SAVANNAH, Georgia – Competition at the 58th USA Track & Field National Junior Olympics Championships got under way Monday at Ted Wright Stadium on the campus of Savannah State University, with finals held in race walking, steeplechase, and the hammer throw to go with the first day of the combined events.
The top effort in the race walks came from Aanya Patel (Elgin Sharks) in the girls' 9-10 1500. Patel clocked 6:55.6 and missed the national record by only two seconds. Grace Wagner (Quick TC) had a big margin of victory in the girls' 15-16 2000 steeplechase, winning by more than 28 seconds in 7:10.73. Elizabeth Ojukwu (Golden State Throwers) took top honors in the girls' 15-16 hammer with a best of 48.48/159-0.
Nelson Perrigo (Valley Youth Running Club) was a comfortable winner in the boys' 15-16 2000 steeplechase with a 6:41.99 that put him across the line more than 10 seconds ahead of the runner-up. Shamrock Thoun outdueled Ocean State Hammerheads teammate Ryan Evans in the boys' 17-18 hammer, taking the gold with a best of 64.96/213-1, with Evans earning silver at 64.62/212-0.
Results are here.
Follow the action live on usatf.tv.