Freshman at Tigard High representing SuperThrower Track Club follows impressive comeback in Oregon 6A state meet debut by rallying again in fifth round to capture 15-16 division title at Hayward Field; Douglas and McCloyen win 17-18 shot put crowns, with Schykerynec securing hamme throw gold

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

EUGENE, Ore. – Most track and field athletes could compete for several years at Hayward Field and not experience the memorable moments Marissa Johnson has during her freshman season representing Tigard High and SuperThrower Track Club.

After rallying to win the Oregon 6A shot put title with a lifetime-best performance of 44 feet, 5 inches (13.54m) in the fifth round of her state meet debut May 27, Johnson delivered another clutch performance Wednesday at the USATF National Junior Olympic Championships.

Johnson again used the fifth round to make her mark, producing a 43-11.25 (13.39m) effort to prevail in the girls 15-16 division final, handing sophomore Charlee Morton of Hampton-Dumont-CAL in Iowa her first shot put loss of the season.

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Morton opened the competition with a 41-6.50 (12.66m) performance on her first attempt, with Johnson fouling on two of her first four opportunities and still trailing by a nine-inch margin entering the fifth round.

Once Johnson gained the advantage, Morton was unable to surpass the 40-foot mark on either of her final two attempts and placed second.

Johnson’s victory contributed to an impressive day of shot put competition, with Roury McCloyen of St. Joseph High in Mississippi and Greenville Track Club and Donna Douglas of Nettleton High in Arkansas and Ralvis Raptors capturing the 17-18 division championships, both winning their respective events on the first attempts.

McCloyen, a Mississippi State signee, achieved a 65-4.25 (19.92m) effort in the opening round and had the four best marks in the competition to secure the title.

Jaylon Wells, a recent graduate of Warren High in California and a Long Beach State commit representing Bear Down Throws Club, celebrated a lifetime-best performance of 61-2 (18.64m) in the sixth round to place second.

Douglas, who recently completed a record-breaking junior season to earn the Gatorade Arkansas Girls Track and Field State Player of the Year, produced a 48-0.75 (14.65m) mark in the first round of the women’s 17-18 final and had the six best throws of the competition.

Treasure Brown, a recent graduate of Archer School for Girls in California and a Cal State Northridge commit representing the Los Angeles Jets, achieved a personal-best 42-9.75 (13.05m) effort in the fourth round to earn runner-up honors and All-America recognition.

The achievement was even more special for Brown, who had to miss the California state meet May 26-27 because of her high school graduation.

One event that isn’t contested at the California state championships, but was showcased again at the USATF National Junior Olympic Championships is the hammer throw, with the Golden State Throwers adding to their impressive legacy in the women’s 17-18 division final.

Angela Schykerynec, a recent Orland High graduate and a Cal-Berkeley signee, led a Golden State Throwers sweep of the top three spots and five All-America honorees placing in the top eight overall by capturing the title with a sixth-round performance of 171-1 (52.15m).

Jean Ikenaga, a recent Benicia High graduate and a Southern Utah commit, produced a personal-best 151-4 (46.13m) in the sixth round to finish second after placing 12th last year.

Gracelyn Brown, who recently completed her junior year at Granite Bay High, also achieved a lifetime-best effort with her 147-9 (45.03m) mark in the fifth round to elevate from a sixth-place finish last year in the 15-16 division to taking third in the 17-18 final this season.

Kemarah Howard, an incoming senior at Las Vegas Centennial High representing Nevada Track Club, came through with a personal-best clearance of 5-8.75 (1.75m) on her second attempt to secure the women’s 17-18 division high jump title.

Howard and several Nevada Track Club athletes benefited from a GoFundMe campaign to raise money to contribute to travel expenses to allow them to compete at the week-long event in Oregon.

Kya Crooke, who recently completed her sophomore year at Heritage Christian High in Indiana and is representing Soca Speed Track Club, cleared 5-7 (1.70m) on her second opportunity to finish runner-up.

Crooke is expected to compete for the United States at the Pan American U20 Championships, scheduled for Aug. 4-6 in Puerto Rico, following her 5-9.75 (1.77m) clearance July 9 at the USATF U20 Championships at Hayward Field.

Alexander Chapman-Evans, an incoming sophomore at Enloe High in North Carolina representing Run U Xpress, won the boys 15-16 division triple jump championship with a wind-legal effort of 46-3.50 (14.11m) in the second round.

Sam Henderson, who recently completed his sophomore year at Butte High and is representing Butte Track Club in Montana, secured second place with a wind-legal mark of 45-0.25 (13.72m) in the second round.

Jayden Keys, an incoming senior at Katy Tompkins High representing Track Houston Youth Track Club, triumphed in the men’s 17-18 division long jump final with a wind-legal effort of 24-1.50 (7.35m) in the third round.

Coulaj Eans, an NAIA All-American at Xavier-Louisiana, overcame an ankle injury to still place second with a wind-aided performance of 23-8 (7.21m) in the second round. Eans finished sixth May 25 at the NAIA Championships at Indiana Wesleyan with a wind-aided mark of 24-2.50 (7.38m).

Gabrielle Crane, an incoming junior at Etowah High in Georgia representing The Heat Track Club, won the girls 15-16 division long jump crown with a wind-legal opening-round mark of 18-6.50 (5.65m).

Crane rebounded from only achieving a leap of 15-11 (4.85m) in the long jump event Tuesday as part of the 15-16 heptathlon competition to produce the top three jumps in the final.

Caitlyn Cavitt, who recently completed her freshman year at Arlington Martin High in Texas and is representing Athletic Performance Ranch, placed second with a wind-legal effort of 18-1.50 (5.52m) in the third round.