The USATF National Junior Olympics began yesterday in College Station. We have looked back at the results from the USATF Region 6 Junior Olympics earlier this month and have some boys to watch as they take to the track with hopes of winning at national championship or making the podium.
100m
Kai Fontenot (US Express)-- Fontenot finished third in both the 100m (10.85) and 200m (21.82) at regionals. He is coming off an incredible freshman season at Lake Charles College Prep. He was the District 3-3A champion with a personal record 10.77 in the 100m. In the 200m, he was the Region 2-3A runner-up with a personal record-at the time-21.83. He qualified for state in both events. Below, Fontenot (second from the right) competes in the LHSAA Class 3A State Outdoor Championship 100m.
200m
Joshua Dowdell (US Express)-The soon-to-be senior at Catholic High has found a new gear over the summer. He certainly found it in the 200m at the USATF Region 6 Junior Olympics where he finished second in the 15-16 age group with a personal record 22.27. That is over a second faster than his best time during the high school season.
400m
Kyzer Dunbar (New Orleans Metro Stars)-We have him listed here, but expect Dunbar to make some noise in both the 400m and 800m at the USATF National Junior Olympics. He won both events at the USATF Region 6 JOs in Jackson, Mississippi earlier this month. In the 400m, he ran a 49.36. In the 800m, he edged out Jackson Burney with a time of 1:54.05.
800m
Jackson Burney (River Cities Track Club)-If past performance is any indication, you can expect Burney to burn some rubber in College Station. Last year, Burney finished as the runner-up at the USATF National Junior Olympics in the 15-16 boys 800m with a time of 1:52.34. That meet was in Eugene, Oregon. Even though he has not been able to match or surpass that time during his junior year at Calvary, Burney's overall body of work is trending up, and you can bet he wants to put on a show that is closer to home. It will not be Burney's first-time on the Texas A&M track. As you can see below, Burney (green shorts) competed in A&M's Bluebonnet Invitational early in the outdoor season.
2000m Steeplechase
Toshan Delong (New Orleans Metro Stars)- Delong won the 15-16 boys' 2000m Steeplechase at the USATF Region 6 Junior Olympics by over one minute with a 6:40.83. That was a big improvement from his 7:04.69 at the AAU Region 11 National Qualifier. If Delong can rise to the occasion with one more big drop, he could be in the money. Arizona's Ryland Levander won last year's meet with a time of 6:22.71.
400m Hurdles
Jaden Youngblood (River Cities Track Club)- After missing the podium at the LHSAA State Outdoor Meet in both the 110m hurdles and 300m hurdles, you can bet there is nothing Youngblood would love more than to go out with a bang at the USATF National Junior Olympics. He is certainly no stranger to the big-time environment having qualified for the for the finals in last year's 15-16 boys' 110m hurdles. Youngblood won the 400m hurdles at the USATF Region 6 Junior Olympics with a 55.35. That time would have been good enough for sixth place at last year's championships.
The Best of the Rest...
Kaleb Bigwood (Hamilton Christian)-After a disappointing LHSAA Class 1A State Championship, Bigwood is back to form and proved as much at the USATF Region 6 Junior Olympics where he won the 15-16 boys' 400m with a time of 50.37. Winning the 400m is nothing new to Bigwood. He was undefeated going into the state outdoor meet.
Jaivyn Washington (Dutchtown)- Washington had a very strong indoor season, finishing second at the LHSAA State Indoor Meet with a personal record time of 8.24. Outdoors was a different story. In fact, Washington was only able to compete in a couple of meets in early April. After his performance in Jackson, MS at the USATF Region 6 Junior Olympics, Washington demonstrated he is ready to roll once again. He won the 15-16 boys 110m hurdles with a time of 14.82.
READ MORE: Louisiana Girls To Watch On The Track At The USATF National Junior Olympics!