Highlights from the AAU Region 25 National Qualifier

The AAU Region 25 National Qualifier was held at Olympic High School this past weekend. The top performers are eligible to move on to the AAU Junior Olympics, which will be held in Hampton Roads, Virginia July 29 - August 8. Below are some of the noteworthy performances from the meet, which was divided into 2-year age groups for high school athletes (15-16 and 17-18) and single-year age groups for younger athletes.


High School Highlights

  • Tamara Clark (High Point Central/High Point Heat) won the 15-16 girls 100 Dash (11.98) and 200 Dash (24.38). Sun-Sara' Williams (Independence/Tri-City Relays) moved up to NC #8 by running 24.75 in the 17-18 Girls 200, which she won narrowly.
  • A loaded 15-16 Girls 400 was won by Payton Russell (North Rowan/Salisbury Speedsters) in 57.23. Monzerad Creary (High Point Central) ran 57.94 to finish 4th in that race, and she also won the 800 in 2:19.27.
  • Sarah LaTour (Cuthbertson) continued to run well this summer, winning the 1500 in 5:00.75 - that's on pace to run 5:22 for 1600, which would be well under her current PR.
  • Competing in one of the last meets as a high school athlete, Marcus Abraham (Victory Christian) won the 17-18 Boys Shot Put with a mark of 59' 5".



Middle School Highlights

  • Kayla Davis (Tri City Relays) had the performance of the meet in the 12-year-old girls 400 Dash when she ran 56.23. Not only was it NC #1 for middle school, but it would rank 7th in the All-Classes High School rankings! She also won the 200 Dash in 25.10.
  • 14-year-old Christopher Chaplin III (Tri City Relays) got a triple win, taking the 100 (11.76), the 200 (23.77 NC #9), and the long jump with a 17' 8".
  • A fast 14-year-old 800 was won by state leader Kobe Brown (High Point Blaze), who clocked 2:06.64 NC #1. J'Trell Washington (Charlotte Heat) finished 2nd in that 800, running 2:12.70 NC #2; he also finished 2nd in the 400 (53.10 NC #5) and the 200. Aamine Rivera (Panthers Elite) clocked 2:13.37 to end up at NC #4.
  • William Leach (High Point Blaze) moved up to NC #4 in the 3000 after running 10:19.34.
  • Also in the 14-year-old boys, Jalen Houston (Hurley YMCA Warriors) ran a wind-aided 13.87 in the 100 Hurdles, which are at 33" in this age group. The time is NC #1 all-conditions.