by Jim Spier

Men

400 Meters Round 1

(First 3 of each heat (Q) plus 6 fastest times (q) qualify to Semi-Final)

Americans Jayden Deleon (Montgomery Blair, Silver Spring, MD) and Quincy Wilson (Bullis, Potomac, MD) were the fastest overall qualifiers (45.63 and 45.74) which suggests that they are likely potential gold and silver medalists. (That was the order of finish of this year’s U20 championship race). Deleon will be at LSU in the fall and Wilson will be at Maryland.

Three others qualified under 46 seconds: Leendert Koekemoer (South Africa, 45.75), Mohammad Ashfaq (India, 45.75) and Milann Klemenic (France, 45.83). The latter two set their country’s U20 national records in the process.

400 Meter Hurdles Round 1

(First 3 of each heat (Q) plus 3 fastest times (q) qualify to Semi-Final)

Miller Warme, running in the first heat, “took no prisoners” running what would be the fastest time of the trials (49.88). The US High School junior class record holder is from Mulkiteo, WA (Kamiak HS).

Eleven others ran times between 50.45 and 50.97, including the US High School record holder Kennen Davis (Archbishop Carroll, Washington, DC) who won his heat in 50.97. He will be at Texas Tech in the fall.

17 year old phenom Taiju Goto of Japan, the World U18 record holder at 48.09 was the second fastest qualifier(50.45). He is not an especially adept hurdler nor does he appear fast. But he certainly is!

3000 Meter Steeplechase Round 1

(First 8 of each heat (Q) qualify to Final)

No surprise that Kenya had the two leading qualifIers:  Nicholas Lasiwareng (8:45.26) and Emmanuel Sameki (8:47.61). Austin Carrera (Hastings, NE)/Wichita State U, coming in with a PR of 8:54.52, went from 12th to 8th in the final lap to be the last qualifier. He had a personal best of 8:53.45 in doing so. The other American, Eli Fitchen-Young (Duke) withdrew.We are not sure the reason.

High Jump Qualifying

(Automatic qualifying mark 7-03 (Q) or at least best 12 qualify to Final)

Thirteen cleared 7-00.5 including Maddox Krotzer (South Garner, Garner, NC) and Joshua Harel (Notre Dame, Sherman Oaks, CA)/Israel. Gage Voyles (Coahulla Creek. Dalton, GA)/Kennesaw State U, NCAA finalist with a best of 7-05.5 could only manage 6-10.5 and did not advance. Krotzer was “clean” through three heights and was tied for first with 5 other jumpers.

Triple Jump Qualifying

Automatic qualifying mark 52-06 (Q) or at least best 12 qualify to Final

Miles Nesmith (Memphis Central, Memphis, TN) was the leading qualifier, getting a PR in the process. Miles jumped 53-10 on his second jump and retired after that since he had achieved the automatic qualifier. He will be at Kansas State U in the fall. Justin Arogundade (Kell, Marietta, GA) fouled three time unfortunately.

There was no sign of Gian Baxter of Cuba, the World U20 leader at 55-01.5 and the only male entrant from his country.

Women

400 Meters Round 1

Ataja-Stephane Vazquez (Southeast Guilford, Greensboro, NC) had the fastest qualifying time.She ran 51.44, almost a second ahead of the next best. Clara Adams (Wilson, Long Beach, CA) was the 12th qualifier overall, running an easy 53.44.

400 Meter Hurdles Round 1

(First 4 of each heat (Q) plus 3 fastest times (q) qualify to Semi-Final)

Natalie Dumas (Eastern, Voorhees, NJ) and Tatum Lynn (Bullis, Potomac, MD)/Ohio State U. qualified easily to the next round. It was Dumas at 58.86 and Lynn at 59.94. (Most of the heats were relatively slow).

Shot Put Qualifying

(Automatic qualifying mark 52-06 (Q) or at least best 12 qualify to Final)

Jessica Oji (Livingston, NJ)/U of Pennsylvania/Nigeria was the leading qualifier at 57-07.25. Jaslene Massey (Alisa Niguel, Aliso Viejo, CA), the Oregon commit, finished 5th overall at 52-05. Addy Mac Arthur (University, Spokane Valley, WA)/Boise State could manage only 49-00.25 for 19th place and did not advance.

Heptathlon (Long Jump and Javelin)

The long jump leader was Thea Brown of Great Britain (6.39). That for the javelin was Anna Pfister (Switzerland) at 154-09.

Going into he final event, the leading point scorers are Enni Virjonen (Finland, 5353 points), Thea Brown (Great Britain, 5184) and Mia Uusorg(Estonia, 5053). They are the only athletes over 5000 points. American Chiora Enyinna-Okbeigo is in 16th (4489 points) and Destiny Look (with a taped up left thigh) is in 20th with 3960 points.

Mixed 4x100 Meter Round 1

(First 3 of each heat (Q) qualify to Final)

This is a new event for these championships. Great Britain had the fastest time, running 41.60 for a World U20 record. Australia clocked 41.64 and Italy 41.74. The US was the 4th fastest at 41.82. The team was comprise of Cy Lugo (Elk Grove, CA), Ahlayna Taylor (Cypress Woods, Cypress, TX), Nicholas Altheimer (Curtis, University Place, WA/St. Thomas U (FL) and Aster Jones (Roosevelt, Portland, OR).