Photo: MileSplit
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Catoosa High School played host to the USATF Region 9 Junior Olympic Championship earlier this month, as athletes from across the Midwest made their trip to "The Sooner State" for a chance to qualify for the big dance.
Here are four of the top performers from earlier this month!
Broken Arrow (Okla.)
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The sprinter took her talents to Catoosa High School and left with a pair of medals, winning both the 100m and 200m in relatively comfortable fashion. In the shorter of the two, Porter clocked 12.47 in the final, and added a 24.80 showing in the 200m, which also came in the form of a win. After an in-state season that saw her win Oklahoma state titles in both events, she has hopes for national titles later this week.
Shawnee Mission Northwest (Kan.)
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One of the best horizontal jumpers "The Sunflower State" had to offer this past spring, Lopez-Ledbetter continued his winning ways, winning the long jump with a mark of 23-8.25, a lifetime best. Although he was one of the top triple jumpers in the region this past spring, he opted to focus on the triple jump before he heads off to Wichita State this fall. He'll look to end his high school career with some national hardware in California.
Southeast of Saline (Kan.)
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After a Kansas season that ended with a trio of state medals in the 100mH, 400mH, and high jump, Smith took her talents South where she won the region title in the 100mH. Smith ran 15.88 in her win, and threw in a 1:10.34 effort in her runner-up finish in the 400mH. She also cleared 5-3.25 to pick up her second win of the weekend, and has the chance to compete in three event on the West Coast.
The senior was simply untouchable earlier this month, winning region titles in the shot put and discus, and placing second in the hammer throw. In the shot, he coasted to the win after launching it 52-8.5, before adding a 140-7 showing in the discus. His winning mark in the hammer was a whopping 160-10.25, the second best throw of his season.
