Jul-Aug: Youth Girls spark UAG 800|Medals @ Pan-Am|Futch, Firestone, Broadwater Champs-Futch PA AT
If a recent showing at the AAU Junior Olympic Games in New Orleans is any indication of things to come, then the future of South Florida runners is very bright. American Heritage seventh grader Daesha Rogers set a new age group record in the 800 with her time of 2:13.30 and won the 1500 meters as well. The boys of the Miami Gardens XPress Track Club cleaned up the award stand finishing 1-4 in the quarter and winning the 4x1, 4x4, and 4x8.
The eighth and final day of the AAU Junior Olympic Games includes the finals of the 100, 200, and 400 meter dash as well as All-Star club relays in the 4x100 and 4x400. 2011 Group AAA 400 meter state runner-up Kenneth Wilson of Woodrow Wilson posted a time of 48.49 in the finals of the young men division, which placed him fifth for All-American honors. More highlights...
On the 7th day of the AAU Junior Olympics held at Tad Gormley Stadium in New Orleans, LA, Aislyn Hayman competing unattached brought home the 7th WV medal at the games by placing 7th in the girls discus in the midget division with a throw of 77' 04". The 12 year old Hayman is a resident of Leon, WV. Tomorrow brings the conclusion of this prestigious national meet. Many medals are left to be awarded as finals of numerous events will be held.
Briar Woods rising senior Shaquera Leach continues to drop her 400 meter time over the summer. Leach had never broken 58 seconds until the AA State Championships in June and in only two months, she is now knocking on the door of breaking 55 seconds. Leach, who broke 56 seconds in late July at the Russell Blunt Invite for the first time late last month, put together an exceptional preliminary race in New Orleans to roll out another impressive PR at 55.05. Leach will the second fastest qualifier in the finals.
Photo by Patty Morgan for PennTrackXC.com
Rising Hurricane freshman Lauren London and Brian Powell of Dunbar each earned 5th place medals on day six of eight at the AAU Track and Field Junior Olympic games. The 14 year old London competing in the youth division cleared a personal best of 10' 6" in the pole vault. This was 1' higher than 9' 6" she vaulted at the WV AAU championships. The winning vault of 11' 6" was by Meagan Gray of Kyle, TX. Allie Perry of Scott Depot also competed and finished 12th clearing 8' 6". Powell a rising sophomore from South Charleston High School and competing in the high jump in the intermediate division (15-16 yr. olds) cleared a personal best 6' 2" to bring home the 6th medal to be earned by West Virginia athletes. Powell has not competed in track and field for South Charleston, but his jump was the 8th best mark by a high school boy in the state.
Indian River rising senior Shannon Morton (pictured by Ryan Kelly) chopped 5 seconds off her 1500 meter best to win the AAU age group national title in the young women's division with a performance of 4:39.47. Morton had a late start to her track season due to a stress fracture in cross country, but has finished her junior year off strong as an AAU national champion. Morton also posted a 800 meter PR in June at the AAA State Championships with a 6th place time of 2:13.21. Morton may be featured in the mile more in her senior year after her AAU performance, which converts to a 1600 meter time of 4:59. Read more highlights...
Who is Nichelle Scott? A bunch of people may be asking that question seeing the results from the intermediate girls' 800 meter run finals at the AAU Junior Olympic Games, which has a 2:14 national age group runner-up from Chesterfield, Virginia. We actually caught a small glimpse of Scott's talents in the fall running cross country as a freshmen for L.C. Bird High School when she placed 9th in an always competitive girls' race at the Dominion District Championships (pictured above by John Herzog leading the entire field early). Read more highlights from day 5 at AAU JO's (more to come as well)...
Day 4 highlights of Virginians at the 2011 AAU Junior Olympic Games in New Orleans. Advancing onto the finals of the intermediate girls' 100 meter hurdles will be two of Virginia's best young talents in the hurdles between Hampton rising sophomore Chantel Ray and Landstown rising junior Leah Lott. Read more AAU JO day 4 highlights...
Nine year old Noah Castro from Scott Depot, West Virginia placed 4th in the 1500m in 5:23.65 in the sub-bantam division at the AAU Junior Olympic games held at Tad Gormley Stadium in New Orleans today. The winner was nine year old Brandon Miller from Ofallon, Missouri in a blistering 4:58.95. Castro also finished 12th in the 800m run in 2:36.80. Ramone Garnett of Charleston took 4th in the 13 year old boys shot put with a personnel best of 42’ 3”. Garnett also finished 10th in the Javelin throwing 93’4”.
Preliminary rounds of several running events at the AAU Junior Olympic Games on Monday saw a considerable group of Virginians advancing onto the finals including sub 4:20 miler and rising senior Marquis Worsley (pictured above by John Herzog) of Norview, who squeaked into the finals as the 11th fastest qualifier of 12 finalists in the young men's 800. Worsley will get the opportunity to improve his position in the finals after his preliminary time of 1:57.26. Worsley has a season best time of 1:55.68 from the Eastern Region Championships in May. Read more highlights from day 3 at AAU JO's...
Godwin at the WV State Championship - photo by Lance McDaniel Emily Godwin, a sophomore, from Buckhannon-Upshur earned her 2nd silver medal in as many days at the USA AAU Junior Olympics at Tad Gormley Stadium in New Orleans, La. Competing in the intermediate girls age division Godwin cleared 5' 8" in the high jump to take 2nd place out of 65 competitors. Kendall Williams of Kennesaw, Ga won her 2nd gold medal by clearing the bar at 5' 10". The winning height equaled Godwin's best jump of the year when Godwin cleared 5' 10" at a Lewis County meet for the 5th best mark in the U.S. for a high school athlete. Godwin, the WVRunners female athlete of the year, is compiling quite a resume.
The AAU Junior Olympic Games are currently being held this week in New Orleans with several top Virginian preps competing as well as certainly many of tomorrow's high school stars being showcased in the younger age groups. AAU is providing a live webcast as well as on-demand video replays on their website. AAU Live Webcast/On-Demand Video - Live Results - Official Meet Website - MileSplit Meet Page & Coverage
Godwin at the WV State Meet - Photo by Lance McDaniel PRESS RELEASE Capital City Striders, Inc. 501 C (3) Non Profit P O Box1243 Charleston, WV 25325 August 1, 2011 AAU National Championships Tad Gormley Stadium New Orleans LA After the second day of competition in the Girls 15-16 Heptathlon Capital City Strider Emily Godwin of Buchannon, WV holds on to a second place finish behind World Youth team member Kendall Williams of Kinnesaw, GA. Ms. Williams broke the AAU National Points Record scoring 5170. Godwin had 4474 points in her second heptathlon of the year finishing ahead of third place finisher Gabrielea Williams of Sparks,NV, who scored 4315. Sunday Godwin threw the Javelin 64’ 11”, Long Jumped 16” 10” and completed the 800 M run in 2:31.11. Saturday Godwin ran the 100 H in 15.55, Shot Put 29’ 8”, High Jump a winning 5’ 8 ¾” and ran a personal best 26.43 in the 200M. With the heptathlon over, Emily has one more event, the high jump, on Monday before returning to Buchannon. (more)