National records fall on day three of USATF Junior Olympics

National records fall on day three of USATF Junior Olympics
7/25/2012

BALTIMORE, Md. - Thousands of athletes, parents and fans flocked to the track and watched additional national records fall at the USA Track & Field National Junior Olympic Championships Wednesday as competition continued at W.A.C. Hughes Stadium on the campus of Morgan State University.

With the claps and roars of the electrified crowd behind her Bantam Girls high jumper Victoria Plummer raced forward and leaped over the bar breaking the national record of 1.45m/4-9 set by Carlie Queen in 2009.

“I just came here to jump and that’s all I did,” Plummer said. “It is my mom’s birthday and she told me to do my best and break the record for her.”

Even after the record belonged to Plummer she continued to push herself over the bar and broker her own record an additional two times. The crowd erupted into applause as the young Plummer waved and smiled. Her winning jump of 1.50m/4-11 was more than enough to give her the national record and gold medal victory. Confidence and the desire to better her performance from last year helped Plummer accomplish her goals.

“I knew I could break the record,” Plummer said grinning ear to ear. “ It feels amazing because last year I didn’t do that well and I got fifth but now I’m really happy.”

Across the track Christina Hillman was trying to etch her own name in the record books. The Young Women’s shot putter was aiming to better two-time Olympian Michelle Carter’s national record of 15.82m/51-11 set in 2003. Hillman was able to do so with her throw of 16.41m/53-10.25. With a national record and national title to her name, Hillman also impressed by throwing almost two meters further than her nearest competitor.

Maalik Murphy capped off the record breaking day in the Sub-Bantam boys javelin. Murphy (Speed City Track Club) smashed his own national record of 25.10m/82-4 that he set in 2011 with a monster throw of 33.29m/109.03. Murphy’s tremendous throw gave him a new personal best, a gold medal and defeated his nearest competitor by a staggering 10 meters.

Winners from today’s events include:
Intermediate Girls Long Jump: Courtney Corrin (6.08m/19-11.50)
Intermediate Boys Triple Jump: KeAndre Bates (14.47m/47-5.75)
Bantam Girls High Jump: Victoria Plummer (1.50mN/4-11.00)
Youth Girls High Jump: Shayla Broughton (1.70m/5-7.00)
Young Women Shot Put: Christina Hillman (16.41mN/53-10.25)
Young Men Discus: Cullen Prena (56.49m/185-04)
Sub-Bantam Boys Javelin: Maalik Murphy (33.29mN/109-03)
Youth Girls Pole Vault: Carson Dingler (3.20m/10-6.00)
Intermediate Girls Shot Put: Ashlie Blake (14.88m/48-10)
Youth Boys Shot Put: Ricardo Smith (17.06m/55-11.75)
Youth Boys Pole Vault: Travis Kartz (3.80m/12-5.5)
Midget Girls High Jump: Taylor Sutton (1.58m/5-2.25)
Intermediate Boys Discus: Anthony Dudley (50.77m/166-07)
Young Men Long Jump: Cameron Hudson (7.25m/ 23-9.50)
Youth Boys Triple Jump: Denzel Harper (12.91m/42-4.25)
Intermediate Girls 4x800m Relay: Quiet Fire TC ( 9:28.91)
Intermediate Boys 4x800m Relay: Carolina Allstars (8:07.00)


Competition will resume Thursday beginning at 8 a.m. (Eastern) with the Midget Girls 4x800m relay.

Complete results and live updates can be found here.


Emily Pritt
Communications Intern
USA Track & Field
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