Millbrook's Dillon Leacock and Harding's Akala Garrett made the trip down to Jacksonville, FL to compete at the 2021 USATF Junior Olympics. Garrett competed in the 15-16 age group, while Leacock was in the 17-18 age group. Both runners are coming off of state championships in the 300mH. Although North Carolina runs 300mH, they are both not strangers to the longer 400mH event. Garrett was US No. 1 in the 400mH heading into the event having already had 58.05. Leacock, on the other hand, was US No. 6 in the event this season.
Garrett cruised through the prelims winning her heat by over 10 seconds. She saved her energy for the final where she delivered a historic performance. She clocked 57.48 to win the national title by over two seconds. Not only was it a new personal best, it is a new leading 2021 U18 time in the world!
Leacock was 2nd overall in the prelims, but got his revenge in the finals. Leacock outleaned prelim winner Yan Vazquez (Red Mountain, AZ) at the line to take the national title in 52.04, a new personal best. Leacock moves up the all time leaderboard and finishes his career NC No. 5 all time in the 400mH.
Blaise Atkinson (Lake Norman Charter) finished 6th in the 400mH behind Leacock in 55.51.
Millbrook's Dillon Leacock and Harding's Akala Garrett made the trip down to Jacksonville, FL to compete at the 2021 USATF Junior Olympics. Garrett competed in the 15-16 age group, while Leacock was in the 17-18 age group. Both runners are coming off of state championships in the 300mH. Although North Carolina runs 300mH, they are both not strangers to the longer 400mH event. Garrett was US No. 1 in the 400mH heading into the event having already had 58.05. Leacock, on the other hand, was US No. 6 in the event this season.
Garrett cruised through the prelims winning her heat by over 10 seconds. She saved her energy for the final where she delivered a historic performance. She clocked 57.48 to win the national title by over two seconds. Not only was it a new personal best, it is a new leading 2021 U18 time in the world!
