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World Juniors Day One Recap - DyeStat

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DyeStat.com   Jul 22nd 2014, 11:12pm
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Day One Morning Session at World Juniors

 

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor


The world is a very big place with a lot of talent and diversity. On the first day of IAAF World Juniors on Tuesday at Hayward Field, some of America's best teenagers got a taste of high-quality international track and field the likes of which they hadn't seen before.


Grant Fisher, Foot Locker champion and adidas Dream Mile winner, who will be a senior at Grand Blanc HS in Michigan, was disappointed after finishing ninth in the 1,500 meters despite a PR 3:49.62. He was jostled repeatedly and ultimately was not able to respond when the back half of the back passed him with 600 to go. The winner of his heat ran 3:41.35.


But Fisher is 17 and is two years younger than most of the runners in his event. Patrick Joseph, a collegian from Virginia Tech, ran 3:49.00 and didn't qualify either.


"Going in I knew that a lot of these guys had sub-four minute (mile) equivalent PRs and fast times, but every race I go into I go in trying to win," Fisher said. "I'm happy to be here representing the U.S.A and to compete against all these different countries it's really an honor. It's humbling to think that you're pretty good in the U.S. but when you come to these meets it definitely let's you know where the rest of the world is at."


Raevyn Rogers, New Balance Nationals Outdoor champion, does not lack for confidence. But 300 meters into her 800-meter prelim she was tripped up from behind, a startling and rhythm-rocking bump that she was not able to recover from.


Top sprinters Trayvon Bromell and Kendal Williams, and pole vaulters Desiree Freier and Bonnie Draxler, and Georgetown freshman Sabrina Southerland (800), are safely through after their first appearances at World Juniors. So are Misana Viltz (13.59) and Nick Anderson (13.61) in the men's 110 hurdles.


Rebekah Wales and Megan Glassmann were both eliminated in qualifying of the women's javelin.


The competition in Eugene is a considrable step up from last year's World Youth Championships, where the age limit is 17.


Heptathlete Ashlee Moore ran a sparkling 13.59 in the 100 hurdles to open the meet but then shuffled back to fifth place after a 5-8 high jump. Shaina Woods is 17th after two events. Decathletes Harrison Williams and Gabriel Moore stand 16th and 17th after three events.


For all of Eugene's history of hosting major track meets, the 2014 World Juniors marks the first time that "TrackTown, USA" has hosted a global championship. And the local organizing committee's success this week could go a long way toward Eugene's hope to secure the 2019 World Championships. (The final presentations for that bid happen this fall).


The gathering this week in Eugene comes after a successful global World Cup in Brazil and amid geo-political upheaval. Donetsk, Ukraine, site of last year's World Youth Championships, is less than 50 miles from the downed MH-17 Flight.


Track and field, like soccer, is an expression that is universally understood.



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