Colorado USATF Junior Olympic Championships

Tyrese VanHorne won the 200, and the 400 this past weekend. 

Not all tracksters have hung up their spikes on the season just yet. The Colorado USATF Junior Olympic Championships took place in Aurora over the weekend, and a saw quite a few stellar performances. 

Among the highlights, and there were many, was incoming freshman Gavin Sawchuk. Competing for the Colorado Flash an an eight grader, Sawchuk proved that he's more than ready to compete at the high school level. He won the 15-16 boys 100 in 10.89, which would have won the 17-18 boys. Zion Gordon claimed that event in 10.97, after going 10.76 in the prelims. 

Another eye-opening performance came from Denver East's Keirryse Simpson, who was competing for the Denver Lightning. Simpson won the 15-16 200 in 21.93. The only time faster in the event came in the 17-18 category, where Tyrese VanHorne went 21.44. 

VanHorne also won the 400 in dominating fashion, running 47.48. 

Freshman Charlie Welch once again proved to be a name to remember, as he won the 15-16 800, 1,500, and the 3,00. Welch ran 2:03 in the 800,  4:16 in the 1,500, and 9:54 in the 3,000. 

Joel Nyatusah and  Zion Gordon went head-to-head in the 110 hurdles, with Nyatusah taking the W in 14.24, just ahead of Gordon's 14.29. 

Another impressive performance came from Mason Anthony, who stepped "up" in distance for the 400 hurdles. Anthony won the event in 55.32. 

Likewise, Sadio Fenner ran what seems to be his signature event - the steeplechase. Fenner won the 2,000 race in 6:15, a 14-second victory.

In the 17-18 pole vault Max Manson did what he's done all season: win. Manson went 15-11.75 for a dominating victory. 

A highlight in the throws came from Douglas County's Tyler Nelson, who won the discus in 158-05. 

For the girls there was a two-way battle in the 15-16 sprints, as Teagan Zwaanstra and Camille Peisner went toe-to-toe in the 100. The duo both ran 12.61 in the prelims, though it was Zwaanstra who was able to emerge at the champion in the final. Zwaanstra went 12.35 to beat Peisner's 12.48.

The 17-18 category also saw some great competition. Maya Provencal took the win, and ran ran the fastest time of the day, as she went 12.11, right ahead of Dawnielle Lewis, who was second in 12.14.

Another name to remember is Dajaz Defrand. Defrand won the 15-16 200 over Peisner, running 24.18. She went under 25 in the prelims as well. 

Provencal picked up her second win in the 17-18 200, going 24.66 for a huge personal best. 

Niwot's Taylor James claimed the 15-16 400 going away. The incoming sophomore ran 58.33. 

The 17-18 category saw a great race as well, as Abby Glynn, Aliyah George, and Provencal all dipped under 59-seconds. Glynn took the win in 57.13, just ahead of George's 57.34. Additionally, Glynn went 56.91 in the prelims. 

Maggi Congdon was a double-winner, claiming the 15-16 800, and the 1,500. Congdon ran 2:17 in the 800 and 4:52 in the 1,500. Both times were the fastest in the event across both categories. 

Jaiden Paris shined in the 100 hurdles. She was the lone sub-15 in the event, running 14.26. 

Jordan Lanning traveled fair to compete in the high jump. She clearly made the most of the drive, however, as she dominated the competition, going 5-5 to win the 17-18 category, and claim the top mark of the day. 

Lanning also competed in the long jump, where she placed second behind Chian DeLoach, who won the event in 17-8.5. Lanning went 17-3.75, just ahead of FK Elite's Abigail Tamminga, who went 17-1.5. 

Teagan Zwaanstra dominated the 15-16 category of the event, as she went 17-1. 

The Classical Academy's Kristina Willis continued her stellar season, as she claimed the pole vault in 11-0.75. Mia Manson endured her first loss to a Coloradan this year, as she finished second in 10-6.75. Of note, however, is that Manson is on the comeback trail from injury, as she took a break after her state title last month. 

Highlighting the 17-18 category was Hayley Rayburn, who proved that she hasn't lost a touch since state. Rayburn dominated the event, winning in 12-6.5. 

The throws saw some great performances as well. 

RESULTS