6/22-28 Notables

• 16 new #1s, but ...  As expected, there was a healthy bunch of new national leaders this weekend at the USATF Junior meet in Eugene, but the legal lists for traditional high school events didn't change much.  Of those 16 marks, half of them came in events with "Junior" implements, or were wind-aided sprints, hurdles or jumps.  Not that there's anything wrong with that ...
• King Marquise  With a resume of championships that includes an NON title as a soph and a World Junior crown last year, Marquise Goodwin TX has gradually earned the reputation as one of the great prep jumpers ever, particularly as a clutch competitor.  Each of the past two seasons, however, he'd found his PR marks always followed by that pesky "w," indicating more than allowable wind for record and all-time list purposes.  But Saturday, with the inspiration of the country's elite pros around him, he found a calm stretch of atmosphere and leapt like never before - all the way out to a USR 26-10 - and no "w" this time, just a 1.3 that ensured his spot at the top of the all-time list.  In replacing Dion Bentley (and passing none other than #2 Carl Lewis), Goodwin took down one of the great records and finally has a mark truly befitting his competitive record.
• Securing their legacies  With their performances at Juniors, three of this year's very best seniors - already with great accomplishments under their belts - ensured that we will be talking about them for a long time to come
  
  • Wayne Davis II NC - Although he was NON and World Youth champ in the 110 hurdles in 2007, Davis entered June with a career resume from the past two years much more heavily weighted toward his indoor accomplishments than what he'd done outdoors.  Not any more.  With victories at NON and USATF Juniors the past two weeks, including two legal sub-13:40s and a windy 13.16, Davis has taken over both #1s and firmly established himself in the all-time top five greats.  Given a few more weeks, he could probably challenge the USR
  • Chalonda Goodman GA - With her 100 and 200 victories at Juniors, Goodman has completed the rare single-year NON/USATF Jrs. double sweep, and added two more titles to a career that already featured eight Nike crowns, indoors and out.  With her 11.17w and 22.74w, she made deep inroads to the all-conditions all-time lists, and established firm hold on the four windy and wind-legal US#1 100 and 200 marks
  • Mason Finley CO - Finley already had made quite an impact this spring as the USR-setter in the discus and breaking the 70-foot barrier in the shot.  But the past two weeks have definitely made his season more memorable: First, the double at NON, including winning Clash of the 70-Footers shot put.  Then, the twin records at USATF Juniors with the junior implements.  He nearly pulled off the double win, too, losing only to collegian Jordan Clarke in the shot, himself a 71-footer as a prep last spring
• Home of fast steeples  If you want to run a fast 3k steeple, you'd better toe the line in Eugene - or wherever the USATF Juniors are being held in a given year.  Joe Whelen's 9:09.97 Sunday in Eugene marked the sixth consecutive year the US#1 for that event has been clocked at Juniors.
  
• US#1 revisions, part 1  One of the "new" marks on the lists this week is actually an old one.  A 1:24.76 4x200 by DeSoto TX has been confirmed as having been hand-timed and/or misrecorded.  Thus, the US#1 in that event goes to New Bern NC (Track EC) for their 1:25.20 4x200 at Nike Outdoor Nationals
• US#1 revisions, part 2  An 11.09 nwi 100 meter clocking previously listed for Octavious Freeman FL has been found to have been hand-timed.  Chalonda Goodman's 11.17w from USATF Juniors last weekend thus fills the new top spot for non-legal 100 performances