The weekend started with some great results taking place at the University of Kentucky and the New Jersey Meet of Champions. Head-to-head match-ups are the name of the game, and so many impressed. See what is taking place across the country as the weekend rolls forward.
Top Boys Highlights- Jared Hall (OH) runs 1:52.19 at Akron (OH), a new U.S.#1 - Brian Leung (NJ) runs 8:59.77, a U.S. #1, at NJ MOC in 3200m - Nick Vena (NJ) throws U.S#1 in NJ MOC with 66-00.75 shot put - Christian Taylor (GA) leaps 25-00 feat at Kentucky, furthers U.S.#1- William Wynne (GA) runs U.S.#2 for 60m hurldes in 7.73 at UK, then comes back and run new U.S.#1 for 400m at 47.82.- Erik Kynard (OH) jumps 7-00 in high jump at Kentucky- Juan Steward (PA) runs U.S.#3 at 200m in 21.67 at Penn StateTop Girls Highlights- Rachel Laurent (LA) vaults 13-09.25 at LA State Champs, U.S.#1 - Becky O'Brien (ME) throws U.S.#1 at 50-11 in SP at USATF Indoors- Chanelle Price (PA) & Tasha Stanley (MD) don't advance in 800 in MA- Brittany Long (GA) speeds to U.S.#1 for 60m in 7.36 at Kentucky - Chalonda Goodman (GA) runs U.S.#2 for 200m in 23.70 at UK - Madeline Morgan (AL) runs 4:52.70 in the mile at Kentucky, U.S.#2- Jacquelyn Coward (TN) runs 8.25 at 60m hurdles at UKWeekend Highlights & Results (2/22-2/24)
UK High School Invitational (KY)
UK High School Inv. Meet Page
**UK Meet Videos (a must see!)
UK High School Inv. Meet Results: Field Events / Track Events
Some of the best talent in the nation traveled to the University of Kentucky this weekend to take part in the UK High School Invitational. The meet kicked off with some big field event performances, with Christian Taylor (GA) extending his U.S. #1 boys long jump mark to 25-00, while Erik Kynard (OH) soared over the 7-00 mark in the boys high jump once again.
In the 60m hurdles, Jacquelyn Coward (TN) kept her momentum going in her specialty race. Last weekend Coward set a new U.S. record of 8.16, following that performance up with an 8.25 to win against U.S. top five athlete Jasmin Stowers (SC). Stowers finished second with an 8.38. In the boys race, William Wynne (GA) won over a top field in 7.73, a new U.S. #2 time this season.
Wynne then came back and ran 47.82 to win the 400m dash in a new U.S. #1 time. The race remained close through three spots, as Christian Taylor ran 48.01 and Varick Tucker (MI) placed third in 48.02.
Meanwhile in the girls 60m dash, Brittany Long (GA) set a new U.S. #1 mark of 7.36, besting Victoria Jordan's (TX) U.S. #1 of 7.37 set back in mid-January.
The girls mile provided a lot of excitement as well. Madeline Morgan (AL) won in a U.S. #2 time of 4:52.70, besting second place finisher Virginia Hine (TN) who ran 4:55.73.
Chalonda Goodman (GA) had a good day as well in the girls sprints. The Georgia star placed second in the 60m dash, then came back with a big win in the ultra-competitive 200m dash. Goodman's 60m dash time tied for the U.S. #3 time in 7.78, while her 200m time ranks her U.S. #2 in 23.70, in which she won by just over half a second.
New Jersey Meet of Champions (NJ)
New Jersey Meet of Champions Meet Page
New Jersey MOC Live Results
Brian Leung (NJ) beats Doug Smith (NJ) in first sub-9 at 3200m nationally
(Photo by Pat Montferrat)
One of the top match-ups of the weekend, and perhaps the most anticipated, came in the 3200m run, where the two top ranked athletes in the event faced off. U.S. #1 Brian Leung went head-to-head with U.S. #2 Doug Smith. The race went out fast as both athletes wered shooting to break nine minutes in the race, becoming the first athletes under the magical barrier this indoor season. In the end, Leung beat Smith 8:59.77 to 9:01.86, in a classical battle between the nation's best.
The New Jersey Meet of Champions pitted U.S. #2 Mike Alleman and U.S. #3 Nick Vena in the shot put. Alleman is the experienced senior, while Vena is the superstar freshman national record holder. With one toss, Vena moved from freshman national record holder to U.S. #1 in the event, throwing an amazing 66-00.75 to win the event.
USATF Indoor T&F Championships (MA)
USATF Indoor T&F Champs. Meet Website
USATF Indoor T&F Champs. Results: Women's 800m / Women's Shot Put / Live Results
With Jeremy Rankin (CO) and Joe Morris (CO) not on the start lists at the USATF Indoor Championships Saturday, that left three female competitors in the field. Chanelle Price (PA) and Tasha Stanley (MD) both competed in the women's 800m dash, with both young ladies running in the third heat. A slower pace left both athletes looking up, as they got knocked out of the competition. Price placed fourth in the heat, nearly two seconds behind race winner Nicole Teter in 2:08.39. Stanley meanwhile finished sixth in the heat in 2:11.34.
Becky O'Brien (ME) takes sixth in the SP at USATF Indoor Nationals
(Photo by Don Rich)
In the women's shot put, Becky O'Brien (ME) entered the field ranked at the bottom of the pack, but threw well against her senior competition. O'Brien threw big on her third throw in the first round, tossing the shot 50-11, which gives her the U.S. #1 ranking in the event. She also placed sixth amongst the solid field, which is simply incredible for a prep athlete.
LHSAA Indoor State T&F Championships (LA)
LA Indoor State T&F Champs. Meet Page
LA Indoor State Results: DI Boys / DII Boys / DI Girls / DII Girls
One of the handful of indoor state track and field championships taking place this weekend was the Louisiana Indoor State T&F Championships. One of the top results of the weekend took place in the girls DII pole vault, where U.S. #2 Rachel Laurent (LA) changed her standing to U.S. #1. Laurent surpassed U.S. #1 Shade Weygandt (TX) by vaulting 13-09.25, besting Weygandt's mark by 1.25 inches.