Contact: Joe Hughes
USA Track & Field
(317) 261-0500
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http://www.usatf.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 26, 2002
Junior Olympians reign over rain
OMAHA- Jimmy Pacifico of Dayton, Ohio came through with a big throw when it
counted to win the youth boys shot put competition Friday at the Junior
Olympics, before rain storms disrupted competition late in the day.
Pacifico launched a throw of 17.53 meters/57 feet, 6.25 inches in the final
round to regain the lead from Tyler Dragon, who finished second with his
final round throw of 17.13m/56-2.5.
Pacifico, who has set national age group records in power lifting, said that
he tried to “get the adrenaline running” before his final throw. On
Thursday, Pacifico fouled on his final throw in the discus and finished
second. On Friday, he capitalized on the situation.
Abby Emsick of Council Bluffs, Iowa threw 49.81/163-5 in the young women’s
discus, winning by 18 feet.
World Junior championship relay gold medalist Christina Hardeman of
Sunnyvale, Calif. ran the fastest time in the young women’s 400m trials,
54.13.
World Junior silver medalist and high school record holder Kenneth Ferguson
ran the second fastest qualifying time in the 400m hurdles. Ferguson’s 52.68
was second only to 2002 Youth Athletics Verizon Athlete of the Meet
recipient Kerron Clement, who ran 52.35.
Gavin Ball won his second young men’s throwing title of the Junior Olympics,
tossing the shot put 60-025. Ball won the discus on Thursday.
Youth Athletics National champion Reginald Witherspoon of Marietta, Ga. ran
47.26 and World Junior gold medalist Ashton Collins ran 47.28, both winning
their heats of the young men’s 400m trials. They will face off in the 400m
finals on Sunday.
Pablo Solares, who ran the top qualifying time in the young men’s 800m
trials Thursday, ran the fastest 1500m trial Friday. Solares’ 1500m time of
3:57 was the best by over eight seconds. The 800m finals will be run
Saturday, and the 1500m finals will be on Sunday.
In the intermediate boys 1500m trials, top 800m qualifier Michael Haddan of
Irvine, Calif. won his heat in 4:09.62, finishing ahead of 2002 Junior
Olympic 2000m steeplechase champion Ben DeLay of Bellevue, Neb., who
finished second in heat one with a 4:10.04. Michael Webley was the fastest
qualifier in the intermediate boys 1500m trials, running 4:09.40.
In midget girls competition, Sharonte Marshall was the only girl that broke
60 seconds in the 400m dash trials, running 59.76, and Erica Alexander of
Rising Stars TC ran the fastest 100m dash trial, clocking a 12.32.
Priya Hoze of Milwaukee, Wisc. just missed the 20 feet mark in the young
women’s long jump, winning with a leap of 6.07m/19-11.
Shaton Palmer of Raleigh, N.C. ran the fastest time of 10.46 in the young
men’s 100m, edging at the line World Junior bronze medalist Willie Hordge,
who ran 10.47.
For full results and live webcast of the Junior Olympics, go to the USA
Track & Field website at www.usatf.org.
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