Ryann Krais will leave her Pennsylvania prep career with two outdoor state records, a remarkable 57.20 in the 400 hurdles that broke the previous mark by future teammate, and now world class hurdler Nicole Leach (West Catholic).... and her 41.20 300 hurdles set earlier this summer at the Great Southwest Classic in New Mexico. But Krais also holds two of the top five all-time prep performances in the heptathlon - #2 of 5522, also set at Great Southwest, and #5 of 5457 set at this month's IAAF World Junior Championships in Poland. Those who know Ryann, know she is as gracious in victory as she is when the occasional disappointment strikes. And in true Krais form, she was gracious enough to take time after a whirlwind summer jetting and competing from Albuquerque, NM; to Columbus, OH; to Eugene, OR; to Bydgoszcz, Poland... to share her throughts on her final competitions. Ryann Krais' career stats
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With all the athletes home safe and sound after competing in the World Junior T&F Championships this past week, we take a look back at the top performances by prep athletes in the competition. While performances were abundant, we single out the top eight, led by none other than new national high school hammer throw record holder Conor McCullough (CA) (pictured right by Joy Kamani of NationalScholastic.org). We break down performances and discuss their significance, as the track and field season nears the finish line. MileSplit Daily Coverage - Day: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 IAAF Official Meet Website NSSF/Joy Kamani Photo Gallery
The final day of the IAAF World Junior Track and Field Championships came and went Sunday, as Team USA wrapped up a successful week. Two prep athletes stood out amongst the crowd during the final day. Hurdle sensation Booker Nunley (pictured left by Joy Kamani of NationalScholastic.org) showed his strength and speed, capturing a silver medal in the men's 110m hurdles. Meanwhile, Jordan Hasay continued her post-season success by placing fourth in the women's 1,500m. Read what else took place on the final day. Jim Spier Blog (NSSF) / Joy Kamani Photo Gallery (NSSF) Official Website / Day Six Results World Junior Sunday Highlights - Booker Nunley (NC) earns silver in men's 110m hurdles, 13.45 - Jordan Hasay (CA) fourth in women's 1,500m run final, 4:19.02 - Anna Jelmini (CA) earns a ninth place finish in women's discus - Lanie Whittaker (FL) & Erica Alexander (TX) guide 4x4 to victory
Day four had Team USA looking good with numerous medals and some great preliminary results from some of the top high school athletes in the land. Leading the way were Rachel Laurent (LA) and Ryann Krais (PA)(pictured left by Joy Kamani of NationalScholastic.org), both coming up big in their respective competitions. Laurent placed fourth overall in the women's pole vault final, nearly eclipsing 14 feet, soaring over 13-11.25. Meanwhile, Krais finished well on day one of the women's heptathlon, finishing the day in sixth place. Day two takes place Saturday. Jim Spier Blog (NSSF) / Joy Kamani Photo Gallery (NSSF) Official Website World Junior Friday Results - Rachel Laurent (LA) clears 13-11.25 in women's PV, fourth overall - Ryann Krais (PA) finishes with 3345 during day one of competition - Christian Taylor (GA) places eighth in men's TJ final with 51-02.50 - Leslie Brost (SD) finishes eighth in women's PV final with 13-05.50 - Jordan Hasay (CA) qualifies for final in women's 1500m with 4:20.82
Walter Henning, Conor McCullough place 1-2 in Hammer Walter Henning, the St. Anthony's, NY graduate won the World Junior Champs Gold Medal by besting Armory record holder Conor McCullough. Henning won with a toss of 252-04 while McCullough was second on 248-11. Henning dominated the weight throw here at The Armory for years, taking the event to new distances and inspiring The Armory to extend their indoor throwing circle to 95 feet to accommodate him. McCullough then came to NY the year after Henning graduated and broke his HS National record and Armory record. Photo Joy Kamani for NSSF. MILESPLIT MEET HOMEPAGE
Wow! What a day it was for Team USA on the fifth day of the World Junior T&F Championships. Leading the way on Saturday was Conor McCullough (CA) (pictured right courtesy of Joy Kamani of NationalScholastic.org), earning silver in the men's hammer throw. The California junior threw a best of 248-11.50. McCullough's performance led a total medal count of five on the day for the US squad, including four gold. Other top prep performers were Laurynne Chetelat (CA) in the women's 3k, Ryann Krais (PA) in the women's heptathlon and Booker Nunley (NC) in the men's 110m hurdles. See what else took place on the second to last day. Jim Spier Blog (NSSF) / Joy Kamani Photo Gallery (NSSF) Official Website / Day Five Results World Junior Saturday Performances - Conor McCullough (CA) earns silver in men's hammer throw - Laurynne Chetelat (CA) sixth in women's 3,000m, 9:15.11 - Ryann Krais (PA) ninth in heptathlon with 5457 pts., U.S.#5 all-time - Booker Nunley (NC) wins semi-final 110m hurdle heat in 13.55 - Marquise Goodwin (TX) helps Team USA win men's 4x100m relay
What an exciting day the third day of the IAAF World Junior T&F Championships were. Team USA impressed across the board, including the six preps that took part in Thursday's action. Leading the way on the women's side was Florida junior Lanie Whittaker(pictured right by Joy Kamani of NationalScholastic.org), placing seventh in the women's 400m dash final. On the men's side, California junior Conor McCullough topped his group in the men's hammer throw and heads into the final with the third best mark. Prep stars Shanay Briscoe (TX), Christian Taylor (GA), Vashti Thomas (CA) and Ashton Purvis (CA) also competed. **USATF Summaries: AM / Jim Spier Blog (NSSF) **Joy Kamani Photo Gallery (NSSF) / Official Website World Junior Thursday Highlights - Lanie Whittaker (FL) seventh in women's 400m final, 53.98 - Conor McCullough (CA) throws 238-11 in men's hammer throw prelim - Shanay Briscoe (TX) leaps 5-10 to finish tenth in women's high jump - Christian Taylor (GA) advances in men's triple jump with 51-05 leap
Lanie Whittaker, a rising senior at Miami Washington, is the lone Florida high schooler competing at World Junior Nationals in Poland. Qualifying for the finals against the best junior athlete in the world, she finished seventh with a time of 53.98. She has one last event to compete in before her Eurpoean adventure is complete. She will be running along side her teammates in the 4x400 Meter Relay in their quest for the gold. Our national portal, MileSplit US, has been keeping up with all of the American high schoolers competing at World Juniors. Photo by Joy Kamani of NSSF
The IAAF World Junior Track and Field Championships kicked off Tuesday in Poland and Team USA responded with some solid results. With only two finals taking place on the first day of competition, most of the events were prelims. Leading the prep contingent at Worlds were long jumpers Marquise Goodwin (Rowlett, TX) and Christian Taylor (Sandy Creek, GA), who finished the prelims with the second and third best marks on the day. See who else performed well on day one, as we bring you highlights and results all week long. Day One Results World Junior Day One Highlights - Christian Taylor (GA) leaps 25-0.25 in men's long jump prelim - Marquise Goodwin (TX) soars 24-11.25 in men's long jump prelim - Shanay Briscoe (TX) leaps 5-11.25 in women's high jump prelim - Elijah Greer (OR) advances in men's 800m with 1:50.73 effort
On day two of the IAAF World Junior T&F Championships, Team USA followed the lead of junior Marquise Goodwin (Rowlett, TX) (pictured left by Joy Kamani of NationalScholastic.org), who won the men's long jump with a mark of 25-04.75. Goodwin dominated his competition, setting his top mark of the first attempt of the day. Elsewhere, Leslie Brost (SD) and Rachel Laurent (LA) qualified for the women's pole vault final, while Christian Taylor (GA) placed seventh in the men's long jump in 24-03.75, and Lanie Whittaker (FL) advanced to the women's 400m dash final with a 53.61 performance. **USATF Summaries: AM - PM / Jim Spier Blog (NSSF) **Joy Kamani Photo Gallery (NSSF) / Official Website World Junior Day Two Highlights - Marquise Goodwin (TX) wins men's long jump final in 25-04.75 - Christian Taylor (GA) places seventh in men's LJ final in 24-03.75 - Rachel Laurent (LA) & Leslie Brost (SD) qualify for women's PV final - Lanie Whittaker (FL) earns spot in women's 400m final in 53.61 - Donn Cabral (CT) runs 30:47.55 in men's 10,000m final, finished 17th
Lanie Whittaker qualified through the 400 meter semi-finals today at the World Junior Championship in Poland. Her time of 53.61 puts her through to the finals tomorrow (Thursday, July 10). She will face some tough competition, going against the best junior runners in the world, and enters the finals as the seventh seed. She is one of two Americans in the finals, USA teammate Jessica Beard of Texas A&M is the second seed going into the finals. Lanie is also the youngest athlete in the finals. Most of the other athletes are college-aged and around two years older than the Miami Washington rising senior. Good luck, Lanie!
The United Age Group Track Coaches Association meet July 11-13 at Northeast HS in Philadelphia, saw representation from 65 U.S. clubs and four other countries. Complete results are posted, along with Day Two & Three Photo Gallery. The UAGTCA Meet wrap-up by Association founder and meet director, Ron Jackson At the IAAF World Junior Championships in Poland, On day Five, Ryann Krais finished with the #5 all-time US heptathlon with 5457 points following an 18-9.75 long jump (765 points), 104-07 javelin (512 points), and 2:19.15 800 (835 points). And Joe Berry, (Hatboro-Horsham 2007) cleared 16-8.75 to finish in a tie for 7th. He came in at 16-4.75, clearing on his first attempt; cleared his best height on the 2nd attempt, and then missed three at 17-00.75. On Day Four, Ryann Krais started with a 13.73 100 hurdles, and a 5-7.75 high jump, putting her 17 points ahead of the pace she set in June at Great Southwest when she was just shy of the USR in the heptathlon. She finished her first day in 6th place following a PR in the shot put of 34-7.75 for 566 points, which put her 34 points ahead of pace; but then fell 34 points off record pace with a 25.04 200 in the first heat for 883 points. The fastest four women on the day were in the final heat. On Day Three, Tennessee rising sophomore and USATF Juniors champ Joe Berry (Hatboro-Horsham 2007) advanced to the finals of the pole vault, clearing 16-8.75. Fellow Juniors champ Karlee McQuillen, a rising sophomore at Penn State (Westmont Hilltop 2007), was 14th in the qualifying round on Day One, throwing 163-03.50. She did not advance to the finals. (Left: Shaniel Chambers, Chester (AJs Elite) won the YW 800 - by Don Rich)