Down the Backstretch

USATF-Minnesota Youth Athletics Chairman Chris Dallager recaps the fourth day at the AAU National Junior Olympics in New Orleans.

Qualifiers to semi-finals:

200 Meter Dash: Youth Girl Maddie Gourley (Eagan, Track Minnesota Elite) 25.30, 3rd fastest time; Intermediate Boy Shaheed Hickman (Minneapolis, Track Minnesota Elite) 22.59, 18th fastest time.

The rest of the action:

110 Meter Hurdles: Young Men Deshawn Crutch (Brooklyn Park) 15.62, 48th place; Rashad Cohen (Chanhassen) 16.02, 53rd place.

200 Meter Dash: Primary Girl Tyian White (Richfield, Track Minnesota Elite) 35.57, 96th place; Bantam Boy Matthias Algarin (Little Falls) 31.00, 86th place; Sub-Midget Girl Ellie Bedingham (Woodbury) 28.25, 25th place - missing semi-finals by one spot; Midget Girl Kailynn Blanchard (Brooklyn Park) 28.40, 68th place; Dejonae Copeland (Brooklyn Center) 29.92, 94th place; Sub-Youth Girl Briesha Hunter (St. Paul) 26.93, 55th place; Jedah Caldwell (Blaine) 27.85, 93rd place; Intermediate Girl Jacquelyn Bedingham (Woodbury) 26.56, 26th place; Natasha Moore (St. Paul) 26.57, 87th place; Intermediate Boy Jake Gourley (Eagan, Track Minnesota Elite) 23.41, 59th place.

400 Meter Dash: Primary Girl Rebecca Scholder (Plymouth) 1:16.72, 26th place; Sub-Bantam Boy William Klein (Stillwater) 1:08.76, 26th place; Sub-Midget Girl Ellie Bedingham (Woodbury) 1:04.38, 19th place; Lillie Albright (St. Louis Park, Park Flyers) 1:11.27, 79th place; Sub-Midget Boy Marcus Guy (Plymouth) 1:01.40, 15th place; Midget Girl Kailynn Blanchard (Brooklyn Park) 1:13.38, 94th place.

1500 Meter Run: Sub-Bantam Girl Calista Snyders (St. Louis Park, Park Flyers) 6:50.45, 43rd place; Midget Girl Essyonna Peschong (Brooklyn Park, Track Minnesota Elite) 5:51.70, 40th place; Sub-Midget Boy Brendon Snyders (St. Louis Park, Park Flyers) 5:30.43, 35th place; Midget Boy Parker Phillips (Plymouth, Track Minnesota Elite) 5:19.58, 38th place.

Long Jump: Youth Girl Alexis Britten (St. Paul) 3.69 meters (12' 1.5") 75th place; Young Men Deshawn Crutch (Brooklyn Park) 6.38 meters (20' 11.5") 37th place; Jonathan Osifuye (Woodbury) 6.16 meters (20' 2.75") 53rd place.

Triple Jump: Intermediate Girl Mia Barron (Minnetonka) 10.78 meters (35' 4.75") 16th place; Mikayla Ebert (St. Louis Park, Park Flyers) 9.35 meters (30' 8.5") 67th place; Intermediate Boy Ethan Turner (Woodbury) 13.20 meters (43' 4") 13th place; Melvin Curry (St. Louis Park) 12.45 meters (40' 10.5") 35th place; Peyton Bretl (St. Louis Park) 11.31 meters (37' 1.5") 65th place; Joshua Gillespie (Brooklyn Park) 11.30 meters (37' 1.25") 66th place.

High Jump: Sub-Bantam Girl Grace Robinson (St. Louis Park, Park Flyers) 1.01 meters (3' 4") 10th place tie; Sub-Youth Boy Kjetil Cline (Woodbury, East Ridge Athletic Association) 1.52 meters (5' 0") 10th place tie.

Discus Throw: Sub-Youth Girl Cameron Downey (Minneapolis, Track Minnesota Elite) 25.78 meters (84' 7") 11th place; Mariama Gillespie (Minneapolis) 18.97 meters (62' 3") 39th place; Young Women Alejandra Redwing (Victoria) 27.38 meters (89' 10") 38th place; Angie Santiago (Little Falls) 20.32 meters (66' 8") 55th place.

Shot Put: Sub-Midget Girl Beth-el Algarin (Little Falls) 6.35 meters (20' 10") 41st place.