Western Branch rising senior Ermeshia Fair (pictured right by John Herzog) became the fourth Virginian girl to leap over 40 feet this year in the triple jump at this weekend's Russell Blunt East Coast Invitational in North Carolina. Fair, competing in the young women's division, improved by six and a half inches from previous best at the MileStat.com Gala of 39'4" with a new best of 40'0.50". Of the four girls who went over 40 feet this past year in Matoaca's Mia Aghaji (40'11.75"), Lee-Davis' Rachel Butler (40'10.50"), and Brooke Point's April Sinkler (40'3.50"), Fair will be the only one returning in 2008 as all others have now graduated. The final day of competition wraps up on Sunday with two days completed on Friday and Saturday.
Coverage
Highlighting the week... At the AAU Junior Olympic Games at the University of Tennessee on Day Eight, Yardley 12-year-old Sara Sargent was 2nd in the Sub-Youth 3000 in 10:14.45, which broke the existing national AAU record that had been set by Haverford Township's Sophia Meehan last year. Philadelphia's Chante Moore took 3rd in the Youth 400 finals, and anchored Mt. Airy to a 2nd in the 4x100, and ran on the 2nd place 4x400. Mt. Airy's Intermediate Girls were 2nd in the 4x400 final. And the Mt. Airy 4x400 of Khaliff Featherstone, Bernard Goodwin, Elliott Rhodes and Austin Perron won the Young Men's 4x400. On Day Seven, the Mt. Airy Track Club set a national Young Men's AAU record with a 7:40.90 4x800 behind Khaliff Featherstone, Bernard Goodwin, Elliott Rhodes and Austin Perron. Also in the 4x800, the Mt. Airy girls won the Midget Girls, while Cambria Youth Association won the Youth Girls. Rising Crestwood junior Mandissa Marshall was 5th in the Intermediate Girls pole vault. On Day Six, Hatboro-Horsham's Joe Berry set a PA all-time best in the pole vault, clearing 16-06, bettering the 2003 16-04.50 by Hickory's Andrew Rademacher. Derek Hynes was 4th. Sophia Meehan, Narberth took 3rd in the YG 1500. Chester's Shaniel Chambers was 4th in the YW 1500. Methacton's Wesley Lavong won the IB shot put. On Day Five. Gwynedd Mercy's Taylor Bumpas won the IG 800. Methacton's Carlton Lavong was 2nd in the IB long jump. And Elliot Rhodes, Germantown Academy, was 3rd in the YM 800. On Day Four, Methacton's Carlton Lavong took 3rd in the IB triple jump. Coatesville's Kaleena Gray took 5th in the YW discus. Saudiah Lawrence was 5th in the IG triple jump. Shanae Bailey, Swenson, advanced to the finals of the IG 200. On Day Three, Germantown Academy's Elliott Rhodes advanced to the finals of the Young Men's 800. Also advancing to their 800 finals were Gwynedd Mercy's Taylor Bumpas in the Intermediate Girls, and Chester's Shaniel Chambers in the Young Women. In the 100, Swenson's Shanae Bailey advanced to the semis of the IG race. During the first two days of the Multis, Germantown Academy's Alex Holcombe captured 5th place in the Young Men's Decathlon with 6529 points. On Day Two (Wed 7/25) at the USATF Junior Olympics at Mt. SAC, California, the United Stars Track Club of Philadelphia set a junior olympic record for Young Women in the 4x800. With Syeeda Gee and Benita Taylor (both of Engineering & Science), along with Council Rock South's Ije Iheoma and Easton's Chanelle Price, the squad ran 8:50.72, breaking the 2001 record which also had been held by the United Stars. On Day Three, Harold Lamour of Juventus TC, took 2nd in the Intermediate Boys 3000. In the prelims of the Young Women's 4x400, the United Stars posted the fastest qualifier. On Day Four, Iheoma advanced to the finals of the YW 400, and Gee moved on to the finals of the YW 1500. On Day Five, Jamar Jones, Juventus, was 4th in the YM 800. On the final day, Iheoma captured 4th in the 400 finals, and joined with Jacqueline Dim, Benita Taylor and Chanelle Price to help the United Stars take 2nd in the 4x400. Gee took 6th in the Young Women's 1500. And North Allegheny's Sean Gil was 8th in the Young Men's pole vault. At the 7/20-22 Russell Blunt East Coast Inv. at Duke University, Methacton's Lavong brothers had an incredible meet, winning three events and taking 2nd between them in the Intermediate Boys group. On the first day, Carlton captured triple jump. On Day Two, he took 2nd in the long jump. Older brother Wesley won two events, capturing the discus and the shot put. West Catholic's Jermaine Lowery had a strong meet as well, winning the Young Men's 400 hurdles and taking 4th in the 400. On Day Four at the Pan-American Games in Brazil, UCLA sophomore and West Catholic grad Nicole Leach captured the bronze medal in the 400 hurdles, running 54.97. USA teammate Sheena Johnson won the gold in 54.64. Leach had advanced to Wednesday's finals on Monday, winning her heat in the 2nd fast qualifying time of 55.77. Heptathlete Hyleas Fountain, a graduate of Central Dauphin East, was a DNF after two completed events. Catch Live Results and the Webcast of USATF Junior Olympics USAATF JO LIVE RESULTS USATF JO MEET WEBCAST And Live Results and the Webcast of the AAU Junior Olympics AAU JO LIVE RESULTS AAU JO MEET WEBCAST