Friday, July 23, 2010

Athletes on the hunt for repeat wins at USATF Junior Olympics

Returning champion Jasmyne Graham (Moreno Valley, Calif.) looks to rewrite the record books and highlight this year's 44th USATF Junior Olympic Track & Field Championships held in Sacramento California, July 27-August 1, at Hughes Stadium.


The USATF Junior Olympic Track & Field Championships is the most visible youth athletic development program in the world. Many of today's Olympic stars began their track and field careers competing in the USATF National Junior Olympic Track & Field Championships. Entry for this championship is based on athlete performances at Preliminary, Association and Regional levels of the 2010 USATF Junior Olympic Program. Competition takes place in five two-year age divisions, with athletes generally falling between the ages of 8 and 18.



To watch the live webcast of the meet, visit the USATF online store: http://www.usatf.org/store/showProducts.asp?category=Videos



Inspired by the legendary 'Flo Jo,' Graham won last year's Midget Girls pentathlon event (3,346 points), set a Junior Olympic 80m hurdle record (11.94), took first in long jump (5.41m/17-9w)and ran as a part of the California Rising Stars' sixth-place finishing 4x100m relay team. This year won't be much different, as Graham will compete in the Youth Girls' pentathlon, long jump, 200m and 100m-hurdle events.



Also looking to hunt down multiple event records, The Wings TC's Raevyn Rogers (Houston, Texas) will compete in the Youth Girls 200m, 400m and 800m events. Rogers won the 2009 Junior Olympics Youth 400m and 800m events, setting a meet record in the latter (2:08.17). She currently holds the National record in both the Midget Girls and Youth Girls 800m events.



Last year's Midget Girls javelin champion Mystasia Alexander (Lynwood, Calif.) of the LA Jets Girls will also be on the look out for a great record setting performance as she returns to compete in the Youth Girls javelin event. Alexander owns the Bantam Girls javelin record at 37.15m/121-10. Adding to her repertoire, she will also compete in this year's discus throw, an event in which she placed fifth in last year's competition.



Also watch for some of last year's event winners returning for more action: Kennedy Blahnik, returning in the Youth Girls shot put and discus throw; Jordie Munford (SoCal Comets) in the Intermediate Girls 100m hurdles and triple jump; racewalkers Caitlin Palacio (LSI Sprint) in the Midget Girls 1,500m and Erika Shaver (Miami Valley TC) in the Young Women 3,000m; Sara Tolson (Pawhuska, Okla.) in the Young Girls discus and shot put; and Melissa Parks (Norfolk, Neb.) in the Young Girls 2,000 steeplechase.



This year's event will also host a 3k run for everyone on Sunday, August 1 across from Hughes Stadium. To enter, visit: http://www.usatf.org/events/2010/USATFJuniorOlympicTFChampionships/3kfunrun.asp



For more information on the USATF Junior Olympic Track & Field Championships visit http://www.usatf.org/events/2010/USATFJuniorOlympicTFChampionships/

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