Down the Backstretch

USATF-Minnesota Youth Athletics Chairman Chris Dallager recaps the Day 6 action for Minnesotans at the USATF Junior Olympic National Championships in Wichita, Kansas. Thanks to Chris for providing the coverage.

National Champion
Mark Braun (Irondale HS) won the Disabled 800 Meter (wheelchair division) in a time of 2:05.58. While still an exhibition event for the Junior Olympics, the Athletics for the Disabled committee of USATF named the event their national championship. Braun had to miss the inaugural MSHSL championships due to a mission trip to Jamaica.

National Medalists
80 Meter Hurdles: Team Woodbury athletes Maria Versaguis and Evan El-Halawani each captured 5th place in the Midget age division. Versaguis ran 13.31 and El-Halawani finished in 12.90.

100 Meter Dash: J'ianna Cager(ICAA Breeze) now has a pair of 2nd place medals with her 13.29 time in the Bantam division to go with her 200 meter medal. Jia Lewis (Eagles Wings) captured 5th place in the Midget Girls group in a time of 13.05. Wensia Johnson(unattached, Alexandria) received her second medal by running 12.02 for 2nd place in the Youth Girls division.

400 Meter Dash: J'ianna Cager(ICAA Breeze) received her third medal with a 5th place 1:05.96 effort in the Bantam Girls 400. Tylan Brooks(ICAA Breeze) received 8th place among Bantam Boys with his 1:5.54 time. Youth Boy Jakobi Jackson(ICAA Breeze) showed the club strength in the event with his 52.95 run for 6th place.

800 Meters: Results that were posted too late from Saturday to be included previously showed Youth Girl Jenna Truedson(unattached, Bemidji) receiving 5th place in 2:19.73. Intermedaite Girl Samantha Nielsen(ICAA Breeze, Roseville) earned 3rd place in 2:15.08.

Disabled 800 Meter(wheelchair division): Rose Hollerman(Waterville-Elysian-Morristown) earned 3rd place in a time of 2:21.66.

1500 Meter Run: Bantam Girl Tessa Laskaunattached, South St. Paul) earned her 2nd medal of the meet with her 6th place 5:34.04 effort. Midget Boy Jackson Sokolowski(Park Flyers) also received 6th place with his 4:50.43 time. Youth Girl Jenna Truedson (unattached, Bemidji) ran 4:52.69, good enough for 5th place. Intermediate Girl Samantha Nielsen(ICAA Breeze, Roseville) takes home another 3rd place medal with her time of 4:48.42. Intermediate Boy Shane Streich(unattached, Waseca) ran 4:08.30 for 3rd place. Young Woman Maria Hauger(unattached, Shakopee) also placed 3rd with a run of 4:40.09.

Long Jump: 14 year old Wensia Johnson(unattached, Alexandria) jumped 5.54 meters (18' 2.25") to take her third medal of the meet.

Pole Vault: Young Man Grant Krieger(unattached, The Blake School) cleared 4.60 meters (15' 1") to share a tie for 6th place.

High Jump: Intermediate Boy Denzell Oats(Park Flyers, St. Louis Park) sailed over the bar at 1.85 meters (6' 0.75 inches) to share a tie for 8th place.

The rest of the action:

Pole Vault: Jake Zebedee(Fuzion Athletics, Blue Earth Area) shared a tie for 19th in the Young Men's division after clearing 4.30 meters (14' 1.25").

1500 Meters: Bantam Girl Sarah Olson(unattached, Coon Rapids) ran 5:45.21 for 11th place. Sara's brother Benjamin Olson finished one spot out of the medals in 9th place with his time of 5:00.09 in the Midget Boys group. Bantam Boy Russell Gokemeijer(unattached) finished in 33rd place with his time of 6:28.47.