North Star Staters Shining at Junior Olympics

Since the USA Track & Field National Junior Olympics got underway Tuesday in Sacramento, Minnesota athletes have been making their way to the awards stand.

So far, four Minnesotans have earned medals awarded to the top-eight finishers in five separate age-divisions.

USATF Minnesota Youth Athletics Chairman Chris Dallager (who is graciously helping DtB keep track of Minnesotans at JOs) is expecting an even bigger Minnesota turn-out at the AAU Junior Olympics to be held in Norfolk, Virginia starting on Saturday.

Here are the Minnesota place-winners, so far, from USATF Junior Olympics:

Shaina Burns of Prior Lake finished 4th in the Youth Girls' Pentathlon with 3024 points and 8th in the Youth Girls high ump at 5-1. In the high jump, Burns cleared that same height that tied her for 4th place in 2009, Dallager tells us.

Tom Anderson of Andover finished 5th in the Young Men shot put with a throw of 58-1. Dallager notes that Anderson saved his best throwing for the big stage, marking a throw at JOs that was five feet farther than at either the Minnesota or Region meets.

Tom is the son of former Olympians Lynne and Colin Anderson.

Charlie Lawrence of Foley placed 7th in the Intermediate Boys 3000 meter run in 9:12.89. Charlie ran more than 7 seconds faster than he did at the Region meet and set a personal best, Dallager noted.

USATF Junior Olympic action continues through Sunday. Find complete results HERE.

The web-site for the AAU Junior Olympics is HERE.

Team USA Minnesota's Heather Dorniden talks to the Strib HERE.