Photo: MileSplit
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The Region 14 USATF Junior Olympic Championship was one of a few region meets that hosted Californians, and the stars were definitely out last month at Monterey Peninsula College.
El Cerrito (Calif.)
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Works-Wright Jr. was the class of the field in the 100m, taking control from the gun. After posting a 10.75 in the prelims to, he threw down a 10.44 when it mattered most. He was the lone athlete to run under 10.50, and has a very strong chance at breaking the tape again at the USATF Junior Olympic National Championship later this week.
Hughes was easily the most versatile athlete of the meet, picking up region titles in four events across the hurdles and jumps. She opened with a 14.54 in the 100mH final to lead a competitive field, then cleared 5-1.25 in the high jump before sweeping the horizontal jumps with marks of 18-2.5 and 41-4 in the long and triple jump, respectively.
Russell had a strong showing across two sprints, picking up a region title in the 200m while finishing runner-up in the 100m. In the shorter sprint, he clocked 10.58 in the final behind Works-Wright Jr. before coming back to win the 200m in 21.74, holding off Quincy Russell and Dominic Najera, who came in second and third in 21.80 and 21.85, respectively.
East Bay Elite (Calif.)
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Smith had a productive weekend across both events she was entered in, winning the 200m title while pushing the field in the 400m. She clocked 24.61 to claim the 200m crown, holding off Malia Van Den Bogert and Petra Betti, who came in second and third in 24.70 and 24.97. She then came back to run 59.65 in the 400m final, finishing runner-up behind winner Mya Johnson's 57.26.
