Camila Boucher of the Boca Warriors Track Club leading in the Girls 14-year-old 1500m. She finished thrid, running a new PR of 4:51.80.
Florida Athletes Shine on Tuesday at AAU Junior Olympics; Emmett Strickland Wins National Title
Florida athletes continued to make their mark Tuesday at the AAU Junior Olympic Games, producing a national champion, six additional podium finishes, and a long list of qualifiers advancing to the 100m semis.
National Champion
Florida's lone title on Tuesday came in the 13-year-old boys javelin, where Emmett Strickland (Wildwood Prep Track & Field) threw a PR 42.72 meters (140-2) to capture the national championship.
Earning automatic qualifying spots to Thursday's 100m Semi-finals by winning their heats:
Florida added six more All-American podium finishes across the track and field events.
In the 13-year-old boys' 1500 meters, Christopher Millien (SHOWTIME Track Club) earned third in 4:26.30.
Another distance medal came from Camila Boucher (Boca Warriors Track Club), who finished third in the 14-year-old girls' 1500m with a time of 4:51.80.
The hurdles also produced a podium finish as Musah Matthews (VAST Track & Field Club) was third in the 14-year-old boys 200-meter hurdles, crossing in 25.42.
In the throws, Apryl Prendergast (St. Augustine Speed Track Club) was runner-up in the 10-year-old girls shot put with a PR throw of 8.66m (28-5), while Riley Damon (Indian River Elite Track Club) was second in the 11-year-old girls shot put after throwing a PR 11.00m (36-1.25).
Florida's other top-eight finisher came from Zanai Johnson, who placed fourth in the 13-year-old girls triple jump with a mark of 10.14m (33-3.25).
Florida advanced an impressive group of sprinters in the 100m prelims in addition to the auto qualifiers listed above, and had two qualifiers in the 400m prelims. Here are the qualifiers advancing to Thursday's semi-finals in the 100m and Saturday's finals in the 400m.
100m Prelims
Rylie Parson (Fort Lauderdale Elite) Girls 400m 8-under (1:10.71)
Camila Boucher of the Boca Warriors Track Club leading in the Girls 14-year-old 1500m. She finished thrid, running a new PR of 4:51.80.
Florida Athletes Shine on Tuesday at AAU Junior Olympics; Emmett Strickland Wins National Title
