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Ashe throws record on day two USA Junior Championships

6/16/2012
 
BLOOMINGTON, Ind-- Shelby Ashe improved her own American Junior record to win the women’s hammer throw to highlight day two of the USA Junior Track & Field Championships at Indiana University in Bloomington, Ind.

The Junior Championships serve as the selection meet for the 2012 IAAF World Junior Championships, scheduled for July 10-15 in Barcelona, Spain. The top two finishers, provided they have met the qualifying standards in each event, will be invited to compete in Barcelona as members of Team USA.

Shelby Ashe improved her own American Junior record and meet record in the hammer with a monster throw of 68.12m/223-6. Ashe’s mark improves her spot on the world junior list from seventh to second. Ashe previously set both the American Junior record in 2010 at 65.32m/214-3. Ashe, who is taking a gap year after graduating from  St. Pius X Catholic High school, will also compete in the Olympic Trials next week.

“It gives me a better spot on the line up for the Olympic Trials. It’s the automatic qualifier that I didn’t quite have yet but I knew I could throw it,“Ashe said. “I’m excited out of my mind. It’s just a great opportunity and I never really thought I’d be here at 19, so I’m just ready to have some fun and see what happens.”

In the men’s decathlon, Gunnar Nixon of Arkansas improved his runner-up finish from 2011 to win the U.S. junior title with 7,761 points. Nixon’s mark is currently No. 3 on the world junior list. Garrett Scantling of the University of Georgia took the runner-up spot in 7,434 points to join Nixon on the World Junior squad. Also of note is that Nathan Donnellon of Ypsilanti, Mich. set an American Junior record in the decathlon discus with his throw of 49.64m/162-10.

“It’s great. I’ve represented the USA a couple of times,” Nixon said of the opportunity to compete at World Juniors. “It’s a great honor and I’m looking forward to it.”

Jarrion Lawson of Texarkana, Texas won his second U.S. Junior title of the weekend by taking first in the men’s triple jump in 15.64/51-3.75. On Friday, Lawson won the long jump with a mark of 7.77/25-6.0.

Eric Futch of Lansdowne, Pa. ran away from the field in the men’s 400m hurdles to take the win by nearly half a second in 50.73. Futch earned a personal best and now holds the No. 2 spot on the world junior list. Futch will be joined in Barcelona by Texas A&M freshman Greg Coleman, who finished second in 51.31.

“I’m really excited. It’s what I’ve been waiting for my whole life, “Futch said. “I’ve been dreaming to make the USA team my whole life.”


Winners from today’s events include:
Women’s Long Jump: Robin Reynolds (6.24m/20-5.75)
Men’ Shot Put: Stephen Mozia (17.15m/56-3.25)
Women’s Hammer: Shelby Ashe (68.12m/223-6)
Women’ 400m Hurdles:  Shamier Little (57.44)
Men’s Triple Jump: Jarrion Lawson (15.64/51-3.75)
Men’s 400m Hurdles: Eric Futch (50.73)
Women’s High Jump: Taylor Burke (1.79m/5-10.75)
Women’s 800m:  Ajee Wilson (2:04.86)
Men’s 800m: Wilton Crocker (1:52.16)
Women’s 100m Hurdles: Taryn Hartfield (13.74)
Women’s 5,000m: Allison Woodward (16:15.27)
Men’s 10,000m: Ryan Pickering (30:56.77)
Men’s Decathlon: Gunnar Nixon (7,760 points)

Competition will resume tomorrow, June 17th at 7:30 am EST with the women’s 10,000m race walk.

Complete results and live updates can be found here.

Katie Branham
Marketing & Communications Manager
USA Track & Field
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