Carter wins SP at World Juniors

Carter's first throw, 16.78m/55-0.75 stood for most of the competition. Her final toss was clearly at the right time, though, as Russia's Anna Avdeyeva launched a personal best 17.13m/56-2.50 on her final attempt to put herself on the medal stand in second place. "When I saw her (Russia's Avdeyeva) last throw, it gave me the extra energy on my last attempt," said Carter. "I was really focused on my technique especially my release on the last throw." The 2003 Pan Am Juniors shot put champion, Carter becomes only the second American to grab a World Juniors Championships medal in the women's shot. 2004 Olympic Trials shot put champion Laura Gerraughty captured a bronze medal at the 2002 World Junior Championships.

Nicole Leach (52.90) of Philadelphia's West Catholic HS opened up a comfortable lead in the women's 4x400m relays with Alexandria Anderson (52.60) of Chicago's Morgan Park HS, Deonna Lawrence (52.90) of Sheldon HS (Sacramento, Calif.) with 2003 Pam Am Juniors 400m champion Stephanie Smith (51.70) of South Carolina cruising to the finish line in 3 minutes, 30.13 seconds. The men's 4x400m semi-final was a different story with Japan hanging on closely throughout the race before 2004 World Junior 400m champion LaShawn Merritt looked over his shoulder on the third turn and accelerated to the finish line the last 100 meters in a time of 3:05.28. Both 4x400 teams are world junior leaders with the men's time ranked #4 and the women's time ranked #8 on the all-time juniors lists.

The women's 4x100 relay foursome (Ashley Owens-UNLV signee, Juanita Broaddus-Barton CC, Jasmine Baldwin-Mt. SAC signee and Cleo Tyson-Tennessee signee) finished in 44.00 seconds; the second fastest time behind France entering the finals on Sunday. The men's team (David "Trell" Kimmons, Demi Omole-Wisconsin, Ivory Williams of Central HS (Beaumont, Texas) and LaShawn Merritt-East Carolina signee ran the fastest time in 38.96 seconds, the leading junior time this year, and only four-hundredths-of-a-second off the World Junior record, set in 2002. Ironically, Williams also ran the third leg on that relay foursome, as well.

BYU's Amy Menlove leaped 6.16m/20-2.50 for sixth place in the long jump, followed by Southern California's Michelle Sanford, who placed 11^th with a 5.90m/19-4.25 effort. "I felt fast, but not at the top of my game," said Menlove. "I did not feel like I had my usually jumping ability when I got to the board." Only two other Americans have finished in the top six at a World Junior Championships prior to Menlove's performance today. Chip Heuser, a University of Oklahoma transfer, cleared a personal best 5.20m/17-0.75 to finish 7th in the men's pole vault finals. Penn State-bound Gayle Hunter finished 11^th with 5,411 points in the women's heptathlon.

Tennessee's Aries Merritt (13.65) was followed across the line by Kevin Craddock (13.74) of James Logan HS (San Pablo, Calif.) to qualify for the men's 110m hurdles finals on Sunday. The 2004 USA Juniors 110m hurdles champion, Craddock improved his personal best time of 13.82 seconds he clocked Friday in the first round of the men's 110m hurdles. "My finish could have been better today, but it will all come together in the finals," said Craddock. "I was just trying to keep up with Aries (Merritt) through the finish.

After five days of competition, Team USA leads the gold medal count with eight, followed by Russia with seven. Russia leads the overall medal count with seven gold, four silver and three bronze, followed by the USA with eight gold, three silver and one bronze.

For more information on the 2004 IAAF World Junior Track & Field Championships, including results from the Pre-World Meet, visit www.iaaf.org or USATF's newly redesigned website at www.usatf.org.

Athlete Quotes:

Michelle Carter (Shot Put) Texas:

When I saw her (Russia's Avdeyeva) last throw, it gave me the extra energy on my last attempt. I was really focused on my technique especially my release on the last throw. I was expe\

Cleo Tyson (4x100m relay) Tennessee-bound:

I felt confident coming into the race. Everything seemed perfect for us today. I normally put my hand out too early before my teammate calls for the baton, but it was smooth today.

AlexandriaAnderson (4x400m relay) Morgan Park HS (Chicago, Ill):
This was a different experience since I have never run the second leg before. I just ran towards the curve as fast as I could as if someone was chasing me. I did not slow down until I gave Deonna (Lawrence) the baton.

Amy Menlove (Long Jump) BYU:

I felt fast, but not at the top of my game. I did not feel like I had my usually jumping ability when I got to the board.

I did my best today and it has been a really good experience competing for Team USA at the World Junior Championships. I am just glad to be here.

Michelle Sanford (Long Jump) Southern California:

This has not been one of my best performances because this is the first meet where I did not jump over six meters. It was frustrating because I did not hit the board during my approach down the runway.

I enjoyed myself here.

Kevin Craddock (110mH) James Logan HS (San Pablo, Calif.):

My finish could have been better today, but it will all come together in the finals. I was just trying to keep up with Aries (Merritt) through the finish. My legs were a little lazy than normal.

Gayle Hunter (Heptathlon) Penn State-bound:

The hurdles was my best event since I got a PR. Everything else was not my best at all. I expected to do better in the 200m and the long jump. Mentally, I was not in the competition.