RECAP: USA Junior Outdoor Championships, Day 3
RECAP: USA Junior Outdoor Championships, Day 3
June 17th, 2012 | Bloomington, IN
The final day of the USA Junior Outdoor Championships was insane as athletes were out to make a statement in the final heats of their events. The results of Day 3 solidified the fact that age doesn't matter when it comes to running ridiculously fast times.
The sprints were blazing on Sunday starting with the women's 400 meters as Ashley Spencer won the final heat easily in a 51.68 with Erika Rucker trailing behind her in a 52.27. Spencer has had an unforgettable freshman track season, already hitting the Olympic A standard with her NCAA Championship victory time of 50.95. Spencer reported that she will not be running at the US Olympic Trials in her Flotrack interview after NCAAs.
The men's 400 meters was just as spectacular as two athletes ran in the 45 second range yesterday in the final. Aldrich Bailey, the senior from Arlington, TX ran a blazing 45.37 followed by Arman Hall with a 45.77. Bailey may have been .07 off from hitting the Olympic A standard on Sunday, but the high school senior already ran 45.19 in the regional meet this past April to easily hit the A standard of 45.30. Arman Hall, ranked #2 this year in the high school boy's 400m, already hit the Olympic B standard this season with a PR of 45.59, ending his high school career on a good note with his 2nd place finish yesterday.
The women's 1500 was looking to be a showdown between Mary Cain of Bronxville High School and Cami Chapus of Harvard Westlake, but Chapus wasn't able to bring her A game on Sunday, finishing 9th with a time of 4:32. Cain blew everyone away in the final, running away from the rest of the field in a 4:14 with 2nd place trailing behind her in a 4:18 by Hannah Meier. To top it off, Cain is only a sophomore in high school and is sure to have many more amazing performances in her young career.
The women's 200 meter final was a bit of a surprise as Shayla Sanders, the high school senior who had the nation's leading time of 23.25 heading into the Championships, was unable to come through with the victory on Sunday. Sanders finished 3rd in the final heat with a time of 23.47 behind winner Olivia Ekpone of Texas A&M (23.18) and Dezerea Bryant (23.30).
The men's 200 meter dash was a standout performance as two athletes ran in the 20 second range for the top two spots. Tyreek Hill ran a blazing time of 20.57 to secure the victory against Aaron Earnest of LSU who was close behind in a 20.88. Hill's time in the final may seem ridiculous, but the high school senior already hit the Olympic A standard earlier in the season at the Golden South meet with a time of 20.14.
Check here for full list of results 2012 USA Junior Outdoor Track and Field Championships.