SAVANNAH, Georgia – Bettering her own meet record with a stunning 22.94 in the girls' 13-14 200 final, Melanie Doggett (Major Impact TC) became the second-fastest 14-year old ever in the event Saturday on the penultimate day of the USATF National Junior Olympics Championships at Ted Wright Stadium on the campus of Savannah State University.
Doggett, who just finished eighth grade at Landmark Christian Middle School in Fairburn, Georgia, broke Kayla Davis' meet record in the semifinal yesterday with a 23.24 clocking. Aided by an inconsequential 0.2 mps wind, she made up the stagger on everyone to her outside in the final by the 50-meter mark and steadily pulled away from the field down the homestretch.
Valley United TC (Perkins, Portley, Hamlet, Selico) provided the other meet record of the day, getting the baton around the track in 43.19 to win the boys' 13-14 4x100 and take down the previous record of 43.25 that was set by Florida Elite TC in 2003. The nightcap men’s 17-18 4x100 relay saw Athletic Performance (B. Williams, J. Finley, J. Lloyd, J. Stewart) clock 39.24 erasing the 2012 record of 39.56 by Track Houston.
Other girls' half-lap winners were Narai Blanchard (High Voltage), 8 & under in 30.24; Cerenity Bell, 9-10 in 26.74; Morgan Doggett (Major Impact TC), 11-12 in 25.06; Joya Clark (Run U Express), 15-16 in 23.94; and Maya Love (Track Masterz NC), 17-18 in 23.51.
Branon Mitchell, from Youngsville, Louisiana, had the top field event performance of the day, winning the boys' 17-18 javelin with a 62.70/205-8 in the third round. A silver medalist at the Louisiana state high school championships, Mitchell added a 61.49/201-9 on his final effort that would have also been good enough to win.
With no misses through the winning height of 1.73/5-8 in the girls' 15-16 high jump, Danabella Jackson (Sumter Speed) collected gold over Zoe Oye (The Heat TC), who had two misses at an earlier height. A second attempt clearance at 1.55/5-1 earned Amarianna DeMyers (Royal T T&F) gold in the girls' 13-14 high jump.
Boys' 800 titles were won by Trace Williams (AMP on 3), 2:36.06 in the 8 & under; Cruz Rascon (Mercury San Diego TC), 2:23.88 in the 9-10; Nasir Stanley, 2:12.77 in the 11-12; Adam Salamat (Umoja), 2:03.36 in the 13-14; Ryder Guerrero (Arizona Flames TC), 1:59.24 in the 15-16; and Zeno Goss (New Horizon TC), 1:54.04 in the 17-18.
In the boys' long jump, Avery Rey (Valley United TC) won the 8 & under title with a leap of 3.99/13-1.25, and Cameron Irvin (Divine Movement) won the 11-12 gold at 5.08/16-8. AP Ranch's Tyson McFarland was victorious in the 13-14 division with a best of 6.59/21-7.5, almost a foot ahead of the runner-up.
Mounting the victory stand in the girls' 800s were Hope Bradley (DeKalb Elite), 2:40.28 in the 8 & under; Emily Bouktache (New Jersey Striders), 2:26.47 in the 9-10; Delilah Walters (Team D1 Elite TC), 2:17.67 in the 11-12; Zora Li Budd Baker (Hottest in the City TC), 2:16.16 in the 13-14; Kareli Rascon (Mercury San Diego TC), 2:13.23 in the 15-16; and Ashley Lehman (Kansas Flyers TT), 2:10.92 in the 17-18.
Throws golds were claimed by Kimble Vernor (Texas Faces), who hit 35.28/115-9 in the girls 11-12 discus; Rayder Knaack, with a best of 17.48/57-4.25 in the boys' 13-14 shot put; Hadley Hughes, who had a 42.85/140-7 to win the girls' 15-16 javelin by more than 12 feet; Carder Brock, victorious in the girls' 13-14 discus by more than 10 feet at 38.25/125-6; and Lemuel Dulnuan-Kersey (Rolesville Lightning), who topped the boys' 9-10 shot put at 10.09/33-1.25.
In the boys' 200 finals, Rey, who also took gold in the long jump, won the 8 & under by more than a second in 28.19. Rounding out the champions were Quincy Frey (Playmakers Elite), 9-10 in 26.74; Mason Whitehead (Wilson Wide Awake Elite), 11-12 in 24.13; Calvin Portley III (Valley United TC), 13-14 in 22.09; Wendell Wells (Sandhills TC), 15-16 in 21.50; and Nicholas Altheimer (Kitsap Fliers TC), 17-18 in 21.10.
The 4x100 relays rounded out the day’s events with Track Masterz NC crossing the line in the 15-16 Mixed 4x100 in 44.12; Athletic Performance winning the 17-18 Mixed Relay in 42.93; Cedar Hill Blaze winning the 8 & under girls in 59.92; DungeonAthletics crossed in under a minute at 58.48 to win the 8 & under boys; Zoom Elite ran a season best 54.45 to take gold in the girls 9-10; Afterburners won the boys 11-12 in 53.28; Valley United won in 50.25 in girls 11-12 division; Coastal Georgia ran a season best 47.43 to win the girls 13-14; RunUXpress posted a 46.13 to win the girls 15-16 division; TrackMasters NC crossed in 41.42 to win the boys 15-16; the women’s 17-18 winners were Athletic Performance in 44.90.
Competition concludes Sunday afternoon at Savannah State. Be sure to check on the event page for updates to the schedule of events.
Live results may be found here.
Watch live on usatf.tv.