Close finishes highlight Day 3 of the 2006 Finish Line USA Junior Champs

INDIANAPOLIS - Down-to-the-wire men's 1,500- and women's 400-meter races provided the highlights Saturday at the 2006 Finish Line USA Junior Track & Field Championships.

The Championships take place June 21-25 at the Michael A. Carroll Track & Soccer Stadium on the campus of IUPUI in downtown Indianapolis. The top two finishers in each event will compete at the 2006 IAAF World Junior Championships in Beijing, China, provided that they have met the qualifying standard.

2006 Nike Outdoor Nationals and Millrose Games mile champion Danielle Tauro ran away with the crown in the women's 1,500 meters with a winning time of 4 mintues 24.53 seconds. 2005 USA Junior Championships runner-up Erin Bedell, a freshman at Baylor, once again took the runner-up spot in 4:25.86, and University of Albany freshman Jenna Ortman was third in 4:28.62. Ortman also place fourth in Friday's 800m final. Tauro and Bedell have qualified for the 2006 IAAF World Junior Championships.

A.J. Acosta, the 2006 Foot Locker Cross Country champion, won the men's 1,500 meters in 3 minutes 45.95 seconds. Heading into the final lap, Samuel Borchers took the lead but could not hold it as Acosta and Georgetown freshman Andrew Bumbalough out-sprinted him to the finish. Bumbalough, who won the 5,000m on Wednesday, took second in 4:46.13 and Borchers, competing for the Miami Valley Track Club, ended up third in 3:46.32.

Jessica Beard, the 2006 Nike Outdoor Nationals 400 meter champion, edged out Brandi Cross to win the women's 400 meters. Beard's time ranks her ninth on the all-time high school list. Cross, who placed second to Beard at last weekend's Nike Outdoor Nationals, was again relegated to second place, crossing the line in 51.96. 2005 USA Junior Olympic champion Sa'de Williams was third in 52.54.

Baylor freshman Quentin Iglehart-Summers came from behind to win the men's 400 meters in 46.02 seconds, inches ahead of 2005 Junior Pan Am champion Justin Oliver, who finished second in 46.06. 2004 USA Junior Olympic 200m and 400m champion Bryshon Nellum was third in 46.22.

Katy Hayes, who was on the 2006 IAAF World Cup Race Walking team, claimed the title in the junior women's 10,000m race walk crossing the line in 53 minutes 22.94 seconds. 2005 USATF Junior National Race Walk Team member Lauren Forgues was the runner-up in 53:56.73 and 2006 Nike Indoor Nationals 1 mile race walk champion Christina Peters was third in 54:22.44.

ATHLETE QUOTES

Junior Women's 10,000 meter race walk winner - Katy Hayes

"I felt pretty good today. I'm coming off several injuries and it was hard in the heat, but you just have to power through. I made the world team. I'm going to Beijing in August. I'll catch a few races in between and put up some good times.

Junior Women's 1,500 meter winner - Danielle Tauro

"This year has been great. Every year has been a step up, from being in the mix last year, to winning this year. It was awesome. I got a little tangled in the beginning. I didn't go as fast as I thought, but you have to make plans for different scenarios."

Junior Men's 1, 500 meter winner - Andrew Acosta

"There's only been one other race when I felt like crap after it. We came through quicker than I expected. I just told myself get through this 100. It was a good race, Bumbalough was right there with me."

Junior Women's 400 meter winner - Jessica Beard

"I am happy about it. I PR'ed, so I am a lot more happy about the wind. I was nervous because I didn't know what to expect. This was the best race I've been in because somebody was pushing me."

Junior Men's 400 meter winner - Quentin Iglehart-Summers

"I was nervous, I didn't feel good warming up. My legs felt dead, they felt heavy. "

For more information and complete results, please visit www.usatf.org.