Knight runs fastest ever 200m by a female at JOs; Hall and Anderson add more gold to collection

EUGENE Ore. - Bianca Knight ran the fastest time by a female in the 200m as Kenneth Hall leaped to a second gold while Alexandria Anderson struck gold twice to spark the 5^th day of competition at the USATF Junior Olympic Track & Field Championships in Eugene.

As the weather warmed up on a day that started out chilly and cloudy, Bianca Knight of Jackson, Miss., heated up the track after she ran a sizzling 23.06 seconds to set a record in the intermediate girls 200m finals. "I just run like I know I can and I did. I just do what I can do," said Knight. The 15-year-old, Knight not only bettered the 23.26 set in 1999 by LaShauntea Moore of Akron, Ohio, but she also bettered the young women's division time of 23.32 seconds set in 2000 by Monique Henderson who is a 2004 Olympian. "I am motivated to do better every time I step on the track. My start is what I wanted it to be. I just went out there to run my race and not worry about anyone else," Knight continued.

Kenneth Hall of Tara High School (Baton Rouge, La.) leaped a windy 7.79 meters/25 feet, 6.75 inches to grab a second gold medal to win the young men's long jump. The 18-year-old was aiming for another record despite the windy conditions. "The wind made it harder today because I was going for another record," said Hall. "I know I had to bring my 'A game' because I know Frankie (Gatson) and five other Team USA members were competing. Frankie and I always go at it at the high school state champs," Hall continued.

World Juniors 4x400m gold medalist Alexandria Anderson cruised to her first gold medal of the day after she ran 23.45 in the young women's 200m finals. "This has been my longest season ever. This is a learning experience as my body wise as I prepare for the next season," said Anderson. Later on in the afternoon, Anderson of Morgan Park High School (Chicago, Ill) leaped to her second gold with a mark of 5.86m/19-2.75 in the young women's long jump. "I have not jumped since state championships. I was not getting the height on my jumps like I normally do, but I am happy that I was in the '19's'," Anderson continued. "I was not popping up off the board to reach 20 feet."

Female athletes break records in today's 3,000m finals. A 17-year-old record tumbled as Jordon Hasay of San Luis Distance TC continued her record-breaking streak after running 9:48.77 to set a youth girls record bettering the 9:57.16 set in 1987 by Deresa Walters of Rochester, N.Y. Yesterday, Hasay set a youth girls record in the 1,500m qualifying round with a time of 4:34.02. Nicole Cochran of the South Hill Striders broke an 18-year-old record to win the intermediate girls division in a time of 9:53.83 while Marie Lawrence of the Silver State Striders finished second in 9:54.24. Both Cochran and Lawrence bettered the previous record of 10:00.02 set in 1986 by Lisa Dressel of Colbert, Wash.

Robin Reynolds of Miami NW track club broke an 11-year-old record in the bantam girls 200m after she ran 26.50 seconds to better the previous record of 26.71 set in 1993 by Monique Henderson of San Diego, Calif. In a 200m final that went down to the wire, Reynolds edged Atiya Harvey of Mission TC who ran 26.61 to finish second and also better Henderson's previous record.

Bryshon Nellum of Long Beach Poly HS, (Calif.) won the intermediate boys 200m final in 21.65 seconds. "I had a slow start coming off the curve, but I was able to make it up down the straightaway because that is my strongest part of the race," said Nellum. "My focus was to do what I normally do on the curve so that I can go strong to the finish."

Roblet Muhudin of Blazers Track Club dazzled the crowd as he won the midget boys 800m in 2:09.19 to barely edge runner-up finisher Musa Ahmed of Pride Sports TC (2:09.48).

World Juniors Team USA member, Inika McPherson cleared 1.80m/5-10.75 to win the young women's high jump. "I am surprised that I cleared 5-10. I could have cleared the current record (1.85m/6.01), but my timing was wrong going up," said McPherson. "I had the height, but my approach is what messed up my timing." McPherson of Memorial High School in Port Author, Texas can't wait to get another chance at the record. "I want to go again so I can get the record," McPherson continued.

World Juniors 110m bronze medalist, Kevin Craddock plans to break a record while putting on a show in the 110m hurdles final after he ran the fastest qualifying time of 13.77 to advance in the young men's division. "I came here to try to put on a show (for the fans), I would like to get the record," said Craddock. "I think this is one of my strongest events (110mH). This has been my best season and also a long summer. My start was a lot better than I had in Italy (World Juniors) which was an experience like no other." Craddock continued.

In the young women's 100m hurdles, Southern California-bound Talia Stewart ran the fastest qualifying time of 13.98 while 2004 young women's heptathlon champion Alyissa Hasan of the West New York Jets clocked the second fastest qualifying time of 14.28. "It is hard running out of lane 8 because I had a bad experience before," said Stewart. "I am sure that it will all come together with my start, technique, acceleration and my finish," Stewart continued.

The third leg of USA Track & Field's Verizon Youth Series will showcase 5,657 young athletes from across the country as part of the largest youth athlete developmental program in the world. This year's competition will also serve as one of the selection pool meets for the 2005 IAAF World Youth Championships in Marrakech, Morocco.

In addition to Junior Olympics, the Verizon Youth Series includes the USA Junior Outdoor Track & Field Championships and the USA Youth Outdoor Track & Field Championships.

Competition age divisions are: Bantam (10 and under), Midget (11-12), Youth (13-14), Intermediate (15-16) and Young Men/Women (17-18). There will be a tape delayed broadcast the last three days of competition.

For more information on the 2004 USA Track & Field Junior Olympic Championships, all USATF Youth programs and the Verizon Youth Series, visit the USATF website at www.usatf.org.