Trans World Sport profile the reigning men's Triple Jump World Champion, Christian Taylor. After his stunning victory at the 2011 World Championships in Daegu, Trans World Sport travel to Gainesville to meet the former Florida Gator as he gets ready for the 2012 season.
Day four had Team USA looking good with numerous medals and some great preliminary results from some of the top high school athletes in the land. Leading the way were Rachel Laurent (LA) and Ryann Krais (PA)(pictured left by Joy Kamani of NationalScholastic.org), both coming up big in their respective competitions. Laurent placed fourth overall in the women's pole vault final, nearly eclipsing 14 feet, soaring over 13-11.25. Meanwhile, Krais finished well on day one of the women's heptathlon, finishing the day in sixth place. Day two takes place Saturday.
Jim Spier Blog (NSSF) / Joy Kamani Photo Gallery (NSSF)
Official Website
World Junior Friday Results
- Rachel Laurent (LA) clears 13-11.25 in women's PV, fourth overall
- Ryann Krais (PA) finishes with 3345 during day one of competition
- Christian Taylor (GA) places eighth in men's TJ final with 51-02.50
- Leslie Brost (SD) finishes eighth in women's PV final with 13-05.50
- Jordan Hasay (CA) qualifies for final in women's 1500m with 4:20.82
What an exciting day the third day of the IAAF World Junior T&F Championships were. Team USA impressed across the board, including the six preps that took part in Thursday's action. Leading the way on the women's side was Florida junior Lanie Whittaker(pictured right by Joy Kamani of NationalScholastic.org), placing seventh in the women's 400m dash final. On the men's side, California junior Conor McCullough topped his group in the men's hammer throw and heads into the final with the third best mark. Prep stars Shanay Briscoe (TX), Christian Taylor (GA), Vashti Thomas (CA) and Ashton Purvis (CA) also competed.
**USATF Summaries: AM / Jim Spier Blog (NSSF)
**Joy Kamani Photo Gallery (NSSF) / Official Website
World Junior Thursday Highlights
- Lanie Whittaker (FL) seventh in women's 400m final, 53.98
- Conor McCullough (CA) throws 238-11 in men's hammer throw prelim
- Shanay Briscoe (TX) leaps 5-10 to finish tenth in women's high jump
- Christian Taylor (GA) advances in men's triple jump with 51-05 leap
The IAAF World Junior Track and Field Championships kicked off Tuesday in Poland and Team USA responded with some solid results. With only two finals taking place on the first day of competition, most of the events were prelims. Leading the prep contingent at Worlds were long jumpers Marquise Goodwin (Rowlett, TX) and Christian Taylor (Sandy Creek, GA), who finished the prelims with the second and third best marks on the day. See who else performed well on day one, as we bring you highlights and results all week long. Day One Results
World Junior Day One Highlights
- Christian Taylor (GA) leaps 25-0.25 in men's long jump prelim
- Marquise Goodwin (TX) soars 24-11.25 in men's long jump prelim
- Shanay Briscoe (TX) leaps 5-11.25 in women's high jump prelim
- Elijah Greer (OR) advances in men's 800m with 1:50.73 effort
On day two of the IAAF World Junior T&F Championships, Team USA followed the lead of junior Marquise Goodwin (Rowlett, TX) (pictured left by Joy Kamani of NationalScholastic.org), who won the men's long jump with a mark of 25-04.75. Goodwin dominated his competition, setting his top mark of the first attempt of the day. Elsewhere, Leslie Brost (SD) and Rachel Laurent (LA) qualified for the women's pole vault final, while Christian Taylor (GA) placed seventh in the men's long jump in 24-03.75, and Lanie Whittaker (FL) advanced to the women's 400m dash final with a 53.61 performance.
**USATF Summaries: AM - PM / Jim Spier Blog (NSSF)
**Joy Kamani Photo Gallery (NSSF) / Official Website
World Junior Day Two Highlights
- Marquise Goodwin (TX) wins men's long jump final in 25-04.75
- Christian Taylor (GA) places seventh in men's LJ final in 24-03.75
- Rachel Laurent (LA) & Leslie Brost (SD) qualify for women's PV final
- Lanie Whittaker (FL) earns spot in women's 400m final in 53.61
- Donn Cabral (CT) runs 30:47.55 in men's 10,000m final, finished 17th
A near three hour weather delay slowed down Saturday's portion of USATF Junior Nationals considerably but many prep athletes still competed well, qualifying for the US Junior National team. The best performance of the evening came from Oregon junior Elijah Greer(pictured right by Margot Kelly), who won the mens 800m dash in 1:47.68, a high school U.S. #4 all-time and a junior class record. On the girls side Cydney Ross (MO) and Shanay Briscoe (TX) picked up first place finishes in the 800m dash and high jump respectively. See what else took place on the second of three days in Ohio.
Top Saturday Highlights
- Elijah Greer (OR) runs U.S. #4 all-time in 800m, 1:47.68 Video
- Shanay Briscoe (TX) wins womens high jump in 5-10.75
- Christian Taylor (GA) leaps 52-08 for second in mens TJ
- Cydney Ross (MO) runs 2:07.12 to win womens 800m Video Interview
- Vashti Thomas (CA) goes 13.62 for second in womens 100mH
- Kori Carter (CA) takes second in womens 400mH, 1:00.69 Video Interview
- Zachary Mellon (MN) blazes 1:48.64 for second in mens 800m
- Dan Block (IL) places second in mens shot put, 62-01.25
- Curtis Beach (NM) makes decathlon squad with 7026 points
The first day of the USATF Junior National T&F Championships got off to a great start Friday as athletes from across the country conviened at Ohio State University. Leading the way on Day 1 was Roxi Grizzle (Tonganoxie, KS). Grizzle (pictured left by Margot Kelly) placed second in the womens javelin competition with a U.S. #5 all-time effort of 170-03. Elsehwere, Booker Nunley (Garner, NC) ran one of the fastest prep marks ever in the 110m hurdles, taking home the title with his 13.40 effort. With two more days of competition remaining, this weekend in Ohio promises to be exciting.
Meet Page / Live Results / Official Website
Top Junior National Friday Highlights
- Roxi Grizzle (KS) throws U.S.#5 all-time javelin in 170-03
- Booker Nunley (NC) blazes 13.40 in mens 110m hurdles
- Anna Jelmini (CA) throws 173-01 to win womens discus throw
- Elijah Greer (OR) top mens 800m prelim time in 1:50.15
- Marquise Goodwin (TX) leaps 25-00 to win mens long jump
- William Wynne (GA) goes 50.76 in mens 400m hurdle prelims
- Hannah Carson (AZ) throws javelin to third place in 163-05
The decision for many athletes this year was hard. Go to Nike Outdoor Nationals, our sports high school track and field champion, or take their talents to Ohio and compete at the USATF Junior National T&F Championships and try to make the world team. Both meets fell on the same weekend this year, so athletes had to make a choice. Well, it turns out many of the top athletes across the country want their shot to make Team USA and the Junior National meet is loaded with talent. See who's got a shot to make the team.
State championships, state qualifying spots and conference titles are up for grabs in most areas of the nation this weekend. With such big stakes on the line one can expect some amazing performances. Keep checking back as MileSplit gives you the top highlights and results of this weekend. (Photo above: Ricky Robertson (MS) soars over 7-02 in HJ, by James Matthews)
**Mason Finley (CO jr. class record & U.S.#3 all-time in discus with 222-01 toss! Results
**Victoria Jordan (TX) U.S. #4 all-time 100m in 11.16 at UIL Champs. UIL Results
**Christian Taylor (GA) 52-06.50 TJ, 25-06 LJ, 46.50 400m, GA State Results
Top Weekend Highlights - Boys
- Will Claye (AZ) U.S.#2 triple jump of 52-04.75 at state
- Tavaris Tate (MS), only a jr., runs U.S.#1 46.41 for 400m
- William Wynne (GA) 13.52 110mH, 36.28 300mH in GA
- Marquise Goodwin (TX) leaps 26-01.50 LJ at UIL, U.S.#1
- Colby Lowe (TX) 8:53.32 3200m, 4:06.87 1600m in TX
- Jordan Clarke (AK) U.S.#1 shot put of 67-10.75 in Alaska
- Joseph Franklin (FL) U.S. #1 800m, running a 1:48.97
Top Weekend Highlights - Girls
- Chanelle Price (PA) betters U.S.#1 800m time with 2:03.20
- Donique Flemings (TX) 40.96 300mH UIL win, U.S.#11 A-T
- Whitney Rose (TX) leaps 41-10.75 TJ at UIL, U.S.#3
- Neely Spence (PA) runs 4:44.38 1600m in PA, U.S.#5
- Barrington (IL) runs 9:03.10 4x800m relay at IL sectionals
- Laura Roesler (ND) 2:05.68 in 800m at Fargo Inv., U.S.#2
- Elizabeth Stover (CO) vaults 13-04 in CO, ties U.S.#4
- Lancaster (TX) wins 4x4 relay in 3:40.41 at UIL Champs.
- Dominique Duncan (TX) 23.52 200m, 11.37 100m in TX
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)
