Ewert lowers own meet record, joins Stevens as only U-20 female athletes to win three in a row at 10,000 meters; Hall becomes first to repeat in heptathlon in a decade, with Craig improving on freshman class national mark

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

MIRAMAR – Two of the country’s most versatile prep athletes both added to their resumes Sunday at the USATF U-20 Outdoor Championships, albeit with different emotions surrounding their achievements.

TEAM USA U-20 CHART | RESULTS | PHOTOS | INTERVIEWS

Beavercreek OH junior Taylor Ewert, representing Southwest Ohio Track Club, continued to build on her impressive legacy with a third consecutive title in the women’s 10,000-meter racewalk, delivering another dominant performance by lowering her own meet record to 48 minutes, 24.61 seconds as a dress rehearsal for her debut at the 20-kilometer distance June 30 in New York.

Following the most frustrating second day of her career, Valor Christian CO graduate Anna Hall, representing FK Elite, was just happy to still make heptathlon history by repeating as champion with 5,646 points at Florida’s Ansin Sports Complex.

And Bryanna Craig of Millville Senior NJ was all smiles following a fourth-place finish, continuing to demonstrate how bright her future is in the multis with another freshman class national heptathlon record 5,094 points.

Ewert, who won her first title as a freshman in Sacramento and added a second championship last year by clocking 49:07.52 in Bloomington, Ind., became the fourth female athlete in meet history to win at least three straight racewalk titles.

Sophomore Grace Endy of Westfield NJ, representing the Westfield Area Y Flyers, placed second in 56:21.52.

Ewert joined Robyn Stevens as the only competitors to capture three in a row at 10,000 meters. Stevens captured her first title in 1999 at the 5,000-meter distance, then won three more from 2000-02 at 10,000.

Ewert elevated to No. 7 among U-20 performers in the world this year and 26th overall among global competitors. After placing sixth at the Pan-Am U-20 meet in 2017 in Peru, she will attempt July 21 in San Jose, Costa Rica to secure the first women’s racewalk medal at the biennial competition for the U.S. since 2007.

Following the highest-scoring first day of her career with 3,625 points, the Georgia-bound Hall struggled in the long jump and javelin throw, before regrouping to win the 800 meters in 2:14.73.

Hall became the first female athlete since former UCLA and Kansas State standout Ryann Krais in 2008-09 to win back-to-back heptathlon titles and only the fourth in meet history. She joined Prosser WA graduate Kelly Blair-LaBounty (1988-89) as the only individuals to capture both championships before entering college.

North Carolina State freshman Timara Chapman placed second with 5,383 points and Craig improved on her winning effort of 4,958 points at New Balance Nationals Outdoor by building off the momentum of a strong first-day score Saturday to easily surpass the 5,000-point barrier by clocking 2:22.58 in the 800.

Although there were only four competitors in the men’s decathlon, the two-day schedule was filled with several momentum swings and a few untimely setbacks.

In the end, Rice freshman Corbett Fong prevailed with 6,766 points and Brentwood TN junior Jett Kinder took second with 6,512 points after St. Christopher’s VA graduate Elby Omohundro cramped up during the 1,500 and finished in 6:29.26 to place third with 6,244 points.

Cal freshman Hakim McMorris overcame a fall in the 110 hurdles to open Sunday’s schedule by finishing the remaining four events and scoring 5,871 points.

Missouri Baptist freshman Jordan Crawford won the men’s 10,000 racewalk in 53:40.03 and Kingsway Regional NJ junior Samuel Allen took second in 54:08.19.