LAKEVILLE, Minn. -- It was a busy day at Lakeville North High School as 37 high school track and field teams participated in the annual Lakeville Mega Meet.
(via www.kare11.com)
Before the '07-'08 track season, North Dakota's Laura Roesler was already a growing legend in her home state. As a freshman Roesler won quadruple gold at her state track and field championships, winning the 100, 200, 400 and 800m dash events. Despite the success, Roesler wasn't as well known outside her state, but it seemed it was only a matter of time.
A strong fall led to an ever impressive spring, one that saw Roesler win four more state titles, but then go on a tear at 800m, lowering her time dramatically and reaching into U.S. top ten all-time status. The capping point on the season came at the Olympic Trials, an event that saw Roesler make the semi-finals and become one of the crowd favorites amongst a field of professional runners. This is the story of her season.
Day one of the U.S. Olymic Team Trials is complete and four top high school athletes showed their best against the nation's top professional athletes. Leading the way Friday were seniors Victoria Jordan (TX) and Chanelle Price (PA), junior Anna Jelmini (CA), and sophomore Laura Roesler (ND). Read about the day's performances from MileSplit US on-site. (Laura Roesler pictured by Richard Svaleson)
Top Friday Performances
- Laura Roesler (ND) advances in women's 800m dash in 2:04.03
- Victoria Jordan (TX) runs 11.26 100m in prelims, 11.29 in quarters
- Anna Jelmini (CA) throws 160-06 for women's discus, 19th overall
- Chanelle Price (PA) finishes sixth in 800m heat with 2:05.93 effort
Another great day of competition wrapped up with some great performances. The best result of the day came from Florida's Jeff Demps, who set the national record in the 100m dash with his winning mark of 10.01 (wind-legal!). Demps started right next to Tyson Gay in the quarter-final race, getting off to a great start, but moved even better over the final 25 meters to place second in his heat and move on to the semi-finals tomorrow at 2:30 PDT. (Jeff Demps pictured right, courtesy of Victor Sailor, PhotoRun.net)
Top Saturday Highlights
- Jeff Demps (FL) breaks national record in 100m dash in 10.01!!!
- Laura Roesler (ND) eighth in 800m semi, finishing in 2:06.82
- Fawn Miller (PA) places 15th in women's javelin with 154-05 toss
With so many big invitationals and championships this past weekend, we wrap-up the weekend and move forward with our eyes focused forward towards Columbus, Ohio (USATF Junior Nationals) and Greensboro, North Carolina (Nike Outdoor Nationals). In this week's edition of News & Notes we touch upon a few meets, how Price and Roesler are dominating forces and what the week ahead brings. (Pictured left: Chanelle Price in the Pre Classic 800m, photo by Victah Sailer of PhotoRun.net)
What a fantastic weekend it's been. Big championship style invitationals (Golden South, Golden West, Great Southwest) state meets (Ohio, Minnesota, New Hampshire, etc.) and the prestigous Prefontaine Classic hosted great high school competition all weekend long. A handful of U.S. top ten all-time performances took place, including Ryann Krais' (pictured left by Alan Versaw) U.S. #2 all-time heptathlon.
**Chanelle Price (PA) runs 2:01.61 in Pre Classic 800m, U.S. #2 All-Time!!!
**Laura Roesler (ND) runs 2:03.08 for 800m in California, U.S. #8 All-Time!!!
**Jacquelyn Coward (TN) blazes 13.00 100m hurdles at Great Southwest, U.S. #2 All-Time!!!
**Ryann Krais (PA) scores 5522 points at Great Southwest in heptathlon, U.S. #2 All-Time!!!
Top Boys Weekend Highlights
- Luke Puskedra (UT) runs 8:46.41 in Prefontaine Classic two-mile
- D'Angelo Cherry (GA) blazes 10.16w in 100m at Golden West
- Trotwood-Madison (OH) runs 1:25.44 4x2, 3:13.46 4x4 at OH State
- Zach Wills (OH), only a freshman, wins OH State 3200m in 9:15.34
- Zachary Mellon (MN) runs 1:49.69 800m at MN State, U.S.#3
- Apple Valley (MN) wins 4x800 at MN State in U.S.#4 of 7:45.31
- Curtis Beach (NM) wins Great SW decathlon with 7262 points
- Nick Vena (NJ) beats Mike Alleman (NJ) with 65-03.50 SP in NJ
- Brett Johnson (NJ) runs 56.5 last lap to win NJ 1600m in 4:09.03
Top Girls Weekend Highlights
- Alitta Boyd (CA) leaps 42-00 TJ, 19-06.25 LJ at Golden West
- Ebony Eutsey (FL) blazes U.S.#1 400m in 53.23 at Golden West
- Ryann Krais (PA) wins 300mH in 41.20 at Great Southwest
- Hannah Carson (AZ) throws 160-11 javelin at Great Southwest
- Three Texas high jumpers clear 6-00 at Great Southwest
- Meshawn Graham (OH) runs U.S.#2 400m at OH State in 53.30
- Aareon Payne (OH) blazes 11.78 100m, 23.88 200m at OH State
- Jillian Smith (NJ) runs U.S.#3 800m of 2:05.26 in NJ, U.S.#3
- Melanie Thompson (NJ) wins NJ MOC 3200m in 10:17.18, U.S.#5
Meet Pages & Results: Great Southwest T&F Classic - NJ Meet of Champions
The greatest double performance of all-time in the boys distance events took place Saturday evening at the California State T&F Championships. German Fernandez (Sr., Riverbank, CA), who'd been running incredibly well all year, ran one of the fastest 1600m times ever in 4:00.29 and the fastest all-time 3200m performance of all time in 8:34.23. See what else took place this weekend, as well as State Championship wrap-ups are up for CA, IN, KY, MI, VA and WI.
**German Fernandez (CA) 4:00.29 1600m, 8:34.23 3200m at Cali State Meet!!!
**Christine Babcock (CA) runs 4:33.82 at CA State Meet, U.S. #2 All-Time!!!
**Jordan Hasay (CA) beats Laurynne Chetelat (CA) 9:52.13-9:52.51 3200m, U.S. #2 & #3 A-T!!!
Top Boys Weekend Highlights
- Dominguez (CA) blazes new U.S.#1 4x400m relay in 3:09.59
- Rob Finnerty (MN) runs 4:06.49 1600m, 9:00.94 3200m in MN
- Nico Weiler (CA) vaults 17-03 to break state meet record in CA
- Joey Hughes (CA) runs U.S.#1 400m in 46.28 at CA State Meet
- Randall Carroll (CA) 100m in 10.42, 200m in 20.91 at CA State
- Detroit Mumford (MI) wins 4x8 at MI State Champs in 7:44.79
- Mike Alleman (NJ) beats Nick Vena (NJ) in SP with 66-00.25 toss
- Marcus Jenkins (WI) leaps 24-04 to win WI State long jump
Top Girls Weekend Highlights
- Vashti Thomas (CA) wins 100mH, LJ, TJ at CA State Meet
- Shakeia Pinnick (IL) wins heptathlon with U.S.#1 5053 points in IL
- Anna Jelmini (CA) 169-04 discus, 48-03.50 shot put at CA State
- Akawkaw Ndipagbor (CA) runs U.S.#1 400m dash in 53.35 in CA
- Long Beach Poly (CA) runs 3:40.87 in 4x400m relay at CA State
- Rebecca Addison (MI) wins 1600m in 4:50.80 at MI State Champs.
- Leslie Aririguzo (MI) runs 13.84 to win 100m hurdles at MI State
- Ashley Beutler (WI) runs 10:33.43 in 3200m at Wisconsin State
- Natalie Baird (VA) throws 161-07 in discus at Virginia State
- Felisha Johnson (IN) throws 47-06.25 to win shot put at IN State
- Alex Banfich (IN) wins 4:55.12 1600m, 10:46.55 3200m in Indiana
The regular season is quickly coming to an end as over a dozen more state meets take place this weekend. States like Pennsylvania, Illinois, Washington and Oregon all hold their last contests of the season. MileSplit will keep you up to date with all the top state meet performances, and the few other non-state meets, throughout the weekend, so make sure to keep checking back. (Pictured left: Missouri's Maurice Mitchell wins 100m, 200m & 400m at state, pictured by Tracy Rollins)
**Johannes Swanepoel (KS) sets soph. class record in javelin with toss of 221-02!!!
Top Boys Weekend Highlights
- Maurice Mitchell (MO) wins 100m, 200m, 400m & 4x1 at MO State
- North Penn (PA) wins state 4x800m relay in U.S.#1 of 7:38.79
- Jordan Clarke (AK) improves U.S.#1 shot put with 71-03 mark
- German Fernandez (CA) runs 8:45.08 3200m, 4:07.62 1600m
- Mat Smoody (IL) runs 1:50.71 800 at Illinois State Meet
- Raymond Butts (CA) leaps 24-10.50 in long jump in CA
- Dominguez (CA) blazes 3:11.50 4x400m relay in California
- Rob Finnerty (MN) runs 4:08.76 in 1600m at conference meet
- Sam Crouser (OR) tosses javelin 199-06 at Oregon State Champs.
Top Girls Weekend Highlights
- Laura Roesler (ND) wins 100m, 200m, 400m & 800m at ND State
- Alishea Usery (MO) runs 24.43 200m, 54.53 400m at MO State
- Chanelle Price (PA) runs 2:02.90 800m to win PA State
- Christine Babcock (CA) blazes 4:36.57 1600m run in CA
- Fawn Miller (PA) throws soph. class record javelin in 167-02
- Gwynned Mercy (PA) runs 9:04.35 4x800m relay at PA State
- Vashti Thomas (CA) 20-05 Long Jump, 43-01.50 TJ & U.S. #1
- Cydney Ross (MO) runs 2:09.88 800m, 4:55.23 1600m at MO State
- Stephanie Foreman (AR) vaults 13-06.25 to win PV at AR MOC
- Tynita Butts (VA) leaps 20-04.50 in LJ at regional meet in Virginia
- Jacquelyn Coward (TN) runs 13.48 100mH, 41.11 300mH at state
- Kathy Kroeger (TN) runs 10:49.89 3200m, 4:55.62 1600m in TN
Wow! That's all that can really be said to sum up this past weekend's performances across the nation. With great weather, peak performances and deep fields, some of the results simply impressed. With nearly ten seperate state meets to cover, and numerous other top-tier invitationals, we've decided to merge it all into one big article, a new feature we're going to call The Awards Stand. Each week for the rest of the season we'll recap what the top performances were in each event grouping. See who made it this week. (Photo of Texas' Kyle Clemons by Alex Aldaco)
