Down the Backstretch

USATF-Minnesota Youth Athletics Chairman Chris Dallager recaps the Day 5 action for Minnesotans at the USATF Junior Olympic National Championships in Wichita, Kansas.

National Medalists
3000 Meter Run: Maria Hauger (unattached, Shakopee) is the national champion in the Young Women's division after a convincing victory in 10:09.96, 30 seconds ahead of the runner-up. McKenzie Holt (unattached, St. Cloud Christian School) finished in 10:39.56 to take the 3rd place medal in the Intermediate Girls age group. Benjamin Olson (unattached, Coon Rapids) earned 5th place in the Midget Boys group with his 10:34.94 effort.

800 Meter Run: Tessa Laska (unattached, South St. Paul) ran the best ever 800 meter time for a Bantam girl from Minnesota (just bettering Danielle Berndt's effort from the 2000 National Junior Olympics in Buffalo, NY) by running 2:37.70 to cross the line in 6th place.

200 Meter Dash: J'ianna Cager (ICAA Breeze) placed 2nd in the Bantam Girls division in a time of 27.74.

In the Intermediate Girls group, Wensia Johnson (unattached, Alexandria) placed 5th with a time of 24.53 and Maddie Gourley (unattached, Eagan) crossed the line in a time of 24.95 to earn 7th place.

Pole Vault: Lee Bares (Fuzion Athletics, Lakeville South) cleared 4.20 meters (13' 9.25") for 4th place in the Intermediate Boys category.

Qualifiers

80 Meter Hurdles: Team Woodbury athletes Maria Versaguis and Evan El-Halawani advance to finals of Midget 80 Meter Hurdles. Versaguis' time of 13.55 is the 5th fastest among the girls and El-Halawani sits in 2nd position for the boys.

100 Meter Dash: In a late posted result from Friday, J'ianna Cager maintained the 2nd best time during the Bantam Girls' semifinal in 13.54 and advances to Sunday's final.

The rest of the action:

High Jump: Matt Anderson (unattached, Eagan) cleared 1.80 meters (5' 10.75") for 20th place for Young Men.

Pole Vault: Mitchell Valli (Zero Gravity, Buffalo) earned 17th place after clearing 3.90 meters (12' 9.5").

100 Meter Hurdles: Shaina Burns (Real Track & Field, Lakeville South) ran 15.60 for 20th place in the Intermediate Girls group. Shakeela Wells-Johnson (ICAA Breeze, St. Paul Harding) ran 16.59 for 31st place and Alanna Lopez (Real Track & Field, Eagan) finished in 19.66 for 44th place.

110 Meter Hurdles: Intermediate Boy James Kruse (Team Woodbury, Irondale) was timed in 16.46 for 35th place.

400 Meter Run: Young Man Calvin Clark (ICAA Breeze, St. Paul Humboldt) ran 49.06 in the semi-final finishing 14th.

3000 Meter Run: Youth Girl Lauren Smith (Team Woodbury, Woodbury) ran 11:06.15 for 10th place. Youth Boy Nick Wareham (Team Woodbury, Woodbury) finished in 27th place in a time of 10:30.78. Midget Boy Willem Gokemeijer (unattached, Edina) earned 19th place with his time of 11:36.28.

4 x 100 Meter Relay: In a late result posting, the Park Flyers (St. Louis Park) Bantam Girls foursome of Grace Robinson, Madison McIntosh, Grace Snyders and Tea Turner ran 1:05.51 for 23rd place.