NC Highlights from USATF Junior Olympics

North Brunswick's Jayhlen Washington collected two national titles, in the 15-16 Boys long & triple jump


An annual rite of summer track passage, the USATF Junior Olympics are being held this week in Jacksonville, Florida. Numerous North Carolina club teams headed down I-95 to participate, and the results were very strong for our state from the beginning on Monday. We'll keep this page updated daily so you can follow the exploits of the current and future stars of the Old North State!

Live Results


Day 6 Highlights:

  • G'Jasmyne Butler (Leesville Road/Track Xplosion) won the NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP in the 17-18 Girls 800 by clocking 2:12.19.
  • Christian Pigues (Trinity Academy) ran 1:55.96 to finish 2nd in the 15-16 Boys 800.
  • Rodney Rowe (Clayton/Track Xplosion) claimed 3rd place in the 17-18 Men 200 by running 21.34, with Michael Davenport (Platinum Sports) right behind in 4th place.
  • TJ Bleichner (Fuquay Varina/Carolina All-Stars) finished 3rd in the 17-18 Men 800 with a time of 1:55.03.
  • Track Xplosion finished the day with a pair of strong relays, taking 3rd in the 17-18 Women 4x100 in 46.04 and then finishing 6th in the 17-18 Men 4x200 in 41.39.
  • Isaiah Southerland (Jordan/Triangle Champions) took 4th in the 15-16 Boys 200 with a time of 22.36. Dyami Brown (Charlotte Flights) was 5th in the same race.
  • Charlotte Flights teammates Khafre Brown and Twan Flip finished 3rd and 4th in the 13-14 Boys Long Jump with marks of 21' 0.75" and 20' 4.25", respectively. Brown also took 2nd in the 13-14 Boys 200 by running 22.35.
  • Run U Xpress won the NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP in the 11-12 Boys 4x100, clocking 48.07. Track Xplosion finished 3rd in the 11-12 Girls' race.
  • Wesley Haws (Carolina All-Stars) took 3rd place in the 11-12 Boys 3000 by running 9:59.21.
  • Victoria Swepson (Triangle Champions) clocked 10:36.19 to take 6th place in the 11-12 Girls 3000.
  • William Sistruck (Charlotte Flights) finished 3rd in the 11-12 Boys Long Jump with a mark of 16' 11.5". In the same event, Caleb Stephens (Durham Striders) took 5th place.
  • Kayla Davis (Run U Xpress) placed 4th in the 11-12 Girls 200 Dash with a time of 25.58. Christian Ruffin (Track Xplosion) took 5th in the 11-12 Boys 200, clocking 25.78.
  • North Carolina swept gold & silver in the 9-10 Girls 200, with Shawnti Jackson (Run U Xpress) winning the NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP by running 27.22 and JaMeesia Ford (Fayetteville Flyers) clocking 27.62. Noah Rogers (Carolina Elite) took 3rd in the 9-10 Boys' race.
  • Natalie Geter (Durham Striders) earned 5th place in the 9-10 Girls 800 with her time of 2:34.03.
  • Elizabeth Deen (Greensboro Champions) added a 6th-place finish in the 8 & Under 200 Dash to her long jump win Friday, running 31.24.
  • Brandon Leacock (Rolesville Athletic Academy) won a NATIONAL TITLE in the 8 & Under Boys 800, clocking 2:29.55, and also finished 6th in the 8 & Under Boys 200.


Day 5 Highlights:

  • Michal Swepson (Research Triangle/Triangle Champions) is the NATIONAL CHAMPION in the 15-16 Boys 3000 after clocking 9:07.41 NC #6.
  • Khayla Dawson (Olympic) took 2nd in the 17-18 Women Shot Put, throwing 47' 10.75".
  • Ian Shanklin (Page/Greensboro Pacesetters) earned 5th place in the 17-18 Men 3000 with his time of 9:05.74 NC #5.
  • In the 17-18 Men Discus Throw, Marcus Abraham (Victory Christian/Higher Power) ended up in 6th place after throwing 170' 9"
  • Selvyn Williams (Carolina Elite) finished 2nd in the 13-14 Boys Javelin Throw with a mark of 158' 3". Timon Edelen (Junior Striders) threw 153' 0" to finish 4th in the same event.
  • Elizabeth Deen (Greensboro Champions) won a NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP in the 8 & Under Girls Long Jump, going 12' 7.25".


Day 4 Highlights:

  • Jayhlen Washington (North Brunswick/Track Eastern) won his second NATIONAL TITLE of the meet, taking the 15-16 Boys Long Jump with an effort of 22' 9.75".
  • South Central's Chloe Cox is the NATIONAL CHAMP in the 17-18 Women 2000 Steeplechase, where she clocked 7:27.51 NC #2.
  • Randolph Ross (Track Xplosion) brought home a NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP in the 13-14 Boys High Jump, clearing 5' 10.75". Jalen McKoy (Triangle Champions) finished in a tie for 5th in the same event.
  • Michal Swepson (Research Triangle/Triangle Champions) earned a silver medal in the 15-16 Boys 2000 Steeplechase with his time of 6:32.60. Ian Shanklin (Page/Greensboro Pacesetters) and Nicholas Grubb (Lee Senior) finished 3rd and 4th, respectively, in the 17-18 race.
  • Marcus Abraham (Victory Christian/Higher Power) finished 3rd in the 17-18 Men Shot Put, throwing an all-time PR of 62' 0.5" NC #1 NC #5 All-Time. Terrell Adams (Middle Creek/Carolina All-Stars) finished 5th and Magnus Herweyer (Carrboro/Durham Striders) finished 6th.
  • In the 17-18 Women Discus Throw, Khayla Dawson (Olympic) placed 4th by throwing 141' 6".
  • Greensboro Pacesetters teammates Olivia Romine (Grimsley) and Tori Martin (Rockingham) finished 5th and 6th in the 15-16 Girls 2000 Steeplechase


Day 3 Highlights:

  • Track Explosion's team in the 17-18 Women's 4x800 brought home the NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP by running 9:25.52! The team featured Kleo Torres and Asya Macon (Southeast Raleigh), Obomate Asimiea (Cary), and G'Jasmyne Butler (Leesville Road).
  • North Brunswick's Jayhlen Washington (competing for Track Eastern) is the NATIONAL CHAMPION in the 15-16 Boys Triple Jump, as he posted a wind-legal mark of 47' 10" NC #3 in the second round that stood up for the win.
  • Cheyla Scott (Charlotte Flights) is the NATIONAL CHAMPION in the 9-10 Girls High Jump, clearing 4' 5" and then winning on misses.
  • Sandhills Track Club finished 6th in the 11-12 Girls 4x800 with a time of 10:55.38.
  • Carolina Elite finished 4th in the 11-12 Boys 4x800, clocking 10:14.22.
  • Carolina All-Stars earned 5th place in the 13-14 Boys 4x800 by running 9:06.13. Their squad in the 17-18 Men's 4x800 also got 5th, posting a time of 8:04.77.
  • Charlotte Flights brought home 5th place in the 15-16 Girls 4x800 with a time of 10:16.52.
  • Alyssa Sohn (Carolina Elite) finished 3rd in the 11-12 Girls Javelin Throw with a mark of 112' 4". Teammate Rhian Lawrence earned 4th place in the 11-12 Boys Javelin by throwing 83' 8".
  • Kenyae Majors and Kelsia Moore (Cummings/Durham Striders) finished 5th & 6th in the 15-16 Girls Long Jump, jumping 18' 2.5" and 17' 11", respectively.