ESPNHS Track & XC

Gary Stautz is sympathetic to the plight of Gresham (Ore.) High School’s future javelin throwers.

“You know in order to break the school record now, you have to break the national record, too,” said the school’s long-time throws coach.

It’s not a complaint, but a badge of honor. Sam Crouser and his little sister Haley, a junior who will compete at the OSAA Class 6A/5A/4A Track and Field Championships this weekend at Hayward Field in Eugene, have come along and re-set the standards for high school javelin throwing.

But the Crousers, talented as they are, didn’t arrive at those records out of the blue. In Oregon track and field, there is a mystique associated with the javelin that is built upon more than half a century of headline-makers in the event.

Coaching, the lure of college scholarships, and even the state’s climate, are factors in Oregonians’ continued fascination, and success, throwing the javelin.

This year’s national rankings show that 10 of the top 25 girls in the country come from Oregon. Meanwhile, six of the top 25 boys come from the state (Pennsylvania has nine).

There are certainly reasons for that, the biggest being that only 18 states participate in the javelin (although athletes from other states do occasionally get to throw it). California doesn’t throw it; Texas doesn’t throw it.

But Washington, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Kansas and others do.

In Oregon, there is lore associated with the event dating back to the 1930s. The first boy to throw 200 feet in the state meet was Warren Demaris back in 1931. And in 1934, Bob Parke became the first of the University of Oregon’s seven NCAA javelin champions. (The university’s influence on the high school scene can’t be understated. In 1964, Oregon went 1-2-3 in the javelin at the NCAA Championships).

In 1959, Glen Winningham of Grants Pass, Ore. broke the national scholastic record when he threw 225-6. Six years later another Oregon thrower, Ansten “Ole” Totten of Clatskanie, set the national mark when he hit 231-7.

In 1971, a phenomenon named Russ Francis moved to Oregon from Hawaii halfway through his senior year of high school. At 6-foot-6, 220 pounds, the 18-year-old Francis was a star football prospect who signed with the University of Oregon. He had never seen a javelin before he saw one in a Eugene sporting goods store and wasn’t sure what it was for.

But a coach at Pleasant Hill High School taught Francis how to throw it and within a matter of weeks he became the best high school thrower in the country. He threw 253-1 to break Mark Murro’s (N.J.) 1967 national record. And then he broke it again with 259-9.

Francis went on to an NFL career playing tight end for the New England Patriots and San Francisco 49ers and his high school javelin record remained on the books for 17 years.

In 1988, Art Skipper of Sandy, Ore. went after the Francis record. And at the Oregon state championships that year, he threw the javelin almost clear across the infield at Hayward Field in Eugene. The mark was measured at 259-10 – a new record by a single inch.

Skipper’s mark lasted until the slate was wiped clean by the “new rules” international javelin in 2002.

The international javelin record was traced back to a European exchange student attend school in New York, Tommy Viskari, from fall of 1988 (241-1).

But Sam Crouser, nephew of former Oregon state champion and one-time world record holder Brian Crouser, came along and smashed the record in 2010 with 255-4.

So what is it about Oregon?

“There’s been a foundation for that event that’s been laid down years ago,” Stautz said. “When I look around the state, I see quality coaches in abundance.”

Gary Reddaway, second in that 1964 Oregon javelin sweep, became an influential coach in the state for many years.

And Joe Boutin is in his fourth decade coaching the throwers at Newberg High School, where he has a long line of state champions, including 1984 Olympian Lynda Hughes (Suftin) and 2005 U.S. girls record-setter Rachel Yurkovich (and also 2012 U.S. men’s leader Cyrus Hostetler).

Boutin and other coaches also may have gotten an assist from Oregon’s rainy spring weather. The theory goes that some of the state’s baseball players get frustrated over the frequency of rained out games, and some are peeled off by savvy track coaches who teach them to throw.

The best girls’ javelin throwers in the state all seem to have one thing in common: Volleyball. Yurkovich and Haley Crouser are just two examples of girls who turned the spiking motion of their right arms into record-setting javelin launchers.

But javelin in Oregon is not isolated to just a few pockets. Successful throwers come from every part of the state.

“There is a high expectation of what it takes to win a state title,” said Hidden Valley (Grants Pass, Ore.) coach Josh Standley said. “In Oregon, it takes a farther throw. We laugh sometimes because a girl who takes fifth in our district meet (and doesn’t qualify for state) might be top-five in another state.”

Hidden Valley has a contender for the Class 4A title with Bailey Bars, who has thrown US#23 144-9 this year. Eight girls in Oregon have thrown farther, including Crouser, the reigning 6A champ.

Brianna Bain, fourth place in last year’s Oregon Class 6A championship meet, won the Pac-12 Conference championship two weeks ago as a freshman for Stanford.

Oregon coaches and parents have also picked up on the mathematics of scholarships. If only 18 states throw the javelin, and every college track team in the U.S. competes in the event, then the odds of throwing far enough to earn financial aid start to look pretty good compared to other sports.

“I’ve been saying that for 20 years,” Dean Crouser, father of Sam and Haley, said. “It’s the path of least resistance. If you can throw 150 (feet), that could mean a full-ride (scholarship) at a D1 school.”

With something close to her PR, Bars would have scored at the SEC, Big Ten and Big 12 conference championships. She’d have been one place out of scoring at the Pac-12 meet.

Crouser, at 17 years old, is looking forward to the Olympic Trials. She could reasonably place in the top five or so there.

But another development in Oregon this spring may do even more to illustrate how outsized javelin has become to the state’s track identity. In the sparsely populated eastern side of the state a pair of small-school athletes dueled for Class 1A supremacy in the javelin.

First, Prairie City’s Brady Doty topped 200 feet when he went 200-3 (US#22).

Then at the state meet, rival Justin Larson of Dayville pulled in front and won the title with 201-3 (US#19).

Prairie City has an enrollment of 78 students.

Dayville has only 23.

“It was usually a toss up between us,” Larson said. “We’ve been to five or six of the same meets (this spring). He won about half and so did I. It was super close.”

Press Release

NEW YORK CITY (May 16, 2012)—Josh Lampron and Ben Malone, who own the two fastest 1500-meter times in the nation so far this season, are among 16 top high school athletes added to the fields for the adidas Dream 100 and adidas Dream Mile at the adidas Grand Prix on June 9, organizers have announced.

Also headlining the roster are Ajee Wilson, the 2011 World Youth Champion at 800 meters, and freshman sensation Alexa Efraimson, the first freshman ever invited to a Dream event.

The Dream 100 and Dream Mile are again destined to be among the most hotly contested events at the adidas Grand Prix on June 9. In its eighth year as one of the premier track-and-field events in the world, the adidas Grand Prix, at Icahn Stadium on Randall’s Island, will feature dozens of Olympic medalists and World Champions, including Yohan Blake, the reigning 100-meter World Champion, and David Rudisha, the 800-meter World Record-holder, who will be making his U.S. debut. The event will again be the sixth stop on the international Samsung Diamond League circuit and is part of the Visa Championships Series. Tickets are now available at adidasgrandprix.com or by calling 1-877-849-8722.

Lampron, a senior from Mansfield, Mass., last weekend ran 3:45.74 for 1500 meters at a meet in Boston, among the top-20 high school times in U.S. history and the fastest in the nation since 2009. The 2011 national champion in the mile, Lampron is a three-time state champion and will attend Villanova University in the fall.

Malone, a junior from Hillsdale, N.J., is the 2012 National Indoor Champion at 800 meters and holds U.S. high school indoor records for a junior at 800 meters (1:49.94) and 1000 meters (2:23.56). On Monday, he ran the #2 time in the U.S. at 1500 meters, 3:49.84.

A senior from Neptune, N.J., Wilson is one of the top high school athletes in New Jersey history. Currently ranked #2 in the nation at 800 meters, she finished the 2012 indoor season ranked #1 at both 600 and 800 meters. A qualifier for the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials, Wilson will attend Florida State University.

Efraimson, of Camas, Wash., has run 4:23.41 for 1500 meters already this season to rank #4 on the U.S. list, and her time of 2:08.92 for 800 meters is #7. She finished 14th at cross country nationals last fall.

Also accepting invitations to the Boys’ Dream Mile are Jacob Burcham, a junior from Ona, W. Va.; who finished seventh at 1500 meters in the 2011 World Youth Championships in 3:46.55, the fastest time by a U.S. prep last year; Brannon Kidder, a senior from Lancaster, Ohio, a four-time state track champion ranked #4 in the U.S. at 1600 meters who is headed to Penn State University; Craig Nowak, a senior from Cypress, Tex., who is a five-time 5A state champion, ranks #2 at 1600 meters and #3 at 3200 meters, and will attend Oklahoma State University; and Craig Engels, a senior from Pfafftown, N.C., ranked in the top 10 at the mile (#3), 1500 meters (#4), and 3200 meters (#10). Engels was the 2012 Penn Relays Mile Champion in front of Burcham, the runner-up, and Malone, who placed third. He will attend North Carolina State University.

Joining Wilson and Efraimson in the Girls’ Dream Mile will be Haley Pierce, a senior from Wilmington, Del., the 15-time State Champion ranked #3 at 3200 meters and #4 at 1600 meters who will attend Georgetown University; Angel Piccirillo, a senior from Homer Center, Penn., who is a two-time state Gatorade Cross-Country Athlete of the Year, a seven-time State Champion, ranks #2 in the mile and will attend Villanova University; Amy-Eloise Neale, a junior from Snohomish, Wash., six-time Washington 3A State Champion ranked #4 in the mile and #6 at 1500 meters; and Paige Rice, a sophomore from St. Mary’s Academy in Portland, Ore., the 6A Oregon Cross Country State Champion ranked #4 in the U.S. at 1500 meters.

Burcham, Wilson, Pierce, Piccirillo and Neale are all making return Dream Mile appearances.

Joining the field of the adidas Boys’ Dream 100 are Raymond Bozmans of Fort Collins, Colo., a senior ranked #3 in the U.S. at 100 meters and #5 at 200 meters who is the 2012 Arcadia Invite Champion and will attend Texas Christian University on a football scholarship; and Khalfani Muhammad of Sherman Oaks, Calif., a junior who is the 2012 Mt. SAC champion at both 100 and 200 meters and 2011 state runner-up in both distances.

Added to the adidas Girls’ Dream 100 are Kali Davis-White of Lauderdale Lake, Fla., a junior ranked #4 in the U.S. and 2012 Florida State 4A runner-up at both 100 and 200 meters to the previously announced Shayla Sanders; and Destinee Gause of Reynoldsburg, Ohio, a senior who is the 2012 National Indoor Champion at 200 meters and is ranked #5 at 100 meters. The 2011 Ohio State Champion at 100 and 200 meters, she will attend the University of Florida.

Fields for the Dream Mile and Dream 100 are being drawn from the winners of three qualifying meets in the adidas Golden Stripes series, as well as from at-large bids. The first meet, the adidas Meet of Champions, was held on March 24, followed by the Kansas Relays in Lawrence, Kan., April 19-21. Next up is the Golden South Classic in Orlando, Fla., on May 26. In addition to the opportunity to compete in a world-class international track event, athletes in the Dream Mile and Dream 100 will also have the chance to receive coaching from mile legend Jim Ryun.

All of the latest news, photos and additional information on the event can be found at adidasgrandprix.com, the event’s pages on Facebook at facebook.com/adidasGrandPrix and on Twitter at twitter.com/adidasGrandPrix. When tweeting, use #agpny. For even more coverage on the Dream Mile and Dream 100, visit adidasgoldenstripes.com.

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MEDIA CONTACT:
Sara Hunninghake, Global Athletics & Marketing
media@globalathletics.com
917.972.3656

The Olympic Trials, which will decide which U.S. track and field athletes make it to the 2012 London Games, are just six weeks away.

As the high school season moves toward state championships from coast to coast, we have an eye on which preps may crash the party in Eugene and go head to head with professionals and collegians in competition for a spot in the U.S. Olympic team.

Making it to the Olympics as a high school student (or recent graduate) is exceedingly rare in modern track and field. Dwayne Evans made the team in 200 in 1976, shortly after graduating from Arizona’s South Mountain High School. The same year, Johnny "Lam" Jones, a legend from Lampassas High (Texas) made it in the 100 meters and won a gold medal in the 4x100 relay.

No high school male has competed in the Olympic Games in a U.S. uniform since then.

Sisters Sherri and Denean Howard of Kennedy High (Los Angeles) went 1-2 in the 400 meters at the 1980 Olympic Trials, but that year’s U.S. team didn’t get compete in Moscow, Russia because of a boycott. Denean was just 15 at the time, coming out of her sophomore year. (She would go on to make three more Olympic teams).

Before Title IX became law in the 1970s it was common for teenagers to make the U.S. women’s Olympic team. But the advent of college scholarships, plus professional opportunities, has made it exceedingly difficult for a high school athlete to make the team ever again.

However, the very best prep athletes do make it into the Trials on occasion, soaking up the experience of being one step away from their dream. The starts lists usually include 24-32 athletes per event.

Here is a closer look at where some of this year’s top high school athletes stand. Some of these athletes may choose not to do the Trials for scheduling reasons. The U.S. Junior Championships, which is the qualifying meet for World Juniors (and a trip to Barcelona) is just days before the Trials start at Eugene, Oregon's Hayward Field.

Olympic Trials Qualifying Standards

2012 US High School Leaders

BOYS
Marvin Bracy, Boone (Florida): A report in Monday’s Orlando Sentinel stated that there is hope that Bracy will be able to be at full strength for the Golden South Invitational on May 26. Bracy, who has a wind-legal best of 10.25 seconds (and 10.05 wind-aided), won the Florida state title in the 100 over the weekend, but had to pull out of the 200 with a slight hamstring strain. If he can get back to his best, Bracy should make the cut-off for the Trials. He would be a longshot to make the finals there.

Aldrich Bailey, Timberview (Texas): Based on the sizzling 45.19 he ran a little over a week ago, Bailey is a shoo-in to qualify for the Olympic Trials in the 400 meters. And if he can bring the time down even further, as he has suggested that he will, he could have a realistic chance of advancing beyond the first round. Arman Hall (Florida) and Najee Glass (N.J.) could potentially make it into the Trials, too, but both of them would need to PR and dip below 46 seconds.

Sean Keller, Heritage (Vancouver, Wash.): With the US #2 all-time throw of 244-1 at the end of April, Keller moved into the top 10 nationally (including pros and collegians). His place in the Trials is probably secure, but if he chooses to throw at the U.S Junior Championships the preceding week he may not have a rested arm.

Jacob Blankenship (Ohio), Shawn Barber (Texas), Reese Watson (Texas): During the indoor season, there was a lot of momentum happening for the top boys pole vaulters. But outdoors, not one of them has made 17 feet since April 1. And time is running out. The standard to make the Trials is 18-0.50, which none of them has made yet. However, Barber is eligible to compete for Canada and will likely compete in that nation's trials.

Devin Field (Texas) and Jarrion Lawson (Texas): Field was not allowed to compete this spring in varsity events for DeSoto because of the UIL’s residency issues, but his goal for the spring was 26 feet in the long jump. If he can get close to that number, he could make the Trials field (it takes 25-7 to qualify). Lawson, of Liberty-Eylau, has a wind-aided best of 25-10.75. If he can go big at the Texas state championships (without the wind), then he has a chance of making the cut.

Tyler Sorenson (California): The record-breaking junior racewalker earned a spot in the 20-kilometer even last year as a 17-year-old, making him one of the youngest Trials qualifiers ever for this event.

GIRLS

Haley Crouser, Gresham (Ore.): Only a high school junior, Crouser joined her older brother Sam and cousin Ryan as a national record holder this spring when she threw her javelin 181-2. She is a lock to make it into the Trials (along with Sam and Ryan), but she would need a huge PR in order to make it to London. (The Olympic A standard is 200-1). She has a realistic chance to finish in the top five at the Trials. Avione Allgood (Nev.) has been hoping all spring that her surgically repaired shoulder heals in time to throw at the Trials. She threw 176-8 for fourth at the U.S. Championships last year and competed at the Pan Am Games last fall.

Shelbi Vaughan, Legacy (Mansfield, Texas): She is consistently in the 180s with her discus and hit a best of 191-6 for a new U.S. high school record. That puts her squarely inside the top 10 nationally. On a good day, she could even make the finals at the Olympic Trials. But in 2008, the three who made the U.S. team all threw farther than 205 feet.

Gabrielle Williams, Reed (Sparks, Nev.): Still a little shy of the Trials standard (6-0.50), the U.S. leader has cleared six feet once and has a little more time to make an improvement that could put her into the field. It’s a lot to ask of a high school sophomore.

Shayla Sanders, Boyd H. Anderson (Lauderdale Lakes, Fla.): She has been the dominant high school sprinter this spring in the 100 (11.33) and 200 (23.25), but these are extremely competitive events in the U.S. What will it take for her lineup against the likes of Carmelita Jeter or Allyson Felix? Sanders has met the qualifying standard for the 100, but if a bunch of women run fast at the NCAA championships, it could bump her down the list. If she can improve her time by even a few hundredths, she’d have a good chance of making the field. In 2008, it took 23.12 to make the field in the 200, so that might be out of reach.

Robin Reynolds, Jackson (Miami): The US leader in the 400 (52.19) has the B standard for the Trials, but that’s not a guarantee of making the cut. In 2008, 52.58 was the last accepted entry (out of 27 in the field). Reynolds’ best time would have made the field (22nd). Reynolds also has a long jump best of 20-6.25, about eight inches short of the Trials qualifying mark.

Ajee Wilson, Neptune (N.J.), Mary Cain, Bronxville (N.Y.) and Amy Weissenbach, Harvard-Westlake (Calif.): These are three of the all-time best prep 800-meter runners and all three of them have credentials that could put them into the Trials. In 2008, the slowest woman in the field made it in with 2:04.90. This is becoming a deeper even in the U.S., so it could take something a little faster this time. Wilson ran 2:02.64 last July and has a best so far this spring of 2:05.28. Cain, who is only a sophomore, is coming on strong and has a best of 2:05.90, but split 2:03.7 on a relay last year. She is also very close to the Trials B standard in the 1,500 (4:17.00). Weissenbach, the California state champion, has a PR of 2:02.04, although she has not run a fast one yet this spring.

Trinity Wilson, St. Mary’s College (Calif.), Dior Hall, George Washington (Colo.), Traci Hicks, Long Beach Poly (Calif.): In 2008, Jacqueline Coward (Tenn.) was a prep elite who made the field, qualifying with her best time of 13.20. At the Trials, she ran 13.69 and was last in her prelim, demonstrating how massive the leap is to this level of competition. Wilson ran 13.41 on April 7, but also suffered a hairline fracture of her big toe and hasn’t competed since. If she can return in time to compete in the California state meet, and get back to her PR of 13.15, she could land in the Trials. Hall, a sophomore, is the indoor national champion and has a PR of 13.18 from last year. Hicks has a wind-aided best of 13.22 and could also be on the bubble for a berth. (In 2008, it took 13.24 to make it into the meet).

Brianna Nerud, North Shore (Glen Head, N.Y.): The senior has run a couple of 3,000-meter steeplechase races in order to see if she can make the Trials B standard of 10:15, but has a best so far of 10:24.95. It would take a startling improvement in order to make the field. In 2008, it took 10:09 to make it and this year will probably take something a few seconds faster.

Cayla Hatton, Phillips Academy (Andover, Mass.): She ran an eye-popping 10,000 meters time of 33:17.28 at a low-key college meet – second-fastest in U.S. high school history. At the time, it seemed like she might be a lock for the Trials. Now, it appears that time won’t make the cut. In 2008, 33:24.10 secured the last spot in the field. This time around, it is much more competitive thanks to a couple of fast races this spring at Stanford (April 6 and 27). Twenty-nine women broke 33 minutes in those two races.

Kendell Williams, Kell (Marietta, Ga.): Has she gotten well-rounded enough to score 5,600 points in the heptathlon? That’s what it takes to make it into the Trials (at a minimum), and last year as a sophomore Williams was an age-group record-breaker with 5,170. Williams can compete with the best in the hurdles, high jump and long jump. She was reportedly working on her throws with the Throw1Deep Club in Georgia and that was a smart move. If her shot put and javelin are consistently superior to where they were a year ago, 5,600 is within her range.

There are just three stop lights in Buckley, Wash., the small town located in the foothills halfway between the city of Seattle and the summit of Mt. Rainier. There’s just one restaurant, Wally’s, a drive-in that’s popular with the high school kids.

It’s the kind of place where the high school’s sports are a big deal.

Last week, word spread like wildfire that Marcus Dickson was going after the White River High School record in the 1,600 meters in a dual meet against Sumner, right there in Buckley.

Dickson encouraged the buzz in town and then put on a show for the people who came to watch him run in his final home meet. He ran a US#1 4:05.83, helped by a teammate willing to run the first 800 in 2:02 and coaches positioned strategically around the track to keep him up to date on his split times.

“It was my last meet ever in a small town where people always ask me how I’m doing,” Dickson said. “A lot of people came out. We’d spread the word, ‘Come watch the mile.’ A lot of classmates and community members showed up. I knew it was going to be hard to run 4:05 in a league meet, but I also knew I had it in me.”

The school record was not soft. Andy Maris ran 4:06.61 in 1989. Dickson could see the name and time on a wall at the school every day and had long ago decided he wanted to take it down.

He got into position to do it with an ambitious 50-mile per week training regimen logged during a very wet Northwest winter and early spring. Dickson was the last athlete invited to join the field for the mile at the Brooks PR Invitational on Feb. 26 and then he ran 4:07.18 for the win in his only indoor meet.

“That broke me out of my shell a little bit,” Dickson said. “I had never run in a major race before. I’d read about those guys and found out when I met them that they were all regular kids like me. It told me I can run with anyone right now.”

In mid-March, when a late winter blast of snow and ice made the track at White River unusable, Dickson drove to nearby schools at lower elevations to scout for a track that was clear. He found one at Auburn-Riverside, waited until the school’s track teams were done using it, and then completed his workout under the cloak of darkness.

When the weather is at its worst – and the rain is colder at Buckley’s 700 feet – Dickson turns it to his advantage.

“No one else is running right now, so let’s run,” he said.

Dickson escaped the drizzle to run at the Arcadia Invitational on April 7 in California, finishing second in the mile to Brad Nye (Kaysville, Utah) in 4:09.41.

“Brad’s an amazing runner and it’s hard to beat him,” Dickson said of his future BYU teammate. “I was happy with what I did, it was an outdoor PR at the time, but I hate losing. I think (Arcadia) was a turning point for me. After Brooks I felt invincible. At Arcadia, I was expecting to win that race. It was a little wake-up.”

Motivation comes easy to Dickson, the youngest of five kids. He grew up wanting to surpass the achievements of his two older brothers, who both ran at Auburn High, one of the big Class 4A schools downhill from Buckley. Even within Washington, Dickson didn't gain widespread recognition until this year because of the exploits of runners like Andrew Gardner, Nathan Weitz and Anthony Armstrong.

"Those guys are the real deal, in track and cross," Dickson said. "They always beat me in cross country. I was hoping for a big year in track but wasn’t always sure because they always beat me. They motivated me to work harder. I thought of each one of those guys and wanted to be with them in track."

On April 26, at Buckley, there was a burst of hail at the track 20 minutes before the 1,600. But the people who came to watch had just enough time to close their umbrellas and find a good place to stand or sit. The sun came out. And Dickson got ready to run.

“He had a plan,” White River coach Jerry Scheidt said. “He wanted to break that record. He’s been chasing that thing for four years.”

Teammate Kody Gould, a 4:16 1,600-meter runner, helped him get to 2:02 for two laps.

By the end, Dickson was lapping runners, which caused a brief mix-up for the timing system. But the hand times all confirmed that it was under 4:06 and the automatic timing verified it. The townspeople cheered. Classmates greeted him with hugs.

With the months of May and June still to go, Dickson has a lot to look forward to on the track. He’d like to help White River win the Class 2A championship, running as many races as he needs to make that happen.

He certainly feels like he’s got a shot at the state record in the 800 (1:49.41 by John Cote of Lindbergh in 1997), mostly likely when he runs at the Oregon-Washington BorderDuel in Portland on June 2 against Nick Boersma (1:51.78) and Izaic Yorks (1:51.75). Two days after the 4:05, at the Shoreline Invitational, he just missed that 800 mark, running US#2 1:49.45.

And he’ll get another shot at Nye and the rest of the nation’s top milers when he makes his first trip to New York City for the June 9 Jim Ryun Dream Mile.

“I’m excited,” Dickson said. “There’s a lot left to do.”

The senior from Heritage High School in Vancouver, Wash. blocked with such force last Saturday at the Centennial Invitational in Gresham, Ore. that he had to stop after three throws because his ankle hurt.

Sean Keller produced two of the five best javelin throws ever in those three throws, 242 feet and then 244-1. That's the third-longest throw of all-time and moved Keller to No. 2 behind record-holder Sam Crouser (who is from Gresham).

Incidentally, it wasn't the Centennial meet record. That belongs to Crouser (244-2 in 2010).

With two months (or more) left in the season, Keller has a legitimate chance to surpass Crouser's the national record of 255-4.

Mac Wilkins competed in the throws for 23 years, he made four Olympic teams and broke the world record in the discus four times. He also won the gold medal at the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal. It's no wonder he is in the USATF Hall of Fame.

He has been no less influential as a coach, instructing all levels and all ages of throwers in the Northwest. He is the throws coach at Portland's Concordia University, an NAIA school, and has built one of the strongest programs in the country. He also spearheaded the development and construction of the Concordia Throws Center, a world-class training and competition venue that is home to two U.S. high school records (Cousins Sam and Ryan Crouser hit their best marks there).

Check out his insightful interview with Portland radio host John Canzano (May 1) here.

In Mac Wilkins' own words, a new tip for throwers ...

One Good Turn Creates Another… Look to the start to correct your delivery errors.

I spent a recent Friday watching 7.5 hours of discus at the Mt SAC Relays in the 90 degree sun. A curious thing struck me while seeing throwers and their coaches communicating to each other from the stands and the infield with arm, hand and body gyrations and a few short words. Usually they were showing how the left shoulder was pulling down and away during delivery. Sometimes the coach’s upper body would jack knife forward indicating an upper body throw. Then they would stop and push their right hip ahead of the shoulder indicating the correct delivery. Occasionally the thrower would indicate a scooping motion with the arm.

But … They were all focused on the delivery of the discus. No one focused on the start at the back of the circle! Wow! This is where the errors are generated. Fix the back and the delivery will be correct.

Pulling away on delivery is the result of being off balance to the left at the back of the circle, NOT fighting too hard at the front with the left arm. It’s a natural consequence and you can’t avoid it. If you are ON BALANCE at the back it will be very difficult if not impossible to pull down and away at the front of the circle. If you are OFF balance at the back it will be very difficult if not impossible to NOT pull down and away with your left shoulder on delivery.

Eliminate the root cause of the Problem which is at the back of the circle.

CENTENNIAL INVITATIONAL RESULTS

What a difference a week made for javelin thrower Sean Keller of Heritage (Vancouver, Wash.).

With a tired arm and mediocre performances (for him) in meets on back-to-back days, Keller seemed stuck in the 211-to 214-foot range.

On Saturday at the Centennial Invitational in Gresham, Ore., Keller said he was "stoked" after breaking his own Washington state record and moving to No. 2 all-time with 244-1 on his first attempt. On his second throw, Keller hit 242 feet. His third went 228 and then he withdrew from the competition because the force of his blocking was causing pain in his ankle.

Keller missed the national federation (in-season, high-school-only competion) record held by Sam Crouser by one inch. Crouser's all-time national record is 255-4, set in 2010.

Now Keller is renewed in his belief that he can get that record.

"I know I can do it," Keller said. "I'm coming after it."

After winning the javelin at the Oregon Relays last week with 213-11, officials weighed his javelin and found that it was too heavy by 28 grams. Keller decided to set that javelin aside and only use it for practice and returned feeling rested and ready to throw the usual 800-gram javelin.

"My arm felt great," Keller said. "I didn't think my arm was going to let me (throw 244)."

Keller set the Washington record at the Centennial Invitational last year when he threw a US-leading 232-1.

His two big throws yesterday are now among the top five of all-time, joining three of Crouser's (255-4, 244-2, 243-3).

Incidentally, Haley Crouser, the girls national record holder, took the week off from competition. She lives a couple of miles from Centennial and won the javelin title there in 2010 and 2011. She initially chose to bypass Centennial out of fear that a planned teacher's strike might close school this week.

It was an easy pick this week, with the junior from Gresham, Ore. spearing a national record with her first competitive throws of the season. She has arrived at the record -- joining her brother in the boys javelin -- with half of her high school career still to go.

Haley Crouser took only two throws last Friday at the Aloha Relays in Beaverton, Ore. She went 166-5 on what was essentially a warm-up throw, and then hit 181-2 to break the record by four and a half feet.

Up next is a Friday night showdown against open and college competition at the Oregon Relays in Eugene, and a chance to edge closer to the Olympic B standard of 193-7.

In attendance at the Aloha Relays was Newberg High coach Joe Boutin, who coached Lynda Hughes to the 1984 Olympics, as well as All-American Sarah Malone and U.S. record setter Rachel Yurkovich (2005, 176-5).

Asked to compare Yurkovich with Crouser, Boutin said there were strong similarities.

"Haley is stronger," Boutin said. "Especially in her legs. She can do things in the hurdles and the shot put that Rachel couldn't do."

Mac Wilkins competed in the throws for 23 years, he made four Olympic teams and broke the world record in the discus four times. He also won the gold medal at the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal. It's no wonder he is in the USATF Hall of Fame.

He has been no less influential as a coach, instructing all levels and all ages of throwers in the Northwest. He is the throws coach at Portland's Concordia University, an NAIA school, and has built one of the strongest programs in the country. He also spearheaded the development and construction of the Concordia Throws Center, a world-class training and competition venue that is home to two U.S. high school records (Cousins Sam and Ryan Crouser hit their best marks there).

DyeStat asked Wilkins for a few tips that he could pass along to high school throwers.

Here are a few things to think about for rotational shot put and discus throwers:

Mac Wilkins:

* The hardest thing to do is go slow in the unwind and first turn. Beginners often go too fast, leading with the left arm and head.

* When throwers go too fast, they eliminate the power of the right leg lever and it puts them in a position to throw using only the upper body. At that point, they can only make an arm throw.

* If you can't see the horizon, or objects on the horizon ad you unwind all the way around to the target, then you are going too fast.

* Slowing it down is counter intuitive. It's NOT what your instincts tell you to do. But the degree to which you can conquer your instincts is the measure of your skill in the throws.

* A note for anyone who plays golf: This is just like rushing your back swing. It is counter productive.

BEAVERTON, Ore. – The idea that Haley Crouser is the most athletic member of her illustrious family isn’t a new one.

The junior from Gresham (Gresham, Ore.) is an all-state volleyball player and a potential star some day in the heptathlon.

On Friday, she joined her older brother Sam in the U.S. high school record book, throwing the javelin 181 feet, 2 inches on her second attempt at the Aloha Relays. It was one of the first sunny, reasonably warm days of the season in the Portland area and Crouser made the most of it.

After the javelin struck pay dirt, Crouser glanced at the measuring tape and leapt into the air to celebrate the first prep throw over 180 feet. Avione Allgood of Legacy (North Las Vegas, Nev.) held the record of 176-8 for about nine months.

“It was really exciting,” she said. “I’ve been training since November and it’s been a long buildup to this point.”

Haley goes into the record books with Sam (255-4 in 2010) as the only brother-sister combination in history. Throw in cousin Ryan, who broke the indoor shot put and discus records last year, and it’s easy to see why the Crousers have become America’s First Family of Throwing.

All three of the Crousers stand to make some noise at the Olympic Trials in June in their home state.

“Since Sam has (the record) and I have it, it’s just an unreal feeling,” Haley said. “When I was younger I would have never expected this to happen.”

The record throw changed what had been a frustrating hour at the Aloha Relays.

She was entered in the shot put, 100-meter hurdles and javelin – three events bunched close together on the schedule. After a delay at the shot put for the competition to start, Crouser fired off three rushed attempts – all of them long enough to win the event. Meanwhile, she didn’t have enough time to warm up for the hurdles so her coaches made the decision to pull her out of the event less than 10 minutes before it was due to start.

That left her with a bit more time to prepare for the javelin, where she knew she was ready for a big throw.

“I was really frustrated,” she said. “I wanted to run the hurdles. I was looking forward to good competition, but my coach scratched me out of them. I was pretty mad and when I came over (to javelin) I was frustrated and my dad calmed me down. I’m OK with (scratching the hurdles) now.”

The number she had in mind all day: 181 feet.

On her first attempt, Haley took it nice and easy and her form broke down in a couple of spots. Still, it was measured at 166-5. That measurement told her she was ready to do something much bigger.

“I wasn’t sure if I’d get (the record) in this meet or further down to the end of the year,” Haley said.

Now she has the remainder of the season, and all of her senior season, to put the record even farther out of reach.

Dean Crouser, father of Sam and Haley (as well as their coach), said he didn’t know what to expect Friday – but figured it might be longer than 170 feet and less than 190.

“It’s overwhelming,” he said. “I can’t even put it into words yet. I can’t. You had a hunch it was coming and she’s done all of the work. That’s the first thing I said to her: This is (for) all of that stuff that you’ve done. This wasn’t luck, at all.”

A week of training in sunny Southern California during Spring Break also helped her get ready to throw far. In one workout she threw past 50 meters (164 feet) five consecutive times.

After her throw was re-measured with a steel tape and her javelin was taken to be weighed and analyzed, Crouser still had two more attempts. But the emotion of the moment was too much to set aside and find focus again. She took a third attempt that went too low, and she voluntarily put her foot over the line to scratch it. She turned to her family and said she was done for the day.

The next shot at the record, her own, will have to wait until the next competition.

PORTLAND -- On Sunday mornings this winter, Sean Keller crossed the Columbia River from Vancouver, Wash. and came to the Concordia Throws Center to work on throwing the javelin.

The senior from Heritage High is bringing a new level of focus and maturity to his final season of high school throwing – and each week begins with a Sunday session on the same runway where Sam Crouser broke the U.S. high school record in 2010.

The record (255 feet, 4 inches) is in play for Keller this spring, but it’s not really the thing he’s targeting, at least not yet.

“I’m not setting a personal mark (goal),” he said. “I just want to go farther and farther.”

Last year, Keller threw a best of 232-1 on April 23 at the Centennial Invitational (Gresham, Ore.) for a new Washington state record and US#1 ranking that held up the remainder of the season. He threw 220 feet or better in eight additional meets.

He was getting by with his natural ability – his speed on the runway and the rubbery flexibility of his shoulder and arm.

But there was more that he could have been doing. After his last throws of the summer, he made some changes and took advantage of new opportunities. He decided that his future was in throwing, so he stopped playing football to minimize the risk of getting hurt. He flew to North Carolina twice – seated on the airplane next to Gresham, Oregon's World Youth javelin finalist Haley Crouser – to attend the first two sessions of the NSSF’s Kultan Keihas Project with coach Jeff Gorski. (“Kultan Keihas” means “javelin gold” in Finnish).

As 2012 began, Keller got into a consistent weight-training program for the first time and committed to Sunday mornings at the throwing center with javelin coach Scott Halley.

“I’m learning to use my lower body to throw farther,” Keller said. “(Weight training) will reduce my chance of injury. At a certain point you also have to stay flexible, so I take a half hour stretching my arm after workouts.”

In 2011, he felt like he threw too often on too little training.

This year, he plans to take a single throw to secure team points at dual meets and then rest his arm for the big invitationals.

The new approach also includes doing more events to help his team out. Heritage’s boys could be in the running for the Washington Class 4A team title and Keller wants to do what he can to deliver a successful dual meet season, as well as a possible state championship.

In addition to the shot put, discus and javelin, Keller plans to add the 400 meters (and 4x400 relay). The work he puts into running should help him develop more stamina and strength.

Keller won the state championship last year at 220-6 and then qualified for the Pan Am Juniors, where he was sixth with 228-6.

“By the last meet (USATF Junior Olympics in Kansas City, Mo.), I felt pretty tired,” he said.

If all goes according to plan, Keller could throw deep into the summer again. He is targeting the U.S. Junior Championships (June 15-17) and leaving open the possibility that he could make the field for the U.S. Olympic Trials (men’s javelin starts June 23).

As a member of the Kultan Keihas Project, he is anticipating a summer trip to Finland for a competition there.

“Javelin is pretty much like the NFL in Finland,” Keller said. “It will be interesting seeing what they have.”

And if he makes the U.S. junior team again, he would compete in Barcelona, Spain at the World Junior Championships (July 10-15).

It’s a lot to look forward to and Keller is planning and preparing so that he’s ready. Those Sunday morning workouts in the Northwest winter could pay off in June and July.

Avione Allgood said it was "a really hard decision" but has accepted a scholarship offer from the University of Oklahoma. She signed her letter-of-intent on Wednesday at Legacy High School in North Las Vegas, Nev.

Allgood, the U.S. high school national record holder in the javelin and the fourth-place finisher at the U.S. Track and Field Championships in 2011, picked the Sooners over national powers Texas A&M and Oregon.

"I did what was best for me," Allgood said. "I liked the way (Oklahoma) trained. I think the training they do is what will get me the furthest. And the people on the team were really nice."

Allgood is one of a handful of preps who have a serious shot at not only reaching the Olympic Trials this June, but placing high. Potential summer competitions in Spain and Finland are also on her radar.

"I'm pretty excited but I'm just trying to stay calm and see what happens," she said.

Allgood threw 176 feet, 8 inches last June at the U.S. championships to break Rachel Yurkovich's six-year-old high school record. Meanwhile, her home state of Nevada doesn't even sanction the javelin event for high school meets.

Based on her strong finish at the senior national championships, Allgood represented the U.S. at the Pan American Games last October in Mexico.

This is a list of reported Division I college commitments updated with news of this week''s signings. It is arranged by home state. Please let us know if any of these non-binding commitments have changed. We know this list is far from complete. Tell us where you are headed next fall and we can add you to the list. After you sign, send us a photo for our gallery and/or Facebook wall. Names in bold are confirmed as signed. The complete listings of college choices is HERE.

Alabama
Andrew Harris (distance) - Alabama
Kevin Shannon (throws) - Alabama
Quincy Smith (sprints) - Alabama
Jonathan Stiegler (jumps) - Alabama
Lacey Dent (sprints) - Alabama
Joy Maneice-Marbury (sprints) - Alabama
Analisa Patrick (distance) - Alabama

Arizona
Trae Armstrong (football/sprints) – Idaho
Jasmine Todd (sprints/jumps) - Oregon
Bacall Sterling (hurdles/sprints) - Sacramento State
Ashley Weber (throws) - Arizona State

Arkansas
Sydney Conley (jumps) - Alabama

California
Trinity Wilson (hurdles) - UCLA
Cami Chapus (distance) – Stanford
Amy Weissenbach (mid-distance) – Stanford
C.J. Albertson (distance) – Arizona State
Carrie Verdon (distance) – Colorado
Darren Fahy (distance) – Georgetown
Dylan Blankenbaker (distance) – Oklahoma
Kevin Mihalik (distance) – Air Force
Savannah Comacho (mid-distance) – Oklahoma State
Allison Sturges (distance) – Duke
Cameron Miller (distance) – Stanford
Kevin Bishop (distance) – Stanford
Cody Crampton (high jump) – UCLA
Rebecca Mehra (distance) – Stanford
Deon Pinder (jumps) – Oklahoma
Lyndsey Mull (distance) – UCLA
Blake Selig (sprints/jumps) – UCLA
Julian Todd-Borden (hurdles) – Drake
Ashlyn Dadkhah (mid-distance) – California
Shea Taylor (jumps and hurdles) – BYU
Kendal Nielsen (jumps) – Cal Poly
Rachel Bush (distance) - Cal Poly
Justin Unno (distance) - UCLA
Annie Grove (distance) - South Carolina
Erika Reddish (distance) - BYU
Adriana Olivas (distance) - Arizona State
Klyvens Delaunay (jumps) - Arkansas
Danica Wyson (distance) - BYU
Ashton Padberg (distance) - San Diego
Steve Michaelson (throws) - Wake Forest
Rashard Clark (sprints) - Arizona State
Alex Conner (distance) - Yale
Melanie Joerger (distance) - Loyola Marymount

Colorado
Sierra Williams (sprints) - Florida State
Kirk Webb (mid-distance) - Penn
Karina Ernst (distance) - Syracuse

Connecticut
Connor Rog (distance) – Virginia
Matt Klein (distance) - Dartmouth
Clark Shurtleff (distance) - Penn

Delaware
Julie Macedo (distance) – Florida
Haley Pierce (distance) – Georgetown
Sam Parsons (mid-distance) - N.C. State

Florida
Marvin Bracy (football/sprints) – Florida State
Robin Reynolds (sprints) – Florida
Arman Hall (sprints) – Florida
Shayla Sanders (sprints) – Florida
DerRenae Freeman (jumps) – Florida State
Kyri Tabor (sprints) - Alabama
Dwight Davis (sprints) - Alabama
Carly Thomas (distance) - Florida State
Katelyn Greenleaf (distance) - Alabama
Randy Johnson (sprints) - Miami

Georgia
Cameron Thornton (mid-distance) – Texas A&M
Jonathan Jones (football/hurdles) – Auburn
Reed Hancock (jumps) - Alabama
Caroline Kissel (distance) - Georgia Tech
Sarah Howard (throws) - North Carolina
Avana Story (throws) - North Carolina
Devon Williams (multi) - Georgia

Idaho
Emily Nist (distance) – Syracuse
Rebecca Lassere (distance) - Seattle

Illinois
Malachy Schrobilgen (distance) – Wisconsin
Morolake Akinosun (sprints) – Illinois
Trevor Holm (distance) - Western Illinois
Danielle DeVito (distance) - Bradley
Lindsey Rakosnik (distance) - Illinois
Sydni Meunier (mid-distance) - Notre Dame
Jacob Bender (sprints) - Nebraska
Chelsea Blaase (mid-distance) - Tennessee
Zeke Elkins (mid-distance) - Drake
Ali Olson (distance) - Northern Illinois
Ellen Renk (jumps) - Northern Illinois
Olivia Herzog (throws) - Northern Illinois
Leah Raffety (distance) - Northern Illinois
Mallory Abel (distance) - Northwestern
Jacquelyn Thate (distance) - Murray State
Ben Bowers (mid-distance) - Penn
Rebecca Stearns (mid-distance) - Loyola Chicago
Will Crocker (distance) - Missouri
Leland Later (distance) - California
Tom Schutt (throws) - Ohio State
Dan Vitale (hurdles) - Northwestern
Jaylaan Slaughter (hurdles/sprints) - Northern Illinois
Lauren Lindholm (distance) - Illinois-Chicago
Carl Heinz (jumps) - Duke

Indiana
Mary Davis (distances) - Miami (Ohio)
Maggie Bell (sprints) - Indiana
Meredith Jackson (mid-distance) - Baylor

Iowa
James Harrington (sprints) – Alabama
Hannah Savage (mid-distance) - Northern Illinois
Taylor Twedt (jumps/multi) - Wisconsin
Tyler Donels (hurdles/jumps) - Missouri

Louisiana
Kavahra Holmes (football/sprints) – Louisiana State
Kelci Lyons (mid-distance) - Columbia

Maine
Abbey Leonardi (distance) – Oregon
Matt McClintock (distance) - Purdue

Maryland
Champ Page (sprints) - Ohio State
Ronald Darby (football/sprints) - Florida State
Justin Ahalt (distance) - Alabama

Massachusetts
Jennifer Esposito (sprints/hurdles) - Elon

Michigan
Tyrus Conley (throws) - Tulsa
Zachary Kughn (distance) - Montana State

Minnesota
Thomas Anderson (throws) - Arizona State
Brandon Clark (distance) - Penn
Riley Macon (distance) - Minnesota
Mark Harries (distance) - North Dakota

Mississippi
Justin Fondren (HJ) - Alabama
Conner Foxworth (jumps) - Alabama
Asia Cooper (sprints) - Ole Miss

Missouri
Dorial Green-Beckham (sprints/jumps) - Missouri
Brittany Kallenberger (sprints/jumps) - Central Missouri

Nebraska
Morgan Woitzel (mid distance) - Nebraska

New Hampshire
Hillary Holmes (hurdles/jumps) - Cornell

New Jersey
Ajee Wilson (mid-distance) – Florida State
Tim Ball (distance) – Notre Dame
Caroline Kellner (distance) – Cornell
Holly Bischof (distance) – Duke
Blake Udland (distance) – Duke
Najee Glass (sprints) – Florida
Myasia Jacobs (sprints) – Georgia
Samuel Mattis (discus) – Penn
Alicia Osley (sprints) - Northern Illinois
Darrell Bush (sprints) - LSU
Elly Wardle (jumps/multi) - Lehigh
Greg Caldwell (hurdles) - Princeton
Jermaine Collier (hurdles) - South Carolina
George Kelly (distance) - Michigan
Stephen Lewandowski (distance) - Clemson
Theresa Picciallo (throws) - Penn
Everett Price (mid-distance) - Princeton

New York
Samantha Nadel (distance) – Georgetown
Brianna Nerud (distance) – Syracuse
Katie Sischo (distance) – Providence
Kelsey Margey (distance) – Villanova
Alexis Panisse (distance) – Tennessee
Zavon Watkins (mid-distance) - Penn State
Lauren Fontana (mid-distance) - Texas A&M
Olicia Williams (sprints) - Baylor
Giancarlo Sainato (mid-distance) - Georgetown
Thomas Awad, (distance) - Penn
Brendan Smith (distance) - Penn
Valencia Hannon (sprints) - Clemson
Daniel Lennon (distance) - Syracuse
Patrizio Grandinali (distance) - High Point
Cody Israel (sprints/jumps) - Lehigh
Heather Martin (distance) - Georgetown
Christie Rutledge (distance) - Dartmouth

North Carolina
Samantha George (distance) – N.C. State
Thomas Graham (distance) – Stanford
Craig Engels (distance) - N.C. State
Tevin Hester (sprints) - Clemson
Gabrielle Gray (sprints) - South Carolina
Anna Gelbach (sprints) - North Carolina-Charlotte
Alexis Perry (hurdles/jumps) - N.C. State
Hezekiah Ward (hurdles) - North Carolina-Wilmington
Francesca Evans (sprints/jumps) - North Carolina A&T

Ohio
Destinee Gause (sprints) – Florida
Donovan Robertson (hurdles) – Ohio State
Maddie Morrow (high jump) – Duke
Coy Blair (throws) - Purdue
Taylor Hatfield (distance) - Alabama
Jacob Blankenship (pole vault) - Tennessee
Stephen Lyons (throws) - Eastern Michigan

Oklahoma
Isaiah Duke (sprints) - Baylor

Oregon
Megan Fristoe (distance) - Oregon
Sara Fristoe (distance) - Oregon State
Ashley Maton (distance) - Oregon
Kira Kelly (distance) - Oregon State
Jefferson Jarvis (throws) - BYU

Pennsylvania
Angel Piccirillo (distance) – Villanova
Tori Gerlach (distance) – Penn State
Drew Magaha (distance) – Penn
Thomas Pitt (HJ) - Penn
Imani Brown (jumps) - Alabama
Kyle Felpel (throws) - Alabama
Chris Williams (hurdles) - Washington
Kyle Long (throws) - Arizona State
Margo Malone (distance) - Syracuse
Ned Willig (mid-distance) - Brown
Meredith Speakman (distance) - Syracuse

South Carolina
Chris Brown (football/jumps) – Notre Dame

South Dakota
Tony Smoragiewicz (distance) – Michigan
Kari Heck (sprints/jumps) - Nebraska

Tennessee
Rebecca Stover (distance) - Alabama
Emily Yarnell (sprints) - Tennessee
Emily Davis (sprints) - Belmont
Will Templeton (distance) - Liberty

Texas
Daniel Vertiz (distance) – Texas
Craig Nowak (distance) – Oklahoma State
Cali Roper (distance) – Rice
Jessie Johnson (pole vault) – Auburn
Reese Watson (pole vault) - Texas
Aldrich Bailey (sprints) - Texas A&M
Shelbi Vaughan (volleyball/discus) – Texas A&M
Hector Hernandez (mid-distance) - Texas A&M
Laura Craig (distance) - Texas A&M
India Daniels (sprints) - Texas A&M
LaKesha Jelks (mid-distance) - Texas A&M
Jennifer Madu (sprints/jumps) - Texas A&M
Sierra Patrick (HJ) - Texas A&M
Brittany Wooten (pole vault) - Texas A&M
Samantha Turner (throws) - Jacksonville
Jordan Chavez (distance) - Richmond
Taije Jordan (hurdles) - Baylor
Brianna Richardson (jumps) - Baylor
Richard Gary (sprints) - Baylor
Felix Obi (jumps) - Baylor
Alex Reece (sprints) - Baylor
Chris McElroy (mid-distance) - Baylor
Kristin Smithey (throws) - Baylor
Jonathan Wells (sprints) - Wichita State
Jermaine Authorlee (sprints) - Alabama
Hayden Reed (throws) - Alabama
Susie Kemper (distance) - Alabama
Chance Griffin (jumps) - Columbia
Kierra Hamilton (sprints) - Kansas State
Shelby Poncik (pole vault) - Texas Tech

Virginia
Ahmed Bile (distance) – Georgetown
Megan Moye (distance) – N.C. State
Shaquera Leach (sprints) - Virginia Tech
Harrison Scharf (sprints) - Penn
Nick Wolfe (distance) - Alabama
Kimberly Ficenec (distance) - Alabama
Hannah Brown (mid-distance) - Stanford
Joel Coleman (sprints) - Virginia Tech

Washington
Maddie Meyers (distance) – Washington
Anthony Lee (distance) - Vanderbilt
Andrew Matthews (sprints) - Kansas
Aaron Castle (throws) - Arizona
Jacob Smith (distance) - Portland

Wisconsin
Molly Seidel (distance) – Notre Dame
Joshua Dixon (jumps) – Arkansas
Olivia Pratt (distance) - Butler
Andrew Faris (distance) - Alabama
Ali Olson (distance) - Northern Illinois
Taylor Vinhal (distance) - Northern Illinois

Coverage of the UW Invitational
Fri.-Sat., Jan. 27-28 - Dempsey Indoor, Seattle, Wash.
LINKS: DyeStat Elites | Meet's website/results

HIGHLIGHTS

Tucked into a two-day meet in Seattle featuring Olympic-level professionals, post-collegians and college athletes, a number of high school athletes competed on the campus of University of Washington.

• O'Dea (Seattle) junior Tatum Taylor sped to a US#1 in the boys 60 by flashing 6.79 speed. He ran 6.84 in the prelims.
• Another junior, Marcus Chambers from Foss (Tacoma), ran 48.54 on Dempsey's oversized 307-meter oval, good for US#8.
• Sprinter Hannah Cunliffe re-emerged by running US#7 7.61 in the 60, clocking the same time in both the prelims and final. Cunliffe, a sophomore from Decatur (Federal Way, Wash.), ran under 12 seconds for 100 meters as a freshman last spring.
• In the girls 400, junior Ellisa Bryant and freshman Timarya Bayard, both of Piedmont Hills (San Jose, Calif.), posted strong early season times. Bryant ran US#18 56.89 and Bayard ran US#27 57.53.
• Hurdles star Trinity Wilson of St. Mary's (Berkeley, Calif.) beat a field of college athletes in the 60 hurdles, running 8.37, slightly slower than two weeks ago.

Scroll down for More to Watch, and Top Indoor and Outdoor Returnees
Previous Previews: Boys Jumps | Next: Boys Sprints

After competing for the U.S. in France last summer and attending an elite triple jumping clinic in the Bahamas, Carla Forbes is bringing a new perspective to her budding track and field career.

The Newton North (Newtonville, Mass.) junior is already one of the top high school jumpers in the nation, based on a sophomore season in which she went 42-1.50 in the triple jump (at the World Youth Trials). Forbes has also gone 19-5.5 in the long jump and demonstrated versatility in sprint events as well. She made a big impact from the start at Newton North, winning the triple jump at Nike Indoor Nationals as a freshman in 2010, the long jump at New Balance Indoor Nationals in 2011, and several state titles indoors and out.

“Her work ethic is second to none,” Newton North coach Joe Tranchita said. “Sometimes you have to chase her out of practice. She’s a coach’s dream.”

The above-mentioned versatility of Forbes is a common theme among 2012’s top returning girls jumpers. You can’t be much more versatile than Kell (Marietta, Ga.) junior Kendell Williams, who is probably best known as a heptathlete, but has 6-0 high jump hops and has long-jumped 19-8.75. When it comes to combining both horizontal jumps and the high jump, Monroe (Albany, Ga.) senior Mimieux Land may be the country’s best. And, like Forbes, Plano East (Plano, Texas) senior Jennifer Madu and Chandler (Chandler, Ariz.) senior Jasmine Todd are devastating in combining sprints and both horizontal jumps.

Project Triple Jump a boon to Forbes

With all of the competition this year will bring, getting off to a great start doesn’t hurt and that’s what Forbes has done. A little more than a week after taking part in the Project Triple Jump clinic, sponsored by NSSF, she broke her indoor PR in the triple jump, going a US#1 40-10.

“I like the challenge of the triple jump,” she said. “It’s a challenging event (to master) and it’s a lot of work. The reward when you get there is definitely great.”

Forbes pours herself into her work. She not only accepted the invitation to be part of Project Triple Jump, she also wrote blog posts to give the outside world a sense for what was going on.

In the Bahamas, she had the opportunity to see new training techniques and listen to renowned Bahamian coach Peter Pratt.

“It’s definitely raising expectations, just to be able to say you’ve worked with (Coach Pratt),” Forbes said. “I definitely think there’s a higher expectation because you’ve put yourself on the radar. It’s an extra thing to push you.”

She added that her trip to the Bahamas served to reinforce that she was doing many of the right things in training. “Some of what they taught was an emphasis on things I was already doing.”

But Forbes also came back home with a clearer idea about how to approach competition. “The big thing that helped me down there were lessons on centering and taking control of each jump,” she said. “I’m definitely learning that, how to focus on myself and not to have a cloudy mind.”

And she also has a better understanding of where she is in relation to the top athletes in the country, if not the world.

“Being stuck up north sometimes you get a one-dimensional view,” Forbes said. “When you go to something like (World Youth Games or Project Triple Jump) you get the overall view of what people can really do. It definitely broadens my view of track.”

MORE TO WATCH

KENDELL WILLIAMS, Kell (Marietta, Ga.), 2013
Even if she wasn’t a top national-class hurdler and heptathlete, Williams deserves mention here just for her jumping … with her current US#1 5-10.75 HJ, she has already exceeded her 2011 indoor best of 5-9.25 from the NBIN pentathlon … was extremely consistent in HJ outdoors last year, with 6-0 best that makes her top US returnee … her overall LJ PR came indoors last winter at Kentucky Invite; her 19-8.75 there makes her top indoor returnee (went 19-7.5 outdoors) … often gets her best LJ and HJ marks in multis.

MADDIE MORROW, Hoover (North Canton, Ohio), 2012
Last year, Morrow divided New Balance nationals HJ titles with now-graduated Ohio rival Taylor Burke, taking 2nd at NBIN and 1st at NBON … her current US#2 of 5-10 gives her more than a dozen clearances over that mark in her career … was knocking at door of 6 feet last year both indoors and outdoors as she hit 5-11 marks to win indoor state and in taking 2nd at outdoor state (behind Burke’s US#1) … has committed to Duke.

RACHAL PROTEAU, West Albany (Albany, Ore.), 2013
Proteau had a stunning late-season surge last spring as a sophomore to move into the national HJ elite … by late May her PR was just 5-7, which she leapt to win 5A state … went up to 5-9 in taking BorderDuel, but it was her unlooked-for US#5 5-10.75 for 2nd at USATF Juniors that really opened eyes … she earned Pan-Am Junior ticket, where she was 5th … came back at end of July for USATF JOs Intermediate Girls title … is #3 returnee outdoors.

DerRENAE FREEMAN, West Orange (Winter Garden, Fla.), 2012
Freeman made her mark at end of Fla. outdoor season as she went 19-10. 5 (nwi) in LJ at region meet, then a legal then-US#1 20-0.75 to win 4A state … wound up the season US#3 and is top returnee … later won Golden South (19-4, nwi), but had disappointing World Youth Trials (6th) … came back in the summer for AAU Club Nats title … improved almost a foot during junior season from 19-1 PR as soph … also a 12.08/24.60 sprinter (both nwi).

JASMINE TODD, Chandler (Chandler, Ariz.), 2012
Has been a major jumping/sprinting force for national powerhouse Chandler her entire career … #2 returnee in TJ outdoors with her 41-5 (+1.3w) from Chandler Rotary last spring and #5 LJ returnee with 19-8.75 best … won both at D1 state, AZ Meet of Champs and LJ at Nike Track Nationals … tripled the 60, LJ and TJ at Great Southwest Indoor last year … LJ PR came in 2010 state meet with 19-11; she also won GSW outdoor LJ that year (19-9w).

JENNIFER MADU, Plano East (Plano, Texas), 2012
Like Kendell Williams, Madu will get extensive mention in sprints/hurdles, as well as here … in TJ, she was 2nd at World Youth Trials with US#6 41-3 (#3 returnee) to make Team USA in 2 events (also 100, where she’d win gold) … was US#1 in TJ in 2010 with 42-0.75 to win Great Southwest … LJ PRs are 19-4nwi and 19-2 legal … TJ win and LJ 2nd were part of quadruple attempt at 5A state last year … strong start to indoor already, including US#5 39-6.75 at Arkansas.

MIMIEUX LAND, Monroe (Albany, Ga.), 2012
Land is an impressive do-it-all jumper with (legal) PRs of 5-8.75 HJ, 19-6.25 LJ (#8 returnee) and 40-4 TJ (#7 returnee); no one else combines the three quite so well … won Golden West with TJ PR last spring … has won all 3 events at 3A state two years running … at World Youth Trials, she was 2nd in HJ and LJ, but not named to Team USA … won Golden South HJ and TJ, and 3rd in LJ … also took USATF JOs (YW) in HJ … has committed to Florida.

JESSIE JOHNSON, Argyle (Argyle, Texas), 2012
Johnson had her best jump early last spring, a 13-3 in March that would stand up for US#6 for the year and makes her the top returnee for 2012 … in early January this year, she matched her 2nd best meet ever at 13-0 to own the current US#1 … won her second straight 3A state title last spring with 12-9 … she has committed to Auburn.

SYDNEY WHITE, East Forsyth (Kernersville, N.C.), 2012
With her US#7 13-1.25 PR, White placed 8th at the World Youth Championships last summer and is the #2 US returnee … has gotten off strong in 2012 already with 12-8 victory at the Reno PV Summit … great consistency in big meets last year, including runner-up finishes behind Morgan LeLeux at both NBIN and NBON … her 12-10.25 indoor PR at NBIN made her US#6 and she is #2 returnee there, as well, this time behind Megan Clark … her 12-3.5 soph best in 2010 earned her USATF JOs title in Intermediate Girls.

DANIELLE WILLIAMS, Eaglecrest (Centennial, Colo.), 2012
Not too many athletes become TJ specialists in HS, but Williams is about as close to that as you can get … does some sprinting and long jumping, but TJ by far her best event … very fast start to 2012 with 40-10 PR at Colo. School of Mines Open to tie US#1, one of 3 meets over 40 already for her … 40-4.25 outdoor PR at 5A state last year, but lost by an inch … won Great Southwest with 39-10 leap … 2nd at USATF JOs (Young Women) with 39-8.5 … 2nd at Simplot last winter at 38-8.5.

MEGAN CLARK, Columbus (Columbus, Ga.), 2012
After an outstanding 2011 at James O’Neill HS in NY, Clark is now in Georgia after a move dictated by family military obligations … her US#4 13-0 PR indoors at Eastern States in 2011 makes her #1 returnee and she has a 12-4 best (7th PV Summit) so far this winter … her best outdoors last spring was 12-8 at the Ahern Classic and she’s #7 returnee there … she was also 3rd at WY Trials and 7th at NBON in spring, after a 4th at NBIN … took state titles both indoors and out in 2011.

NATION'S TOP RETURNEES
OUTDOOR EVENTS - Scroll down for indoor lists

High Jump
National Record: 6-4, Amy Acuff, Calallen (Corpus Christi, Texas), 1993, and Toni
Young, Del City (Del City, Okla.), 2009
2011 Best: 6-1.25, Taylor Burke, Medina (Medina, Ohio), 2011
2011 season best, name, school, class
1. 6-0, Kendell Williams, Kell (Marietta, Ga.), 2013
2. 5-11, Maddie Morrow, Hoover (North Canton, Ohio), 2012
3. 5-10.75, Rachel Proteau, West Albany (Albany, Ore.), 2013
4. 5-10, Taylor Twedt, Westfork (Sheffield, Iowa), 2012
4. 5-10, Kiara Wright, Clear Lake (Houston, Texas), 2012
4. 5-10, Emily Godwin, Buckhann Upshur (Buckhannon, W.Va.), 2013
4. 5-10, Sara Henry, Somerset (Somerset, Wis.), 2012
4. 5-10, Audrey Ketcham, Wenatchee (Wenatchee, Wash.), 2012
4. 5-10, Ashlee Moore, Hamilton (Chandler, Ariz.), 2014
4. 5-10, Julisa Tindall, Northwestern (Rock Hill, S.C.), 2013

Long Jump
National Record: 22-3, Kathy McMillan, Hoke County (Raeford, N.C.), 1976
2011 Best: 20-4.25, Jenna Prandini, Clovis (Clovis, Calif.), 2011
2011 season best, name, school, class
1. 20-0.75, DerRenae Freeman, West Orange (Winter Garden, Fla.), 2012
2. 19-11, Robin Reynolds, Jackson (Miami, Fla.), 2012
3. 19-10.75, Ashlie Curenton, Silverado (Mission Viejo, Calif.), 2012
4. 19-10.25, Kyla Walker, White Station (Memphis, Tenn.), 2012
5. 19-8.75, Jasmine Todd, Chandler (Chandler, Ariz.), 2012
6. 19-7.5, Kendell Williams, Kell (Marietta, Ga.), 2013
7. 19-6.5, Clariwin Dameus, Santaluces (Lantana, Fla.), 2012
8. 19-6.25, Aliyah Harmon, Rich Central (Olympia Fields, Ill.), 2013
8. 19-6.25, Mimieux Land, Monroe (Albany, Ga.), 2012
10. 19-6, Alexis Faulknor, Junipero Serra (Gardena, Calif.), 2012

Wind-aided/NWI additions
1. 20-0.5, Kira Moreland, Los Osos (Ontario, Calif.), 2012
2. 19-10.75, Anna Robinson, DeSoto (DeSoto, Texas), 2013
3. 19-9.5, Chyna Ries, Washington (Denver, Colo.), 2014
4. 19-9, Chantavia Johnson, Molina (Dallas, Texas), 2012
5. 19-6.25, Sidney Conley, Fayetteville (Fayetteville, Ark.), 2012

Triple Jump
National Record: 44-11.75, Brittany Daniels, West (Tracy, Calif.), 2004
2011 Best: 43-2.5, Ciarra Brewer, James Logan (Union City, Calif.), 2011
2011 season best, name, school, class
1. 42-1.5, Carla Forbes, Newton North (Newtonville, Ma.), 2013
2. 41-5, Jasmine Todd, Chandler (Chandler, Ariz.), 2012
3. 41-3, Jennifer Madu, Plano East (Plano, Texas), 2012
4. 40-6, Cydney Leath, Mt. Pleasant (San Jose, Calif.), 2012
5. 40-4.25, Danielle Williams, Eaglecrest (Centennial, Colo.), 2012
5. 40-4.25, Rachel Toliver, St. Mary’s Acad. (Berkeley, Calif.), 2013
7. 40-4, Mimieux Land, Monroe (Albany, Ga.), 2012
8. 40-3.5, Brianna Richardson, Rockwell-Heath (Heath, Texas), 2012
9. 40-3.25, Jessica Caldwell, McDonogh (Owings Mill, Md.), 2012
10. 39-11.5, Molly Gribbin, South Burlington (S. Burlington, Vt.), 2012

Wind-aided/NWI additions
1. 41-3.5, Melodee Riley, Riverhead (Riverhead, N.Y.), 2012
2. 41-2.75, Richardson
3. 40-9.5, Gribbin
4. 40-8.75, Sasha Wallace, Holy Names (Oakland, Calif.), 2013
5. 40-5, Imani Wright, Liberty-Eylau (Texarkana, Texas), 2013
6. 40-4.5, Adefunke Sonaike, Montgomery (Skillman, N.J.), 2012
7. 40-3.25, Simone Charley, Spain Park (Hoover, Ala.), 2013
8. 40-2.25, Nataliyah Friar, E.E. Holt (Wentzville, Mo.), 2013
9. 40-0.75, Alyssa Kelly, Blue Valley West (Overland Park, Kan.), 2012
10. 40-0.5, Ashley Ivey, Washington County (Sandersville, Ga.), 2012

Pole Vault
National Record: 14-2.75, Morgann Leleux, Catholic (New Iberia, La.), 2011
2011 Best: 14-2.75, Morgann Leleux, Catholic (New Iberia, La.), 2011
2011 season best, name, school, class
1. 13-3, Jessie Johnson, Argyle (Argyle, Texas), 2012
2. 13-1.25, Sydney White, East Forsyth (Kernersville, N.C.), 2012
3. 13-0, McKenzie Johnson, Clairemont (San Diego, Calif.), 2012
4. 12-9.75, Victoria Rische, Foothill (Santa Ana, Calif.), 2012
5. 12-9, Alyssa Applebee, Seneca (Seneca, Ill.), 2012
5. 12-9, Cimran Virdi, Las Lomas (Walnut Creek, Calif.), 2012
7. 12-8, Megan Clark, Columbus (Columbus, Ga.), 2012
8. 12-7.5, Hannah Acton, Bloomington South (Bloomington, Ind.), 2012
9. 12-7.25, Katie Rancourt, East Kentwood (Kentwood, Mich.), 2012
10. 12-7, Alex Flucke, Ashwaubenon (Green Bay, Wis.), 2013
10. 12-7, Chanel Krause, St. Paul Episcopal (Mobile, Ala.), 2013

NATION'S TOP RETURNEES (and current leaders)
INDOOR EVENTS

High Jump
National Record: 6-3, Lisa Berhagen, Wood River (Hailey, Id.), 1984
2011 Best: 5-11, Maddie Morrow, Hoover (North Canton, Ohio), 2012
2011 season best, name, school, class
1. 5-11, Maddie Morrow, Hoover (North Canton, Ohio), 2012
2. 5-9.25, Kendell Williams, Kell (Marietta, Ga.), 2013
3. 5-8, Taylor Morgan, Upper Dublin (Ft. Washington, Pa.), 2012
3. 5-8, Lexy Boschee, Glacier (Glacier, Mont.), 2012
7 tied at 5-7
**Current 2012 Leaders
1. 5-10.75, Williams
2. 5-10, Morrow

Long Jump
National Record: 21-7.5, Carol Lewis, Willingboro (Willingboro, N.J.), 1981
2011 Best: 20-1, Keilah Tyson, Western Branch (Chesapeake, Va.), 2011
2011 season best, name, school, class
1. 19-8.75, Kendell Williams, Kell (Marietta, Ga.), 2013
2. 19-5.5, Carla Forbes, Newton North (Newtonville, Ma.), 2013
3. 19-2.5, Jordan Matthews, Abington (Abington, Pa.), 2012
3. 19-2.5, Sarah Bowens, Suffern (Suffern, N.Y.), 2012
5. 19-2, Shannen Rose-Forde, Dominion Christian (Marietta, Ga.), 2012
**Current 2012 Leader
1. 20-0.25, Shakeela Saunders, Nansemond River (Suffolk, Va.), 2012

Triple Jump
National Record: 44-6.75, Ke'Nyia Richardson, Holy Names (Oakland, Calif.), 2007
2011 Best: 42-3.5, Ciarra Brewer, James Logan (Union City, Calif.), 2011
2011 season best, name, school, class
1. 40-8, Jessica Caldwell, McDonogh (Owings Mill, Md.), 2012
2. 40-5.25, Sasha Wallace, Holy Names (Oakland, Calif.), 2013
3. 39-10.5, Jennifer Madu, Plano East (Plano, Texas), 2012
4. 39-8.5, Jasmine Todd, Chandler (Chandler, Ariz.), 2012
5. 39-7.25, Brianna Richardson, Rockwell-Heath (Heath, Texas), 2012
5. 39-7.25, Iana Amsterdam, Newark Tech (Newark, N.J.), 2013
**Current 2012 Leaders
1. 40-10, Carla Forbes, Newton North (Newtonville, Ma.), 2013
1. 40-10, Danielle Williams, Eaglecrest (Centennial, Colo.), 2012

Pole Vault
National Record: 14-2.5, Tori Anthony, Castilleja (Palo Alto, Calif.), 2007
2011 Best: 13-8.25, Morgann Leleux, Catholic (New Iberia, La.), 2011
2011 season best, name, school, class
1. 13-0, Megan Clark, Columbus (Columbus, Ga.), 2012
2. 12-10.25, Sydney White, East Forsyth (Kernersville, N.C.), 2012
3. 12-7, Jessie Johnson, Argyle (Argyle, Texas), 2012
3. 12-7, Larisa Debich, Hempfield (Landisville, Pa.), 2012
4. 12-6, Sydney Clute, Center Grove (Greenwood, Ind.), 2012
**Current 2012 Leaders
1. 13-0, Johnson