USATF Junior Nationals

The Weekly Notes appear on USA Track & Field's web site 

(http://www.usatf.org) and are prepared by USATF's media information staff 

of Pete Cava, Tom Surber and Glen McMicken, who can be reached at 317-261-0500.  

Special thanks to Hal Bateman for his contributions.  The Weekly Notes are 

produced using Xerox Document processing equipment.  Also assisting with 

this special edition of the Weekly Notes were Carol Swenson and Dan O'Brien

of USATF's press box crew.  





             USA JUNIOR TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS

RALPH KORTE STADIUM - SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY-EDWARDSVILLE

                     EDWARDSVILLE, ILLINOIS

                    SATURDAY, JUNE 27, 1998

                                

     Stanford University freshman Gabriel Jennings and Tory Mitchell, a 

Texas high school junior, celebrated double victories Saturday on the 

final day of the USA Junior Track and Field Championships at Southern 

Illinois University-Edwardsville, while Kendra Reimer and Tracy

O'Hara set national high school records.    

     Jennings registered wins in the 1500 and 5000m --- an unprecedented 

feat in the 27-year history of the Junior Championships, made even more 

impressive considering his triumphs came just two hours and 15 minutes 

apart, and in stifling heat.    

     Mitchell, from Big Spring High School, claimed the 200 meter title 

after winning the 100 meter title Friday.  He became the first 100/200m 

doubler at the Junior Championships in seven years.  

     Jennings, the Stanford freshman who placed second in last year's 

1500m, was the class of this year's field.  His long black hair flowing 

behind him, Jennings finished in 3:46.86, leaving Steven Barrus and Andy 

Powell to battle it out for the runnerup spot and the final berth on the

U.S. junior squad.  Barrus, from BYU, and Powell, only a junior at Oliver 

Ames School in the Boston suburb of North Easton, put on a burst of 

speeed about 20 meters from the finish.  Barrus got the nod by the barest 

of margins, 3:48.78 to 3:48.80, as the  exhausted Powell sprawled 

face-first onto the track.

     "I'm pleased with the way I ran today," was Jennings' assessment 

after the 1500m race.  "It's been a long season and I thought I was 

through last week [at the USA Championships in New Orleans, where he was 

6th at 800m).  I'm really happy to qualify for the trip to France.  I

wasn't expecting the rest of the field to push me as hard as they did, 

and I needed that."

     Jennings, one of several outstanding middle distance prospects 

assembled by Stanford coach Vin Lananna, expressed some surprise over the 

twin triumphs.  "Knowing that I've already run a 1500 tonight, these guys 

should've taken it out a lot harder," he said.  "This felt like a

training run.  At this pace, I knew at the end of the first lap that this 

race was mine."

     The smooth-striding Jennings hung back most of the way, taking over 

the lead from Ryan Andrus of Wisconsin with a little more than 200m to 

go.  Jennings kept pulling away on the homestretch, finishing in 

14:48.03.  Andrus was second in 14:53.50.   

     Like each of the top two finishers in most events at the two-day 

championships, Jennings and Mitchell qualified for the U.S. team that 

will travel to Annecy, France, for the World Junior Championships, July 

28-Aug. 2. 

     Jennings says he'll concentrate on the shorter distance at the world 

meet.  "I plan to only run the 1500 in France," he told reporters, "but 

if a spot opens up because no one has a qualifying mark, then I'll do 

what I can in the 5000m.  I think it's an impossible double, though." 

     Mitchell became the first man to win both sprint titles since 

Wendell Gaskin of Kansas City, Kans., in 1991.  The Texas 4A 100/200 

champ grabbed an early lead Saturday and held off a late charge by 

Tennessee's Russell Frye to finish first with a  wind-aided time of 

20.59.  Frye took second in 20.69.               

     "I decided to run real hard at the beginning of the race and let my 

strength carry me the

rest of the way," explained Mitchell.  "I felt confident that I could win 

this race.  Russell and I

have had some real good times coming into this meet.  I'm sure that we'll 

continue when we get

to France.  I'm confident we'll bring home some medals."   

     In the heptathlon, Kendra Reimer of New Braunfels (Texas) High 

School broke the 16-year-old national high school record and thwarted 

Ashley Bethel's attempt at back-to-back multi-event titles --- a feat 

last accomplished by reigning senior national champion Kelly Blair back in

1988-89.  

     Bethel, from Mission Viejo (Calif.) High School, led after the first 

day but couldn't keep up the pace in Saturday's competition.  Reimer, on 

the other hand, went 18-7 in the long jump and 140-0 in the javelin to 

take the lead going into the last event, the 800m.  The Texas A&M

recruit finished strongly, covering the final two laps in 2:19.38 ---  

the day's best performance. 

     Reimer, who improved on last year's fourth-place finish, scored 5412 

for a national high school record while New Braunfels teammate Jodi 

Anderson took second in 5198.  Bethel, who wasn't able to finish the 

800m, fell to 21st with a 4204 score.

     The performance shattered the national prep standard of 5237, set in 

1982 by Californian Sharon Hatfield.  "It feels great to set the record," 

beamed Reimer.  "I just thank the Lord for giving me the abilities.  And 

I thank my coach, Tim Hooker, who has stayed with me during the

good times and bad.  The girls in the field were awesome.  I knew they'd 

go out fast and push me in the 800.  They pushed me the whole way."    

     Tracy O'Hara was the day's other record-setter, vaulting 13-3 to 

dethrone 1997 winner Melissa Feinstein of Stanford, who finished second 

in 12-9.  O'Hara, from San Diego's Rancho Bernardo High School, bettered 

the national high school record of 13-2 set earlier this year by

Montana prep Shannon Agee. 

     "I was amazed," said an incredulous O'Hara.  "This wasn't expected.  

I've been trying for 13-2 1/2 in the last three meets and came up short.  

I think my determination finally paid off.  The competition helped, too . 

. . it helped a lot." 

     Turning in a world-best performance along the way, Dan Ryland of 

Arkansas State became the first repeat decathlon champion in the Junior 

Championships.  The 18-year-old freshman, who won last year's decathlon 

title as a senior at Buckeye High School in Deville, La., scored 7031 

points to defeat Michael Cvelbar of Kent State.  Cvelbar finished second 

with a 6727 point total.

     Ryland also recorded the world's best-ever decathlon junior 

(under-20) time in the 100 meters, a 10.59 in Friday's events.  

Traditionally, a final point total of 7000 or better validates the 

unofficial world junior records in any of the ten decathlon events.    

     Ryland, the first-day leader, dropped to second following Saturday's 

initial event, the 110 meter hurdles.  Marcell Allmond of St. Paul High 

School in Sante Fe Springs, Calif., the National Scholastic indoor 

multi-event champion, briefly took over the top spot with a 14.54

performance in the 110m hurdles.  The performance earned Allmond a 

whopping 906 points and temporarily gave him a 64-point lead over Ryland, 

4624 to 4560.  

     Ryland grabbed back the lead after the seventh event, the discus, 

and got a gift when Allmond failed to clear a height in the pole vault.  

Ryland's second-day marks were 15.71 for the 110m hurdles, 116-4 for the 

discus, 13-3 for the pole vault, 152-3 for the javelin and 4:32.01 for

the 1500m, good for a total of 3237 points.  

     It was an impressive performance, especially since Ryland suffered a 

stress fracture in mid-March.  "I lost a lot of my base and I have some 

technical things I need to work on," he said.

     The tall blond complained about how he "messed up in the pole 

vault," but said his javelin performance put him in position for a 

7000-point performance.  Ryland expressed his appreciation for the 

officials ("they were all pulling for me to break 7000," he explained), and to

Jeff Hartwig, his training partner in the vault.  Hartwig, who lives in 

Jonesboro, Ark., set an American record June 4 to become the first U.S. 

vaulter to clear 6 meters (19-8 1/4).  

     "Being able to train with Jeff has been great," Ryland added.  "He's 

a real inspiration, and he passed a pretty important milestone himself 

this year.  Now, my goal is to go to France and do well, and possibly 

break the American record."

     Current and future Stanford runners dominated the men's 800m.  Mark 

Hassell, a Cardinal frosh, won in 1:50.25, beating out Jon Stevens of 

Mission San Jose High School in Fremont, Calif.  Stevens, who'll enter 

Stanford this fall, settled for second in 1:50.48.  The California duo 

dethroned last year's national and Pan Am Junior champ, Moses Washington of

Carol City (Fla.) High School, who finished third in 1:50.73.  

     Hassell, who said he was "very confident" coming into the Junior 

Championships, credited his coach and his kick for the victory.  Coach 

Lananna told him before the final that no one in the race was better than 

him, "so it might as well be me who wins it," said Hassell.  

     Hassell says he's looking forward to returning to the Bay Area's 

cooler climate.  "The heat and humidity have been a shock to my system," 

he moaned.  "I made sure I drank a lot of water . . . now I'm sick of 

it."        

     The triple jump saw another 1997 champion dethroned as Christopher 

Hercules of Texas lost to Greg Yeldell of North Rowan High School in East 

Spencer, N.C.  A year ago, Hercules and Yeldell finished 2-3 at Junior 

Nationals.  This year Yeldell turned the tables on Hercules ---

winner of the long jump title in Saturday's action and hoping to become 

the first LJ/TJ double winner in Junior Championships history --- with a 

52-8 performance.  Hercules' best effort of the day was 52-6.  Both marks 

were wind-aided.   

     UCLA's Shakedia Jones, Friday's runnerup in the 100m final, won the 

200m title Saturday in a wind-aided time of 22.65.  Second was Myra Combs 

of LSU, winner of the long jump title Friday, in 23.03.

     The women's 800m title went to Lindsay Hyatt of Placer High School 

in Auburn, Calif.  Hyatt, who missed making the U.S. junior team last 

year when she finished third, won in 2:08.09, with Cara Cline of Liberty 

(Mo.) High School second in 2:10.08.  

     "It was a little windy and very humid today," said Hyatt, "and 

that's not what I'm used to.  I was very confident coming into this race, 

and I ran the way I usually do.  I took it out a little slower than 

usual, but it turned out okay."   

     Fifteen-year-old javelin prodigy Katy Polansky of South Eugene, 

Ore., High School became the youngest winner at the USA Junior 

Championships.  Polansky, a sophomore, threw 151-4 on her first attempt 

to easily defeat a field of upperclassmen and collegiate performers. 

Brianne Johnson, a senior from Harrisburg, Pa., High School, finished 

second with a throw of 143-8.  

     Polansky said she's happy about Saturday's victory, but won't make 

the trip to Annecy.  "I'm really pleased to win the national 

championship," said Polansky, who was last year's No. 5

U.S. prep as a freshman.  "I have a qualifying mark [for the World Junior 

Championships], but I won't be going to France.  We have a family 

gathering planned for Seattle.  We knew there was a conflict when we 

planned it, but I'm only 15 so, hopefully, there will be other trips."  

     Polansky said she plans to break away from the reunion long enough 

compete in the USA Junior Olympic Championships' intermediate (15-16) 

division.  The national Junior Olympic meet, for athletes in five age 

brackets from 10-and-under through 17-18 years of age, takes place

July 28-Aug. 2 at the University of Washington's Husky Stadium.      

     Polansky's defection could open the door for Mindy Romig of the 

University of Utah, who finished third in 142-3.  If Romig can make the 

World Junior Championships of 163-1 by June 30, she'll earn a berth on 

the American team roster.   

     Ron White, from College of the Siskiyous in Redding, Calif., won the 

javelin title by over 10 feet on his sixth and final attempt.  White, the 

California JUCO champion, threw 216-7 while Brian Kollar of First 

Colonial High School in Virginia Beach, Va., was second at 206-4. 

Kollar, who won the National Scholastic title last weekend in Raleigh, 

N.C., will compete for the U. of Virginia next season.

     "I knew I needed a real good throw to win," said an ebullient White, 

"but I wasn't sure I had it until the measurement.  I didn't think I 

would qualify [for the World Juniors].  It was all dirt until the last 

throw.  But it was a nice hot day, which made it good for throwing."

     Chris Dugan, a first-year man at North Carolina State, won the 

steeplechase in a sluggish 8:56.82 --- a creditable time, considering 

steamy temperatures that made passes through the water break seem like a 

luxury.  Earlier this season, Dugan moved in the  No. 5 spot on the 

all-time U.S. junior list with an 8:40.90.  Joining him on the U.S. 

junior team will be Ohio State's Ian Connor, the runnerup at 9:07.76.  

     Nakia Johnson joined Southern California Cheetahs track club 

teammate Angela Williams as a national junior champion.  Johnson, from 

Ayala High School in Chino Hills, Calif., finished first in 52.76. 

     "I really didn't expect to break away like I did," said Johnson. "I  

really didn't expect to break away like I did.  I was relaxed all the way 

around, but right now I'm nervous."  

     Second was Mikele Barber of Montclair (N.J.) High School in 53.12. 

     The men's 400m title went to Arizona State frosh Tony Berrian, who 

got out well on the first turn and hung on to win in 46.38.  Second in 

46.40 was Andrew Pierce of Ohio State, who improved on his 1997 third 

place finish.

     "All I wanted to do was hold my speed down on the stretch for the 

win," offered Berrian. I thought this race would be more competitive.  All I wanted to do was 

qualify for France.  I did it, and it feels great."  

     Almost unnoticed was the seventh-place finish by former world junior 

champion Obea Moore, a former California prep phenom who is trying to 

come back from a variety of physical ailments. 

     "Early in the race, as I was leaning into the first turn, I took a 

wrong step and my knee popped," Moore told reporters.  "I almost went out 

of my lane.  I knew I was done."   Moore, a 1997 graduate of John Muir 

High School in Pasadena, Calif., will reportedly enroll next semester

at Huston-Tillotson College, an NAIA school in Austin, Texas.     

     Lutisha Shittu, a Kentucky freshman by way of Wallace High School in 

Gary, Ind., claimed the women's 100m hurdles title in the day's closest 

finish.  Shittu ran a wind-aided 13.32, barely edging Daveetta Shepherd 

of DeAnza High School in Richmond, Calif., whose time was 13.33 

     Ohio State's Donica Merriman had led the race until she clipped the 

sixth hurdle.  The unfortunate Buckeye failed to clear the seventh, and 

failed to finish. 

     Todd Matthews of Notre Dame Academy in Lawrenceville, N.J., third in 

this meet last year, topped Sharif Paxton of L.A.'s Crenshaw High School 

in another squeaker for the men's 110m hurdles title.  Matthews' time was 

13.75 (aided by a 4.1 mps wind) while Paxton --- last year's fifth-place 

finisher --- was timed in 13.79.

     Two of the nation's top preps, Sheena Johnson of Gar-Field High 

School in Dale City, Va., and Jamillah Wade of Philadelphia's Penn High 

School, claimed the top two spots in the women's 400m hurles.  Johnson 

was first in 59.10, followed closely by Wade in 59.25.   

     The men's intermediate hurdles title went to Reggie DePass of 

Colorado, who won in 50.84.  Terrance Wilson of North Carolina was second 

51.36.  

     In the women's 1500m, Keisha Banks of James Madison U. took a lead 

on the backstretch and withstood furious charges by Michigan prep Bethany 

Brewster and Erin Sims of Pascagoula (Miss.) High School for the 

victory.  Banks finished in 4:32.31, with Brewster, from Williams High 

School in Freeland, Mich., a close second at 4:32.42.  Sims wound up 

third in 4:32.85.  

     Laura Heiner of Centerville High School, Clifton, Va., won the 

women's 3000m in 9:46.59.  Second was Sarah Ellis of BYU with a time of 

9:47.21

     Georgetown frosh Emily Enstice won the women's 10,000m handily in 

brutally hot conditions.  Enstice finished in 38:43.28, well ahead of 

runnerup Jordan Hoffert of North Dakota State, who clocked 41:18.96.  

Since the World Junior Championships doesn't include a women's

10,000, the event is the only one at the USA Junior Championships that 

didn't serve as a qualifier for Annecy. 

     A couple of Midwesterners, Lisa Griebel of Iowa State and Krista 

Keir of Westerville (Ohio) High School, grabbed the top two spots in the 

shot put.  Griebel, second at this year's Big 12 Conference meet, had a 

mark of 50-10 3/4.  Keir, who'll compete next year for Indiana U.,

improved on her 1997 third-place finish with a 48-6 3/4 effort.  

     High school athletes dominated the men's shot put.  Chris Sprague of 

South Eugene (Ore.) High won with a heave of 58-1 3/4.  Second was Van 

Mounts of Bakersfield (Calif.) High was the runnerup at 57-8 1/4.  

Sprague and Mounts will both compete in the Pac-10 next season; 

Sprague's headed for Stanford, while Mounts will attend USC.

     The top two spots in the women's triple jump went to prep athletes 

from opposite coasts. Yolanda Thompson of West Potomac High School, 

Alexandria, Va., won with a windy mark of 42-4.  Second was Brianna Glenn 

of La Mirada (Calif.) High, who had a wind-aided 41-7.   

     James Carr of Courtland High School in Fredericksburg, Va., soared 

7-1 1/2 to win the high jump.  Indiana prep champ Lamar Johnson of North 

Central High School in Indianapolis was second at 7-0 1/4.

     In Saturday's preliminary rounds

     Men's 200m heats:  Tory Mitchell, the winner of Friday's 100m final, 

led the way into the 200m final with the fastest qualifying time, a 

wind-aided 20.69.  Tennessee's Russell Frye also dipped under 21 seconds 

in winning the 3rd heat in a windy 20.77. 

     Women's 200m heats:  With 36 entries, meet officials ran 5 heats 

with winners plus the next 3 fastest performers advancing to the final.  

Heat winners were Shakedia Jones of UCLA --- runnerup in Friday's 100m 

final --- at 23.15;  Myra Combs of LSU in 23.29;  Crystal Cox of

North Carolina in 23.04;  Baylor's Ssereta Lafayette in 23.73 (the only 

mark of the heats not aided by wind);  and LaShauntea Moore of Akron, 

Ohio, in 24.05.