HERMISTON, Ore.-Several track and field athletes from Northeastern Oregon competed in the National Junior Olympic Track and Field Championships July 21-27 in Savannah, Georgia.
Seven runners and throwers from Hermiston qualified for the National Junior Olympics after finishing in the top eight in their respective events at a regional qualifying event at Central Valley High School in Spokane over 4th of July weekend.
Northeast Oregon was well-represented at the Junior Olympics at Savannah State University, as athletes from Heppner and Vale also competed in the heat and high humidity against almost 10,000 of the best track and field athletes from around the country.
The 15–16-year-old men’s 4×400 meter relay team of Landon Maltos (Southridge), Alex Arrieta (Kennewick), Carter Swanson (Hermiston) and Ryan Allen (Hermiston), had the best finish of the local contingent of athletes, running a 3:27.19.
That mark was good enough for eighth place and earned the relay team All-American honors in Savannah.
The relay team also brought home 14th place in the 4×100 meter relay, while Allen finished 27th and Swanson took 35th in the open 400.
Robbie Akers and Hunter Allen, two recent Hermiston High graduates, both finished in the top 20 of the men’s hammer throw at the Junior Olympics.
Akers took 10th with a distance of 53.28 meters (174.8 feet), while Allen finished 20th with a throw of 50.07 meters (164.03 feet).
Kyan Webb, of Hermiston, ran as an alternate on the men’s 17–18-year-old 4×400 relay team, which finished in a respectable 3:47.78, good enough for 45th place, despite the anchor leg experiencing a hamstring injury during the race.
Justyce Mosher, 14, placed 44th in the 13-14 girls shot put event at the Junior Olympics, and Jaylee Lathrop, 10, ran to 23rd and 36th place finishes in the 1500 and 800 meter races.
Kaylynn Brandon, 16, of Vale finished 21st in the Heptathlon with a score of 3128 at the Junior Olympics, finishing 8th in the shot put with a throw of 8.27 meters and 9th in javelin with a personal record throw of 24.51, according to stats from USATF.
Brandon also ran a personal best of 18.61 in the hurdles.
The Heptathlon is comprised of hurdles, the high jump, shot put, the 200 meters, long jump, javelin and the 800 meters.
Two athletes from Heppner, Christopher Humphreys, 17, and Joseph Albitre, (17), also had strong showings at the Junior Olympics.
Humphreys placed fifth in the javelin with a throw of 178.67 feet, while Albitre, 17, had a personal best in the high jump with a 5-10.0.
Held annually since 1967, the National Junior Olympic Track and Field Championships are an opportunity for 7-18-year-olds to compete against athletes from around the country in sprints, distance races, hurdles, long jump, high jump, shot put, discus and relays.
Athletes interested in competing at the Junior Olympics are encouraged to join a USA Track and Field-affiliated track club and qualify through association and regional meets ahead of the Championships.
Athletes may also compete as unattached athletes, meaning they are not affiliated with an organized running club, however, they must still have a valid USATF membership to register for events.
More information on USATF-affiliated running clubs in Oregon and Tri-Cities is available online.
