While a number of things didn't go exactly as hoped for Colorado athletes on the final day of USATF National JOs competition, the young women's 1500 meter race did.
Sierra's Samantha Thompson won the 1500 by a convincing margin of almost eight seconds. Her title-winning time was 4:41.84. Neither Eleanor Fulton nor Dominique Gerard could pull off a matching title in the intermediate girls 1500, but Fulton managed a third with a time of 4:41.37, and Gerard claimed seventh with a 4:49.77.
Over in the young men's category, Michael Williams finished second in the 1500 with a time of 4:00.57, while Shawn Dubbs ran 4:09.27 to claim sixth. Alex Paul provided a nice finish for the Colorado contingent in the intermediate boys 1500, finishing sixth in 4:13.33.
The only other top eight finishes for Colorado athletes on the day were Kita Alvares and Samantha Chamberlain in the intermediate girls 400 hurdles, Sara Benson in the young women's 400 hurdles, Natasha Gay in the young women's 100, and Quinton Dodson in the young men's 100.
With the completion of the USATF National Junior Olympics, high school level competition mostly takes a break until the first race of the cross country season. That first race will take place on August 29 at Fossil Ridge High School in Fort Collins. Time enough for some weary athletes to rest up a little.
While a number of things didn't go exactly as hoped for Colorado athletes on the final day of USATF National JOs competition, the young women's 1500 meter race did.
Sierra's Samantha Thompson won the 1500 by a convincing margin of almost eight seconds. Her title-winning time was 4:41.84. Neither Eleanor Fulton nor Dominique Gerard could pull off a matching title in the intermediate girls 1500, but Fulton managed a third with a time of 4:41.37, and Gerard claimed seventh with a 4:49.77.
Over in the young men's category, Michael Williams finished second in the 1500 with a time of 4:00.57, while Shawn Dubbs ran 4:09.27 to claim sixth. Alex Paul provided a nice finish for the Colorado contingent in the intermediate boys 1500, finishing sixth in 4:13.33.