzio John (10.33), Jekovan Rhetta (10.36), Connor Washington (10.43), Torrence Walker (10.43), Isaac Henderson (10.48), Anthony Smith (10.49), among a few others.
Tuesday saw the preliminary heats of the 100m, as the sprint stars of the Games strode to the line with hopes of qualifying through to the semifinals on Thursday.
Washington is coming off a blistering performance of 10.00 (+5.7) at the UIL State Championships in May, while Rhetta ran 10.27 (+3.0), Smith dropped a 10.36w and John went 10.23w at the state championships, too.
And that's just the 100m.
The 200m finals will include Justin Braun, Nigel Hussey, Garrett Kaalund, John, Rhetta and Smith.
The heat of Houston may be tough to bear in the waning hours of the AAU Junior Olympic Games at George Turner Stadium, but the sprints could give us a true show on Saturday as the event's top athletes vie for national titles.
On Tuesday, John stood out above the rest, securing the event's top preliminary time.
As usual, we lay out every winner from Day 4 action.
* Anthony Smith (left to right), Connor Washington and Jekovan Rhetta are among the candidates who could become AAU's fastest athlete in 2021
1,500m 13yo Girls: Addison Moore was first in 4:42.84, Madison Larsen took second in 4:51.22 and Sydney All was third in 4:51.38.
1,500m 13yo Boys: A fast race saw Charlotte Panthers athlete Drew Johnson score the victory in 4:19.92, while Aiden Fitzgerald was second in 4:21.09 and Matteo Chiesara was third in 4:23.93.
1,500m 14yo Girls: Charlize-Trinity McKenzie broke away late to secure the win in 4:35.18, while Sydney Collier was second in 4:41.38. California native Kylie Hoornaert was third in 4:42.75.
1,500m 14yo Boys: A wild race in the final lap saw Luke Anderson overtake West Texas' Bryan Hailey, who had tried to sustain an ever-closing lead in the final meters. Anderson finished first in 4:13.14, while Hailey was second in 4:13.59. Logan Beckman was third in 4:18.27.
1,500m 15-16yo Girls: A well-timed kick in the final 100 meters netted Alyvia Brown an impressive victory in 4:35.43, while Isabella Schmitz was second in 4:36.18 and Emma Wade was third in 4:36.37.
1,500m 15-16yo Boys: Shawnee Mission, Kansas native Micah Blomker was just two seconds shy of breaking four minutes -- not to mention the national record -- as he finished in a winning time of 4:01.14. Blomker's teammate, Carter Stewart, was second in 4:03.05, while Justin Gottlieb was third in 4:03.58.
1,500m 17-18 Girls: Boerne Champion standout Anastacia Gonzales put the pedal to the gas and never let up, registering a new national record in 4:22.91. No one was even close. Lauren Muscutt was second in 4:46.95 while Kevriana Scott was third in 4:48.43.
1,500m 17-18 Boys: Flying Lyons athlete Bryceson Boss executed on a boss-like performance, overcoming a a mighty finish between five athletes in the final stages to win in 4:01.44. Pearland Track's Noah Haileab was second in 4:01.60 while Kutoven Stevens was third in 4:02.02.
400mH 15-16 Girls: An incredible finish in the final meters saw Scotlandville's Makeriah Harris score a US No. 2 time of 58.08 seconds. Oak Park's Nonah Waldron led for much of the way and narrowly missed a win of her own, finishing in a new PR of 58.10. Michelle Smith was third in 1:01.68.
400mH 15-16 Boys: San Antonio Swift's Ja'Kwon Downing won a battle down to the line against Donovan Bradley, winning by three-hundredths of a second in 54.84. Bradley was second in 54.87, while Nicolas West was third in 55.09.
400mH 17-18 Girls: Central Texas' Maci Simmons finished in 1:00.57 while Zaire Moore was second in 1:01.64 and Mackenzie Sullivan was third in 1:01.86.
400mH 17-18 Boys: Bryce McCray was locked, loaded and ready to perform. The Greater Houston star and Georgia recruit blasted to a new US No. 1 time of 51.18. It also finished inside the top 50 performances at the distance all-time. Tamaal Myers kept it close and registered the 14th-best junior performance all-time in 51.46. Mario Paul operated out of the outside lanes and finished in 52.32.
200mH 13yo Girls: Carrie Vannoy won in 27.99 seconds, while Dynasty Wilfred was second in 28.26 and Arianna Thomas was third in 28.31.
200mH 13yo Boys: Jalen Lott posted the win in 26.25 seconds, while Graylen Houston was second in2 6.72 and Trysten Shaw was third in 27.20.
200mH 14yo Girls: Shakayla Lavender was dominant. The Track 757 athlete finished in a time of 26.96, while Nevaeh Bryant was second in 28.00 and Brianna Rivers was third in 28.01.
200mH 14yo Boys: LC Express' Timothy Grice was first in 24.86, while Jeremiah Kelley was second in 25.04 and Jaylen Gilmore was third in 25.11.
LJ 9yo Girls: Ambler Track Club's Ayla Cromedy posted a long jumpm win in 13-1, while Camryn Brown was second in 12-7.25 and Wynnlee Farrar was third in 12-2.
LJ 9yo Boys: Jacadyn Harrison was first with a leap of 14-4, while Omarian Brown was second in 14-0.5. Aryian Shackelford was third with a mark of 13-7.5.
Discus 17-18yo Girls: Chrystal Herpin was not new to big performances. But the Pearland Dawson athlete went out and set a new national record, hitting an overall AAU record of 168-7. Kaiah Fisher was second in 154-6 and Amarachukwu Oguchi was third in 146-5.
Shot Put 10yo Girls: Calii' Strugis secured the win with a throw of 27-4.5. Carter Crayton was second in 27-1.75 while Carley Nelson was third with a throw of 26-1.
Shot Put 10yo Boys: Christian Cravens secured a win with a mark of 33-2.5. Braylon Jackson was second in 31-4.5 while Armani Smith was third in 30-11.
Turbo Javelin 12yo Boys: Ty White bombed a winning throw of 131-5, while Jack Linder-Maloney was second with a mark of 123-5 and Noble Williams was third with a throw of 122-6.
HJ 13yo Boys: Elite Speed's Sean Miller landed a winning jump of 5-10.75, while Jalen Lott was second in 5-7 and Schmar Gamble was third in 5-3.
PV 13yo Girls: Tristen Grimes won with a mark of 9-6.25, Charleight Jacobs was second in 9-6.25 and Jade Barton was third in 8-6.25.
Discus 12yo Girls: Kylie Herpin secured the win with a mark of 110-7, while Bethany Preusse was second in 105-5 and Brielle Lawson was third in 94-3.
HJ 11yo Boys: Trindon Flenoury scored the victory with a height of 4-7. He was one of four boys to hit 4-7, and he won on attempts. Quincey McLean was second and Jonathan Greene and Alex Ferguson tied for third.
LJ 12yo Girls: Arianna Isbell secured her win with a jump of 16-1.75. Alana Mitchell was second in 15-11.75 while Adiranna Haynes was third in 15-11.5.
LJ 12yo Boys: Kevin Jackson secured the winning jump with a mark of 18-5.75, which was over a foot better than second-place Maddox Pitre, who marked a 17-2. Cayden Gates was third in 16-10.
Shot Put 11yo Girls: Laila Jones won her fifth-straight shot put at the AAU Junior Olympic Games in 36-3. Lauren Augustin was second in 32-3 and Kristyona Harris was third in 32-1.5.
Shot Put 15-16yo Boys: Chris Herpin took the win in 51-4.25, while Ryan White was second in 50-2.5 and Michael Phillips was third in 49-9.
Javelin 13yo Boys: Akintunde Olapade's mother told him before the event, 'Let it fly' and he did just that, hitting 123-0 for the win. Carlos Burciaga was second with a mark of 122-1 while Jackson Scheefr was third in 121-1.
PV 14yo Girls: Austin Pole Vault and throws athlete Ellie Frye won in 10-11.75, while Abigail Atheron was second in 10-0 and Morgan McGuire was third in 9-6.25.
HJ 9yo Girls: Brielle Hudson won her third event of the Games in 4-3.25, while Jordyn Donaldson was second in 4-3.25 -- on attempts -- and Addison Bligen was third in 3-7.25.
Shot Put 15-16yo Girls: Giddings, Texas native Carlie Weiser posted another AAU Junior Olympics win with a throw of 48-0.5, while Madeleine Fey was second in 40-10.25. Cassidy Ball hit a milestone of her own, securing her first throw over 40 feet to finish third in 40-9.
Shot Put 11yo Boys: All-American Throwers athlete Trace Calhoun was first in 41-8, while Duquay Buckhanon was second in 40-3.5 and Waylon Johnson was third in 34-2.25.
Discus 14yo Boys: A four-foot win by Carson McInerney saw the Tri-State athlete score a performance of 164-2, while Devon Oliver was second in 160-8 and Armondo Bount was third in 160-7.
TJ 15-16yo Girls: Skylynn Townsend was first in 39-8.5, while Alexis Jessie was second in 38-5 and Hannah Forde was third in 38-4.75.
TJ 15-16yo Boys: Karson Gordon was first with a mark of 49-3.5, while Frederick Dubose was second in 46-6.25 and Xavier Drumgoole was third in 45-1.
Related Links:
NATIONAL RECORDS
17-18yo 1,500m, Anastacia Gonzales, Boerne Champion (TX), 4:22.91
17-18yo Discus, Chrystal Herpin, Pearland Dawson (TX), 168-7
13yo 100m, Mekenzie Rogers, Flourissant (MO), 11.82
10yo 400m, Omar Thomas, Fort Lauderdale Track Club (FL), 56.58
TOP PERFORMER OF THE DAY
Bryce McCray, 18, Greater Houston Track Club
Richmond, TX
17-18yo, 400mH, 51.18
US No. 1
No. 39 Performance All-Time
NOTEWORTHY
Laila Jones, Tri City Relays
Clemmons, North Carolina
11yo, Shot put
Jones capped off her AAU Junior Olympic Games with the throws double, winning the shot put on Monday with a mark of 36 feet, 3 inches. It was her fifth-straight title. On Monday, she won the discus with a throw of 90 feet, 8 inches.
INTERVIEW OF THE DAY
Titans Track Club, Atascocita (TX)
Despite finishing second in the boys 15-16yo 400mH championship in 54.87 -- by just three hundredths-of-a-second -- Bradley was proud of his effort and believed he gave it his all. He also devoted the race to his parents.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
Akintunde Olapade on his mother's advice before the 13yo javelin final
"She just told me to stay calm and let it glide through the air."
- Akintunde Olapade, Blazers Track Club (MI)
WHAT'S NEXT
Day 5 of the AAU Junior Olympics will feature the 2,000m steeplechase finals, a host of 800m timed finals and an array of field event finals, including the 17-18 boys shot put, the boys 13yo shot put, the 17-18 girls' and boys' triples jumps, and much more.
Related Links:
Catch every race from the AAU Junior Olympic Games