8/3/15
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The 2015 USATF National Junior Olympic Track & Field Championships wrapped up a week long competition yesterday. Over 130 youth athletes the Association spent the final week of July bringing additional heat to the sunshine state. This was the 49th meeting of the USATF National Junior Olympics where athletes competed through a progressional series of competitions to earn their way to this national stage. Athletes faced stiff competition and even stiffer conditions as the weather yo-yoed from steaming hot to sudden rain and thunderstorms even suspending competition on Thursday, July 30th.
Our TRA youth athletes persevered through the conditions with many landing in the semi-final and final rounds of competition. Steel City Express used the momentum gained from their Regional Championship performances and earned spots on the podium for the 8 & under girls 4×100 and 4×400 relays. The quartet of Christa Sims, Gabrielle Layne, Nia Jones and Amina Josephs placed 6th in the 400m relay and 4th in the 1600m relay. Jayla Ellis of Next Level Athletics turned in her own multi-podium performances placing 2nd in the pentathlon, 5th in the 100mH and 8th in the long jump for 13-14 girls. Other All-Americans include:
11-12 Girls
Danielle Bryant – Stallions Track Club – 400m 5th
Grace Howard – Wings of Moon- HJ 6th
13-14 Girls
Maura Huwalt – South Park Track Club – Javelin 4th
17-18 Women
Jadyn Tiracave – Mountain Top Track & Field – Javelin 4th
9-10 Boys
Michael Crawford – Next Level Athletics – HJ 6th
15-16 Boys
Cameron Elma – Greenburg YMCA – Shot Put 5th
Ayden Owens – Nadia TC – Decathlon 3rd
17-18 Men
Nick Wagner – Greenburg YMCA – 800m 2nd
TRA congratulates all the athletes and teams on their performances and thank you for representing the Association so well at this elite, national competition.
Complete Results for the National Junior Olympic Championships can be found here.
TRA youth competition opportunities can be found here.