Minnesotans Shine at Junior Olympics

The professional athletes we reported on yesterday weren't the only Minnesota tracksters in action last weekend. The future of the sport -- the state's top junior athletes -- were competing at the USATF National Junior Olympic Championships in Omaha, Nebraska.

USATF Minnesota secretary Chris Dallager sent Down the Backstretch the following report on the top performances by Minnesotans in Omaha:

Chelsea Pettit, 16, Young Women's 1500m, 4:49.45, 2nd place (Chelsea is a Holy Angels athlete, was 3rd in the 1600m at the MSHSL meet this year, and competed for the Startan Club this summer.)

Shane Streich, 11, Midget Boys' 1500m, 4:46.97, 2nd place (Shane competed for the Waseca Club.)

Christian Kolb, 15, Intermediate Boys' Pole Vault, 4.20m (13' 9.25"), 4th place (Christian is the son of Minnesota State University Mankato Pole Vault coach Matt Kolb. He was 6th at the MSHSL meet this year. He competed for the Southern Minnesota Vault Club this summer.)

Macauley Spandl, 16, Intermediate Boys' Pole Vault, 4.05m (13' 3.5"), 8th place (Macauley is from Moorhead and competed unattached.)

Tey Rione Harrell, 11, Midget Boys' High Jump, 1.45m (4' 9"), 6th place tie (Tey Rione competed for Hospitality House.)

Tamaria Verdell, 10, Bantam Girls' Shot Put, 7.51m (24' 7.75"), 7th place (Tamaria competed for Hospitality House.)

Matthew Rosen, 12, Midget Boys' 800m, 2:22.99 in prelims and 2:26.53 in finals, 8th place (Matthew competed unattached.)

Team Woodbury, Youth Girls' 4 x 800m relay, 10:24.37, 8th place (Kristen Bourne, 13, Jacleen Patterson, 13, Aislinn Pomfret, 14, and Ainslee Neu, 13.)

There were a number of other Minnesota athletes at the meet. A few other performances in the top 10:

Sean King, 18, Young Mens' 100m, 10.85, 10th place (Sean is a Cretin Derham Hall grad heading to the University of Minnesota. He was 2nd in the 100 and 200 at the MSHSL meet this year. He competed unattached this summer.)

Amy Kubat, 18, Young Women's Shot Put, 12.60m (41' 4.25"), 10th place (Amy was the state champion at the MSHSL meet in the shot put for Owatonna High School. She competed unattached this summer.)

Shane Streich, 11, Midget Boys' 800m, 2:25.28, 10th place.

Shane Streich, 11, Midget Boys' High Jump, 1.40m (4' 7") 10th place tie.