by Joy Kamani
By Jim Spier
Photos by Joy Kamani
AFTERNOON SESSION
Boys Shot Put Final
Ryan Crouser (Barlow, Gresham, OR) thoroughly dominated the competition, winning as expected. He had 3 throws better than second placer Krzysztof Brzozowski of Poland. Crouser's winning throw was 70-9, a meet record, and he backed that up with throws of 69-2 and 69-0.75.
It was the first medal ever for an American in this event, the best prior result being 10th.
It is the best ever double by an American male in the history of the championships. The prior was the first (TJ) and third (LJ) by Christian Taylor in 2007. It equals the best ever by an American, male or female, with Bianca Knight winning the 100 and taking second in the 200 in 2005.
Ryan Crouser flanked by Krzysztof Brzozowski of Poland on his right and Frans Schutte of South Africa on his left
Here is a history of the finalists:
2003 Sherbrooke
12 Nick Panezich 18.00
2005 Marrakesh
10 Darius Savage 18.39
2007 Ostrava
10 Sean Tabor 18.10
2009 Bressnone
1 Ryan Crouser 21.56
Girls Discus Final
Shanshan Li of China got her big throw in round 1, tossing the disc 169-5. Alex Collatz (Stockdale, Bakersfield, CA) moved into second in that round, throwing 161-0. She improved to 164-4 in round 2, but could never catch Li, and finished second.
This is one event where the U.S. has had a finalist in every Championship. And Collatz's was the best performance ever, both in place and distance.
Alex Collatz
This history of U.S. finalists at the World Youth Championships:
1999 Bydgoszcz
7 Emily Duran 45.76
2001 Debrecen
3 Amarachi Ukabam 46.13
2003 Sherbrooke
5 D'Andra Carter 45.00
8 Misti Barber 43.31
2005 Marrakesh
3 Kamorean Hayes 49.64
4 Amber Paige Newby 47.25
2007 Ostrava
8 Rebecca O' Brien 44.48
2009 Bressanone
2 Alex Collatz 50.09
Boys High Jump
A decent finish for the Americans, David Smith (Lovejoy, GA) and Dwayne Golbek (Claremore, OK). Smith finished =7th at 6-11.75 and Golbek 10th. The winner was Dmitriy Kroyter of Israel, jumping 7-2.5. It was the best ever finish by Americans, and the only time two American had qualified for a final
David Smith
Dwayne Golbek
This is a history of U.S. performers at the World Youth Championships:
=9 Donte Nall 2.08
2005 Marrakesh
=7 David Smith 2.13
10 Dwayne Golbek 2.09
Girls 400m Hurdles Final
The two Jamaicans, Ristanann Tracey and Danielle Dowie led through 9 hurdles, with favorite Vera Rudakova running a steady even race through that point. Rudakova was gaining through the 10th hurdle. Tracey "clobbered" that hurdle and fell to the ground, leaving Dowie with a slight lead. But Rudakova was gaining and pulled away over the last 20 meters to get the win in 57.83. Angelica Weaver (Rancho Cucamonga, CA) was fifth in 61.48.
Angelica Weaver
Here is a history of the finalists:
2001 Debrecen
8 Courtney Clark 63.70
2003 Sherbrooke
3 Mackenzie Hill 59.15
7 Nicole Leach 60.80
2005 Marrakesh
1 Ebony Collins 55.96
2007 Ostrava
1 Delilah Muhammad 57.25
3 Ryann Krais 57.50
2009 Bressnone
5 Angelica Weaver 61.48
Boys 200m Semifinals
(Top 2 in each heat and those with the next 2 fastest times advance to the final)
Heat 1 - The fact that Keenan Brock (Carver, Birmingham, AL) was a last minute add seems to have no affect on his performance. For someone who was not even supposed to be here, he is performing extraordinarily well, winning this heat 21.36, a PB (his round 1 performance was his prior PB). Second was Tomasz Klucznski of Poland at 21.43.
Keenan Brock
Heat 2 - No problem for Dedric Dukes (Washington, Miami, FL), winning easily at 21.22. Leandro de Araujo of Brazil was a distant second in 21.76.
Dedric Dukes easily won his heat
Heat 3 - Kirani James of Grenada, the 400m champion, made it look easy, winning in 21.23. Alberto Gavalda, who led for the first half of the race, was second in 21.43.
Kirani James
Qualifiers for the final
Keenan Brock USA 21.36
Tomasz Kluczynski Poland 21.43
Dedric Dukes USA 21.22
Leandro de Araujo Brazil 21.76
Kirani James Grenada 21.23
Alberto Gravalda Spain 21.43
Sam Watts Great Britain 21.50
Johannes de Klerk South Africa 21.52
Girls 1500 Meter Final
The usual pack with the Kenyans and Ethiopians at the beginning of the race. Chelsey Sveinsson (Greenhills, Addison, TX) settled into 8th as the pack passed 400m in 64.38. She moved up to 5th a 800m, with the leader, Geta Dima (Ethiopia) at the lead at 2:14.76. With a lap to go, Chelsea was in fourth. Then, at 1200m (3:25.14) a group of three pulled away, with Sveinsson trying to gain. It was to no avail as the eventual winner, Nelly Ngeiywo of Kenya separated herself from Sveinsson and two others. It was Ngeiywo first in 4:12.76, followed by Dima (4:15.16) and Amela Terzic of Serbia in third (4:16.71). Sveinsson ran 4:20.29 for fourth. Cory Mc Gee (Pass Christian, MS) was ninth in 4:30.20. Nonetheless, a very respectable showing for the Americans, the first time the U.S. had ever qualified two to the final.
Chelsey Sveinsson
Cory McGee
2003 Sherbrooke
10 Chantelle Dron 4:26.24
2007 Ostrava
2 Jordan Hasay 4:17.24
2009 Bressanone
4 Chelsey Sveinsson 4:20.29
9 Cory Mc Gee 4:30.20
Girls Pole Vault
A gallant effort by Morgann Leleux (Catholic, New Iberia, LA), finishing 5th overall. She made 13-1.5, her best outdoor performance this year. It was the best ever performance by an American at this event. The event was won by Angelica Bengtsson of Sweden at an world youth leading 14-2.
Morgan Leleaux
Angelica Bengtsson of Sweden - gold medalist
2001 Debrecen
7 Julene Bailey 3.80
2003 Sherbrooke
10 Tori Allen 3.60
=12 Jessica Trujillo 3.50
2009 Bressanone
5 Morgann Leleux 4.00
Girls 200m Final
(First 2 in each each and those with the next 2 fastest times advance to the finals)
Heat 1 - Briana Nelson (JL Mann, Greenville, SC) looked very comfortable in easily qualifying for the finals. She ran a relaxed race, winning in 23.78, with Celia Walters of Jamaica second in 24.05.
Briana Nelson easily wins her heat
Heat 2 - A great run for Allison Peter (US Virgin Islands), leading from gun to finish. She won by a big margin over Martina Riedl of Germany, 23.60 to 24.16
Allison Peter
Heat 3 - Jodie Williams of Great Britain dominated the field with a great run of 23.44. Ashton Purvis (St. Elizabeth, Oakland, CA) was a distant second in 24.00, but advanced to the final.
Ashton Purvis qualifies just behind Williams
Qualifiers for the Final
Briana Nelson USA 23.78
Celia Walters Jamaica 24.05
Allison Peter US Virgin Islands 23.60
Martina Riedl Germany 24.16
Jodie Williams Great Britain 23.44
Ashton Purvis USA 24.00
Shaunna Thompson Great Britain 24.05
Mujinga Kambundji Switzerland 24.06
MORNING SESSION
Boys Medley Relay Qualifying
The U.S. came very close to not qualifying. Prezel Hardy had hamstring issues at about 150m and faded to third at the end of his leg. Very unofficial splits were: Colin Hepburn 10.8, Prezel Hardy, 22.2, Jaron Roberson 34.3 and Dedric Dukes 47.3. They finished 7th overall and squeaked in to the final. Our guess for the U.S. team in the final (can only substitute up to two runners): Hepburn or Hardy on the 100m leg, Brock on the 200m leg, Dukes on the 300m leg, and Josh Mance on the 400m (this is total conjecture). That team should be the victors.
Dedric Dukes puts US boys back into Medley finals
100m Gold Medalist Hardy may questionable for Medley final
The Qualifiers
Japan 1:53.58
Jamaica 1:53.89
New Zealand 1:53.97
Trinidad 1:54.09
Brazil 1:54.23
Australia 1:54.49
USA 1:54.82
Canada 1:54.90
History of U.S. finalists:
1999 Bydgoszcz
1 USA 1:51.29
2001 Debrecen
2 USA 1:50.90
2003 Sherbrooke
1 USA 1:52.03
2005 Marrakesh
1 USA 1:51.19
2005 Ostava
1 USA 1:51.19
Girls Medley Relay Qualifying
The U.S. had its "A" team, with Jordan Clark (11.8), Brianna Nelson (23.5), Michelle Brown (38.4) and Ebony Eutsey (53.8). They got the World Junior lead at 2:07.51. This was a pretty good team, and we can only see one possible substitution, that of Ashton Purvis running either the 100 or 200 leg.
Michelle Brown, Jordan Clark, Ebony Eutsy & Briana Nelson
US team runs World Leading mark in Medley Relay Prelims
The Qualifiers
USA 2:07.51
Canada 2:09.27
Hungary 2:08.68
Bahamas 2:10.12
Romania 2:10.48
Jamaica 2:10.72
Japan 2:11.11
Poland 2:11.21
History of U.S. finalists:
1999 Bydgoszcz
1 USA 2:07.71
2001 Debrecen
1 USA 2:03.83
2003 Sherbrooke
1 USA 2:03.87
2005 Marrakesh
1 USA 2:03.93
2007 Ostrava
1 USA 2:05.74
Boys Javelin Qualifying
Devin Bogert (Tomball, TX), the Nike Outdoor Nationals javelin champ, had two fouls on his first two attempts. He wasseemingly hindered by the walk event taking place during the javelin competition. With no mark, he was in big trouble. His final throw came after the completion of the Girls 5000m Walk, and he got a big mark, a PR of 219-0 with the youth weight javelin. He stood fifth in his group and has an excellent chance of making the final.
Devin Bogert
Devin eked in. There were some pretty good throwers in Group B, and he went from the 5th qualifier to the 12th (and last) qualifier. Christopher Rodriguez (Suhuaro, Tucson, AZ) threw well, but could only manage 10th in his group, throwing a decent 215-9. Note that neither javelin throwers come from a state where the javelin is an official event.
Christopher Rodriguez- Personal best in the Javelin prelims
History of US finalists in this event:
2001 Debrecen
10 Dustin Johnson 57.10
2003 Sherbrooke
7 Chad Brown 69.08
Boys 10k Walk
Note that Trevor Barron's fourth place finish and time (42:22.79) is the best ever by an athlete at these championships, and set a U.S. Junior record.
History of U.S. finalists:
2003 Sherbrooke
11 Zach Pollinger 46:08.59
2009 Bressanone
4 Trevor Barron 42:22.79
Girls Long Jump Qualifying
The girls got right to it.
In Group A, A'Lexus Brannon (Ozen, Beaumont, TX) got close to the automatic qualifying distance of 19-8.25, jumping 19-4. She guaranteed it on her second jump, leaping 20-0.5.
In Group B, Jennifer Clayton (Suffern, NY) did not tarry, jumping a lifetime best of 20-10.75 (0.4) on her first jump. That is the U.S. high school leader for 2009. She led all qualifiers. (Clayton finally got a legal jump — so many of her "20 footers" were either windy or without wind information).
Jen Clayton has the best qualifying mark