A look at the
Americans on the eve With the World Junior
Track and Field Championships to be held during the six days of August
15th-20th you may say, what are we doing still running track. Well,
that is how it goes in some of the rest of the world, with the summer
season sometimes stretching very close to the start of our August-September
schooling. A natural question that comes to your mind about athletes
involved in this meet, some of whom have been going very hard since
the start of cross-country, almost a year ago, or at least for many
at the Collegiate level not in the distances, since the winter indoor
season as early as December, if they have any emotional energy left
in mid-August. We have been pleasantly surprised in the past how folks
have done, but certainly have to be very forgiving of any athlete who
may seem to let down a tad given the length of the operation over the
last year–there is only so much emotional energy in the well.
WOMEN 200—Gabriella Mayo is the world leader at 22.88 and is the slight favorite over Tezdzhan Niamova and Schillonie Calvert, who have run 23.06 and 23.14 respectively. Bianca Knight of Ridgeland High in Mississippi, who won the 100 and was second in the 200 at the World Youth Championship, finished second to Mayo at the Junior Nationals and was a very solid medal threat but pulled a muscle in Eugene last Tuesday and will miss the meet. Taking her place will be Jennifer Tarmoh of Mt Pleasant High in San Jose and based upon her 23.14 time in finishing third at the Junior Nationals should find herself in the medal hunt. Anasthasia Leroy of Jamaica (what a surprise) should also contend for a medal. Sheniqua Ferguson of Bahamas, the Carifta Games Champion at 23.44, is a dark horse. World Youth Champion Aymee Martinez of Cuba is not entered. 400—Sonita Sutherland of Jamaica was second in 2004 World Junior Championships and with the top four times in the world headed by a 51.13, is solid favorite. Close behind is teammate Kaliese Spencer at 51.56. Between the two women they have eight of the nine fastest times in the world this year. However, Nawal El-Jak of Sudan, with a best of just 52.73 this year, came out of nowhere last year to win the World Youth Title in 51.19. Can she do it again? Second in that race was Danijela Grgic of Croatia at 51.30. If any of the four falter look for American’s Jessica Beard of Euclid, who closes with a rush, and Brandi Cross, who finished fifth at the World Youth Championships, to be right in the medal hunt. Beard, at 51.89 and Cross, at 51.96 set personal bests in the U.S. Junior Championships. 800—No American has ever reached the final let alone win a metal but that string should end at these championships. Rebekah Noble, the freshman NCAA champion in from Oregon, is the world leader at 2:02.07 and with her blazing finish should earn the U.S. its first ever medal. After that Europe takes over with Nataliya Lupu of Ukraine, at 2:03.24 but a best of 2:02.66 in 2004, Aleksandra Uvarova of Russia at 2:03.93 and Annett Horna of Germany at 2:03.94. Shannon Leinert of Missouri, ran a personal best of 2:05.80 in finishing second at the U.S. Juniors and will be looking to make the semifinals. 1,500—Yuriko Kobayashi of Japan, second in last years World Youth Championships, is the world leader at 4:07.87, but Emebet Etea Bedada of Ethiopia (4:10.48), Irene Jelagat of Kenya (4:10.5), Yuan Jin of China (4:11.66), Christina Vasiloiu of Romania (4:12.01) and Irene Jelagat of Kenya (4:12.36) will provide plenty of competition. American’s Danielle Tauro of Southern Regional High School in Manahawkin, N.J. and Erin Bedell of Baylor, both possess good closing speed could make the semifinals and one just might sneak into the final. 3,000—The U.S. has no entrants here but that might not have made a whole lot of difference with the domina nce of the African nations. This race will be a straight final with just 16 entrants. Normally there are 15 qualifiers for the final but it seems highly unlikely they would run two heats to eliminate one person. Pauline Korikwiang of Kenya, the World Youth champion, has a solid lead by time at 8:42.38 but look out for Belanynesh Fikadu of Ethiopia, whose best is just (?) 9:00.45, to make things close between the two heated continental rivals. Liwei Song of China, Sayuri Sendo of Japan and Viktoria Ivanova of Russia should contend for the Bronze medal. 5,000—Another race which will be a straight final with just 15 entrants. This time it is Ethiopia with the advantage--Workitu Ayanu having run 14:50.51 and Wude Yimer, 14:57.23 for a 30 second advantage over the rest of the field. Fei Xue of China, Florence Kiplagat and Mary Ngugi, both of Kenya and Sian Edwards of Great Britain, are all between 15:38 and 15.42, should battle it out for the Bronze medal. Natasha Labeaud of Georgetown is in with a best of 16:29 and will be looking for a PR. 3,000 STEEPLECHASE—With this being the first time the event has been held at this level there will probably be some surprises. Ancuta Bobcel of Romania, who finished second in her national senior championships, is the world leader at 9:51.08 closely followed by Karoline Grovdal, who won her national title in 9:55.95. The only other runners under 10:00 are Madeleine Heiner of Australia at 9:56.54 and Wang Huan of China who was third in her senior nationals with a time of 9:57.34. The American are led by Marie Lawrence of Reno High, who won the Junior national title in a high school record of 10:15.26 despite a terrible fall in the water jump. Amy Fowler of BYU, who was second at the Junior Nationals actually has the fastest time by an American this year at 10:08.12. Both could make the final with Lawrence being a big surprise. 100 HIGH HURDLES---April Williams of Skyline High in Dallas, Texas is the world leader and won the World Youth Championships in 2004 but since she finished only third at the U.S. Junior Championship in a wind-aided 13.47, she did not make the team. The U.S. team will be made up of Tiffany Ofili of Michigan, who won the Junior meet in 13.15 is the world leader in 13.35, and Shalina Clarke of Evanston High in Illinois, with bests of 13.38 and 13.51. Both are medal threats. Yekaterina Shtepa of Russia is at least the co-favorite with a best of 13.40 and four times under 13.50. Anne-Kathrin Elbe is the Germany junior champion at 13.45 and Christina Vukicevic of Norway, who was fifth at the last World Junior Championships, has a best of 13.48. 400 LOW HURDLES—Nicole Leach was fourth at the 2004 World Junior championship as student at West Catholic in Philadelphia and this year also finished fourth for UCLA in the NCAA Championships, where she set a personal best and world-leading time of 55.35 in the semifinals. Jamaica will counter with Kaliese Spencer, who has a best of 55.62, set in an IAAF series meet in Gateshead and Sherene Pinnock, who has a best of 56.90 and was third at the World Junior championship. America’s second entrant is Ebony Collins of Wilson High in Long Beach, Calif. Collins won the World Youth Title last year in 55.96 but so far this year has run just 57.78. However, when Collins won the World Youth meet she dropped her personal best by three seconds. Ajoke Odumosu of Nigeria, with a best of 56.09 and Anestasiya Ott of Russia, at 56.28 are the other leading contenders in the medal chase.
4 x 400 RELAY—This should be another great battle especially if the U.S. decides to put Alexandria Anderson on the team. Jamaica has already run 3:31.90 and the World Junior record of 3:27.60 set by the U.S. at the 2004 World Junior Championship could be in serious danger. Poland, Ukraine, Germany and Australia could all fight for the Bronze medal. HIGH JUMP—Zheng Zingjuan of China is the world leader with two jumps at 6-3 ½. Close behind are Annett Engel of Germany, who was fourth at the World Junior Championships, and has a best of 6-2 ¼ and Gu Biwei of China, who was the World Youth Champion with a best of 6-2¼. Svetlana Radzivil of Uzbekistan has a best of 6-3 ¼ and Vikotoria Leks of Estonia has done 6-2 ¼--both indoors. Patience Coleman of Southern High in Durham, N.C. has a best of 6-0 and has been very consistent at 5-10 or better. She will be hoping to make the final. POLE VAULT—The battle for medals should be among the following: Russian national junior champion Valeriya Volik, who is the world leader at 14-5¼; Lisa Ryzih of Germany, the defending World Junior Champion with a best of 14-3¼.; Zhou Yang of China, third at the World Junior Championships; Vicky Parnov of Australia, who earlier this year set a world Youth (under 17) record of 14-3¼ and Chloe Mourand of France, with a best of 13-11¼. Tori Anthony of Castilleja in Palo Alto, Calif., who won the National Junior championships and has a best of 13-4, and Britany Parker of McKinney, Texas, who has jumped 13-0¼, will be fighting to make the final. LONG JUMP—Rhonda Watkins of Trinidad and UCLA is the world leader at 21-6¼ but is closely followed by Anika Leipold of Germany at 21-5 ¾ and Natasha Harvey of Jacksonville. Harvey is the National Junior champion and has a best of 21-5 with three jumps over 21-1. Zhang Yuan of China had jumped 21-3 ¾ twice in winning her junior championships and finishing second in her senior championships. Sarah Griffin Matthew of Niwot High Colorado has a best of 19-9 this year but jumped 21-2 in 2005. TRIPLE JUMP—The top three finishers in the World Youth Championships are the top three entrants at these championships. Cristina Bujin of Romania was just third last year but has improved her best to 46-1 ½ this winter indoors. Kaire Leibak of Estonia was second and now has a best of 45-9 and Sha Li of China has improved it best to 45-1 ¼. Two others in the medal hunt are Darya Safronova of Russia at 45-5 and Liliya Kulyk of Ukraine at 45-2. The only American entrant is Ke’Nyia Richardson of Holy Names in Oakland, Calif. She is undefeated this year and set a personal best of 43-3. Her best could put her in the final. SHOTPUT—Denise Hendrichs of Germany is the No. 2 junior in the world her winning put of 59-9 in the European junior indoor championships. The Chinese are two-three with Li Li at 57-4 ¾ and Liu Yingfan at 56-10 ¼ in their junior championships. And in case you thought that this would be just a flash in the pan for the host team. The world leader in the event is Gong Lijiao of China and the only reason she is not entered is that she is too young to complete, being born in 1991. Simone Du Toit of South Africa, the World Youth Champion who has thrown 56-2 ½, Melissa Boekelman of Netherlands, at 55-3 ½ and Irina Tarasova of Russia are the other major players. Kamorean Hayes of Harding High in Charlotte, N.C., who was sixth in the World Younth Championships and has now thrown 52-2 and Jere Summers of Cal St. Northridge, who has improved seven feet this year to a best of 51-5 ¾, will be fighting to make the final. DISCUS—Dani Samuels of Australia was the World Youth Champion in 2005 and finished third in the Commonweath Games this spring with a best of 195-0. Rocio Comba of Argentina, the South American Junior champion, has a best of 192-0. Tan Saili of China has throw 192-0 and teammate national junior champion Tan Jian has a best of 187-0. Emily Pendleton of Woodmore High in Elmore, Ohio, the national junior champion has a best of 172-8 and stands a good shot at making the final and could place in the top eight. Jere Summers is also entered with a best of 159-10. HAMMER—The U.S. has no entrats. The medalist should come from the following: Anna Bulgakova of Russia, who was second at the World Youth Championships and now has a best of 222-5; World Youth champion Bianca Perie of Romania, who has thrown 218-8; Hao Shuai of China at 215-7, Zalina Marghiev of Maldives at 214-11 and Alena Krechyk of Belarus at 214-8. JAVELIN—The U.S. has no entrants. A very unpredictable event. Vivian Zimmer of Germany is the World Junior champion and threw a personal best of 197-4 in 2004. China should be very strong with World Youth champion Zhang Li, with a best of 190-6 and teammate Li Lingwei, who is the yearly world leader with his throw of 193-1 at their national youth championships. Vira Rebryk of Ukraine at 189-1 is also in contention for a medal. But don’t be surprised if someone not mentioned ends up winning. HEPTATHLON—The top three leaders this year are also the athletes who finished one-two-three in the World Youth Championships in 2005. Tatyana Chernova of Russia heads the list at 6,176 and teammate Yana Panteleyeva is second at 5,985. Germany’s Diana Rach is third at 5,807. Iryna Ilkevych of Ukraine is fourth on the yearly list at 5,751. Shana Woods of Poly High, Long Beach, Calif., won the U.S. Junior title with 5,533 points to set a national high school record and if she can again come through with a solid javelin throw and improve just a little in here better events (100 hurdles, 200 and long jump) she might have a shot at finishing in the top five. Shevelle Quinley of Arizona is also entered and has a best of 5,266. 10,000-METER WALK--The former Soviet
Union should dominate here. Tatyana Shemyakina of Russia is the yearly
leader at 44:26.5 followed by Svitlana Vavilova of Ukraine at 46:52.63
and teammate Yuliya Davedenko at 47:06.24 and Hana Drabenia of Belarus
at 47:20.25. The next closest performer is over a minute behind. Federica
Menzato is the lone entrant for the U.S. at 50:32.00. |
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