USATF Junior National Outdoor T&F Championships 2014

Tennessee’s Harrison Williams considers his mental approach to the decathlon his strength. The recent Memphis University School graduate demonstrated his ability to remain focused to the task at hand during last week’s USATF Junior National Championships (June 27-29) in Sacramento, Calif., held separately from this weekend’s meet in Eugene, Ore.

With the USATF Junior National Outdoor Track & Field Championships approaching (July 5th & 6th at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon) and Team USA spots on the line for the IAAF World Junior Championships, it would be a good time to see who are the top potential contenders for spots to make the team. Jim Spier, executive director for the NSAF and meet director for the New Balance Nationals, regularly maintains lists throughout the season of the top performances for junior age and eligible athletes. 

There will be plenty for Colorado to cheer for when the USA Junior Nationals convene in Eugene on July 5.

Young stars made strong impressions in the junior multi-events during the opening day of USATF Outdoor Championships at Hornet Stadium on the campus of Sacramento State University Wednesday.

Gabe Moore calls his second place finish at the USA Championships in Sacramento "his biggest accomplishment ever". Moore (on the right with decathlon champion Harrison Williams) recently graduated from Freeport High School finished second in the decathlon and punched his ticket to the IAAFWorld Junior Championships July 5th-6th at historic Hayward Field in Eugene Oregon. He says the competition this weekend was simply amazing.

For many athletes the opportunity to represent your country and wear the red, white, and blue is a dream. For several Florida speedsters the opportunity could be reality if they are able to finish in the top two at this weekend's USATF Junior National Championships at historic Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon. Trayvon Bromell, the Gibbs High School alumni, and current Baylor freshman is the top seed in the 100 meter dash and comes in as the NCAA Champion in that event. Class of 2014 sprinter and FSU signee Kendal Williams is the fifth seed in the 100 and second fastest in the 200 meter dash while East Ridge rising junior Kaylin Whitney has the second fastest time in the girl's 100.      

Current entries for the 2014 USATF Junior National Outdoor Track & Field Championships as of Monday, June 30th 11:00 AM ET.  The fields are shaping up to be very competitive with the top high school upperclassmen and college freshmen from this past outdoor season competing for Team USA spots on the IAAF World Junior Championships squad.

Trials will be held on Saturday and Sunday at Hayward Field.

What is required to make the 2014 IAAF World Championships squad for Team USA below! Find out here with the USATF Junior National Outdoor Track & Field Championships approaching as the sole qualifier meet for World Juniors, which will be for the first time held on US soil at the University of Oregon's Hayward Field in late July.

Kim Batten considers one of her protégés, recent New Balance National Outdoor 400m IH champion Kenny Selmon of Pace Academy, Ga., among a very small group that have potential to match the excellence of past great U.S. Olympians and his consistency to never break stride in the demanding race.

Burke alumna Raven Saunders, indoor and outdoor national record holder, is competing Saturday in the shot put at the USATF Junior Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene. 

Preview of the men's and women's 100 meter dash for the 2014 USATF Junior National Outdoor Track & Field Championships, a qualifier for the IAAF World Junior Championships to be held later this month back at Hayward Field in Eugene.

Previews for the women's 3K and men's 5K races slated for Saturday evening at the US Junior Nationals in Eugene.

Top entrants of the field events being held on day one (Saturday) of the 2014 USATF Junior National Track & Field Championships. Event previews to be posted later today.

MileSplit will be on-site at the USATF Junior Nationals with photo and video interview coverage from the two days of competition on Saturday, July 5th and Sunday, July 6th to determine this year's IAAF World Junior Championship team for the United States, which will be held at the same venue of Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon at the end of the month. Check back on the site each day for highlights and updates. 

By her high standards, heptathlete Ashlee Moore didn’t have her best outing at the Great Southwest Classic in early June. The recent graduate of Hamilton High, Az., wasn’t exactly pleased with her performance last week at the USATF Junior National Outdoor Track & Field Championships, either. One could only imagine what would happen when she does get it all together?

Preview of the men's and women's 400 meter hurdles for the 2014 USATF Junior National Outdoor Track & Field Championships, a qualifier for the IAAF World Junior Championships to be held later this month back at Hayward Field in Eugene.

Live twitter updates throughout the weekend (July 5th & 6th) from Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon from the 2014 USATF Junior National Outdoor Track & Field Championships, which is the qualifier meet for the 2014 IAAF World Junior Championships to be held July 22nd through July 27th for the first time on American soil back at Hayward Field.

A list and table of winners from the US Junior Nationals and qualifiers for the World Junior Championships. Top 2 advance to World Juniors as long as they meet the IAAF meet qualifying standards.

Burke graduate Raven Saunders continued her winning season by capturing the shot put title at the USATF Championships. Saunders had a best of 55 feet, 10.25 inches. 

Post-race video interview with Mary Cain after winning the US Junior National title in the women's 3K with a time of 9:15. Cain is using the upcoming World Junior Championships to test her range at the 3,000 meter distance and see if she can compete with the top juniors in the world in the event.

Video interview with sophomore Kaylin Whitney following setting the high school national record and winning the US Junior Nationals title in the process with a 11.10 clocking on Saturday at Hayward Field in Eugene. Next up for Whitney is a chance to become a World Junior champion later this month back in Eugene.

Talk about a drastic change and swing of emotions. Trentavis Friday experienced a complete whirlwind of highs and lows for day one of the USATF Junior Nationals in Eugene, Oregon. After setting the national record in the prelims of the 100 meter dash with a sizzling 10.00 performance, Friday then was disqualified from the finals with a false start and unable to earn a spot on the World Junior team in the event.

Arizona had 3 pole vaulters competeing at the USATF Junior National Champions.

Former Butler great Tretez Kinnaird won the USATF Junior National Championship in Eugene in 1:48.01 in the 800m Run.

At just 15 years old she may be too young to make world juniors but Sydney McLaughlin is doing everything she can to show she belongs there!

The Sunshine State showed out on day one of the USATF Junior National Championships.  Kaylin Whitney posts a new world junior leading 11.10, while the boys go 1-2 with Bromell and Williams earning a spot on Team USA. Teahna Daniels and Terry Jernigan impressive runs should propel them to relay berths.

Former high school stars Charlie Ionata (Barrington) and Clarence Gallop (Central) finish 1-2 at elite meet. Two Rhode Islanders earn berth to IAAF World Youth Championships

The Cherryville graduate, bound for Florida State, recovered from bitter disappointment Saturday to claim a spot in World Juniors (photo by TracktownPhoto).

If you are  East Ridge sophomore Kaylin Whitney and you run a world junior leading and all-time US#1 in the 100, what do you do for an encore? The answer; just run a world junior best, world youth best, and US#2 all-time all-conditions mark of 22.49 the following day! Her 200 meter time is second only to Allyson Felix's mark of 22.11 set in Mexico City in 2003. So how would that stack up against the professionals? 22.49 is currently the 8th fastest time by ANYONE in the world this year (not including wind-aided times).