Vashti Thomas (CA) shined bright Monday night in Fresno
(Photo by Margaret Gallagher)
The Run for the Dream Invitational hosted one of the top fields of athletes so far this indoor season. Many of California's top track and field athletes took to the new indoor facility at Fresno State University Monday night to test their early season form against one another. The results did not disappoint.
Top Results- Briana Stewart (CA): Leaps to new U.S.#1 in TJ at 39-06.5- Vashti Thomas (CA): Leaps 19-00.5 LJ & 7.87 55m hurdles- Ashton Purvis (CA): Runs U.S. top five in 55m dash with 6.94- Julian Purvis (CA): Earns U.S. top five in 55m hurdles at 7.91- Nico Weiler (CA): Keeps rolling in PV with win of 16-00Run for the Dream Invitational (CA)
Run for the Dream Results: Track Events / Field Events / USA v The World
The stars were out Monday night at Fresno State University, as many of the top athletes in California took to the university's new indoor track facility, competing in the Run for the Dream Invitational. A special California H.S. dream championship put together by meet officials made the meet interesting, but the girls' results made for the best story.
Four seperate athletes stood out among the rest, with Ashton Purvis (St. Elizabeth, CA), Julian Pruvis (St. Elizabeth, CA), Vashti Thomas (Mt. Pleasant, CA) and Briana Stewart (Logan, CA) all highlighting their respecitve events in incredible fashion. Ashton Purvis won the Girls' 55m dash in a U.S. top five mark of 6.94, while running a 6.93 in the prelims. Meanwhile, her sister Julian ran 7.91 seconds in the 55m hurdles, placing second behind Thomas.
Thomas won two events, earning U.S. top three marks in the long jump and 55m hurdles. Thomas' winning time in the hurdles was 7.87, while her long jump win was with a mark of 19-00.5. The star of the night however was Briana Stewart, who won the triple jump with a national leading jump of 39-06.5. With all of this talent, Stewart was the only one to capture a U.S. #1 ranking.
While the girls produced the best results up top, a few boys put up great marks as well. U.S. #1 pole vaulter Nico Weiler (Los Gatos, CA) won his showcase event with a mark of 16-00. Meanwhile, Aaron Burney (Granite Bay, CA) won the 55m hurdles with an excellent mark of 7.54, while Nigel Davis (Loyola, CA) won the shot put with a throw of 58-05.5.
What a night it was out in California. With so many great results so early in the season, this is a great marker for what's to come this season.