Age-group world record-holders both run under meet all-time mark in boys 11-12 division 1,500-meter final, with 3,000-meter winner Lanese rallying to prevail 4:19.31 to 4:21.07 against 800-meter champion Jaimez-Solorio Jr.; Rahmer sisters sweep 11-12 and 13-14 girls 3,000 titles, with Muhammad surpassing women’s 17-18 pole vault standard

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

EUGENE, Ore. – From the magnificent light show inside Hayward Field to the Wavelight technology on the track, the stage was set Saturday night for one of the biggest moments of the USATF National Junior Olympic Championships.

And a pair of 12-year-old distance runners, both age-group world record-holders, responded to the spectacular showcase by racing with poise, maturity and determination well beyond their years.

Quenton Lanese of the Barron Park Striders in Olympia, Wash., and Victor Jaimez-Solorio, Jr., representing the Pacific Coast Shock Waves and residing in Apple Valley, Calif., closed out the schedule with a memorable matchup in the boys 11-12 division 1,500-meter final that provided a showdown of the 3,000 champion and 800 winner both seeking bragging rights in between.

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Lanese covered the final lap with a 65.6-second split to hold off Jaimez-Solorio, Jr., by a 4:19.31 to 4:21.07 margin, both athletes running faster than the USATF National Junior Olympic Championships meet record of 4:22.05 established in 2012 by Coleman Mitchell of Triangle Track Club.

Lanese returned to the track 12 hours after winning the 11-12 division 3,000-meter title in 9:26.59, improving on his own meet record of 9:31.17 from last year at Sacramento State.

Jaimez-Solorio, Jr. had a six-hour break following his victory in the 11-12 division 800-meter final in 2:09.90.

Jaimez-Solorio, Jr., established an ambitious early pace in the 1,500 final, building a three-second advantage against Lanese following the first lap. Lanese remained within striking distance over the next 800 meters, before producing a decisive surge that allowed him to pass Jaimez-Solorio, Jr., at the top of the home stretch and never look back.

Lanese has run 4:17.71 and 9:15.18 this year, but few victories in his young career have been as meaningful as the distance double he achieved Saturday.

It was also a significant day for the Rahmer and Muhammad families at Hayward Field.

Isla Rahmer, entering the fifth grade, matched Lanese’s success by sweeping the 11-12 division championships in the girls 1,500 and 3,000 for Albuquerque Athletics Track Club.

Isla Rahmer produced a sub-5 performance for the first time by clocking 4:57.70, also 12 hours after capturing the 3,000 crown in 10:25.41, despite racing in the second heat and not the final section.

Gianna Rahmer not only won the girls 13-14 division title in the 3,000 for Albuquerque Athletics Track Club, the 9:59.85 performance by the incoming eighth-grader at Hoover Middle School was the fastest among all divisions combined Saturday, including the women’s 17-18 final.

Chamorra Cooper of Kokopelli Kids in Colorado, an incoming freshman, placed second in 10:02.68.

Jathiyah Muhammad, an incoming senior representing San Jose Track Club, achieved a meet record by clearing 14-0.50 (4.28m) in the women’s 17-18 division pole vault final, surpassing the 14-foot (4.27m) mark produced last year by Tessa Mudd of Mt. Pleasant Track Club in South Carolina at Sacramento State.

Five athletes cleared 11-10.75 (3.63m) to secure second through sixth place on the podium. Muhammad had three unsuccessful attempts at 14-4 (4.37m).

Jathiyah’s victory followed younger brother Khaliq Muhammad capturing the boys 15-16 division pole vault crown Friday with a 15-9 (4.80m) clearance.

It was also a day for Oregon state champions to compete for the final time as prep athletes at Hayward Field.

Austin Milton, a recent Sherwood High graduate representing Sherwood Track Club, prevailed in the men’s 17-18 division javelin throw final with a sixth-round performance of 213-4 (65.04m).

Milton, an Oregon signee, held off last year’s 17-18 winner and recent Wando High graduate Troy Cocco of Mt. Pleasant Track Club, who achieved a final-round effort of 203-11 (62.16m) to place second.

Cocco triumphed July 9 at the Region 4 Championships at University of South Florida with a lifetime-best 218-foot throw (66.45m).

Sophia Beckmon, an Oregon City High graduate and Illinois signee, joined forces for the final time with Inner Circle Track Club teammates Olivia Hicks, Isabella Kneeshaw and close friend Mia Brahe-Pedersen to win the women’s 17-18 division 4x100-meter relay championship in 44.50.

Athletic Performance Ranch of Texas had Justin Frater, Malik Franklin, Tandon Champion and Jaylen Washington edge Spokane Speed Academy of Washington by a 40.74 to 40.84 margin in the men’s 17-18 division 4x100 final.

Ford Sports Performance from Washington clocked 41.35 to win the boys 15-16 division 4x100 championship.

Athletic Performance Ranch also secured victory in the girls 15-16 division 4x100 final in 46.19.

Mateo Medina, an incoming senior at Elyria High in Ohio representing Oberlin Spikes, won the men’s 17-18 division 200-meter title in a wind-legal 20.87. Micahi Danzy of Florida High and Tallahassee Zoom Track Club placed second in 21.27.

Braelyn Baker, who recently completed her junior year at Bear Creek High in Washington, prevailed in the women’s 17-18 division 200-meter final in a wind-aided 23.42, with Nasya Williams of DeSoto High in Texas earning runner-up in 23.61.

Justin Stewart, an incoming sophomore at Hurst Bell High in Texas representing Athletic Performance Ranch, captured the boys 15-16 division 200-meter crown in a wind-legal 21.09. Tanner Montano of La Cueva High and the New Mexico Jags was second in 21.71.

Lisa Raye, who recently completed her freshman year at West Warwick High in Rhode Island representing the Providence Cobras, triumphed in the girls 15-16 division 200-meter final in a wind-legal 23.74.

Skylar Brazzell of Northwest Nelson High in Texas and Athletic Performance Ranch, who also contributed to the 4x100 relay victory, finished second in 23.89.

Zoe Dorsey, an incoming sophomore at Fayetteville Academy in North Carolina representing the Fayetteville Flyers, secured the girls 15-16 division 800-meter championship in 2:09.10.

Lucy McLean of Ipswich High in Massachusetts, competing for New England Elite Track Club, took second in 2:13.79.

Stefon Dodoo, who recently completed his sophomore year at Springside Chestnut Hill Academy in Pennsylvania and representing AOC Ambler Track Club, clocked 1:50.88 to capture the boys 15-16 division 800 crown.

Jackson Burney of Calvary Baptist High in Louisiana, competing for River Cities Track Club, was runner-up in 1:52.34.

Taylor Brown, an incoming senior at Frisco Lebanon Trail High and representing the North Texas Jackrabbits, emerged victorious in the women’s 17-18 division 800-meter final in 2:10.07.

Kali Magana, who recently completed her junior year at Louise McGehee High in Louisiana and is competing for New Orleans Metro Stars Track Club, placed second in 2:12.49.

Trenton Burningham, a recent graduate of Humble Kingwood Park in Texas representing Track Houston Youth Track, edged Keayari Thompson of Apollo Track, Inc. and Westlake High in Georgia by a 1:53.04 to 1:53.05 margin in the men’s 17-18 division 800-meter final.

Waverly Woolever, an incoming sophomore at Hamilton Heights High in Indiana, cleared 5-5 (1.65m) on her second try in the girls 15-16 division high jump final, and captured the title based on a first-attempt clearance at 5-3 (1.60m).

Lilly Stebbins, who recently completed eighth grade at Challis Middle School in Idaho, also achieved a 5-5 clearance on her second opportunity, but needed three attempts to make 5-3 to extend the competition.

Jaedyn Swindall, an incoming sophomore at Ardmore High representing Southern Oklahoma Throws and Wilson Community Center, secured the girls 15-16 division javelin throw title with a fourth-round mark of 133-9 (40.78m).

Naijah Harris of Hercules Running Rebels in California finished second with a sixth-round effort of 130-4 (39.73m).

Anjali Hocker Singh, an incoming senior at Olathe North High in Kansas, clocked 10:03.35 to win the women’s 17-18 division 3,000-meter title. Jaelyn Miller of Alexandria High in Minnesota was runner-up in 10:38.83.

Sydney Collier of Skyline High in Washington, who recently completed her sophomore year and is representing the Cascade Striders, captured the girls 15-16 division title in 10:23.90.

Avery Boydston, an incoming sophomore at Ellis High and competing for the Kansas Flyers, ran 10:32.66 to finish second.

Henry Peterson of City Honors School in New York triumphed in the boys 13-14 division 3,000-meter final in 9:03.56, holding off Cael Underkoffler of Arkansas Track Club, who clocked 9:04.01.