Minnesotans in Action at Junior Olympics

The 45th edition of USATF's National Junior Olympic Track & Field Championships is underway Wichita, Kansas. More than a hundred athletes from the North Star State are making the trip south for the meet that concludes on Sunday.

USATF-Minnesota Youth Athletics Chairman Chris Dallager has graciously offered to report on the Minnesota exploits at the meet. Below are his reports from the opening day of action on Tuesday and for yesterday's performances.

Tuesday Action ... Shaina Burns (Real Track & Field; Lakeville South HS) is in 3rd after the first day of the Intermediate Girls Heptathlon. She had a solid showing and is only 63 points off of her region points.

James Kruse (Team Woodbury; Irondale HS) is sitting 14th in the middle of a very large pack in the Intermediate Boys Decathlon after day one with 2915 points. His Day 1 points were only 35 points off of his region pace. While stronger in Day 1 events typically, Kruse will look to a strong 110 Hurdle race to start Day 2 off well.

Randy Juell (unattached; Redwood Valley HS) is in 17th place after the first day in the Young Men's Decathlon with 2832 points. 76 points shy of his region points after five events. Juell can look to the Javelin and Discus Throws as strong events on Day 2 to gain ground.

Hannah Steele (Southwest Minnesota Throws Club; Windom Area HS) finished 12th in the Young Women's Hammer Throw with a mark of 35.50 meters (116-6).


Wednesday Action ... In the Intermediate (ages 15-16) Girls Heptathlon, Shaina Burns had an off day at the long jump, pulling her out of contention for 2nd or 3rd place. Her strong finish in the 800 meters in 2:26 secured a 4th place finish for her with a total of 4089 points.

In the Intermediate (ages 15-16) Boys Decathlon, James Kruse finished in 15th place with a total of 5133 points.

In the Young (ages 17-18) Mens Decathlon, Randy Juell finished in 17th with 5116 points.

Natalie Windels (Real Track & Field; Eagan) earned a 6th place national medal in the Midget (ages 11-12) Girls Pentathlon after beating all competitors in the 800 meter final event in a time of 2:34, pushing her from 10th to 6th and a total of 2205 points.

Arianna Passerri (Real Track & Field; Rosemount) performed well in the Bantam (ages 9-10) Girls Triathlon. Unlike the triathlon with bike riding and swimming, this triathlon combines the shot put, high jump and 200 meter dash for girls (400 meter for boys) and scores points for finishes in each event.

Passerri's total of 842 points was 5 points more than her region championship total and she finished in the top third of athletes with a 10th place finish.

Find complete USATF Junior Olympic results HERE.