STATEN ISLAND – Hundreds of USATF youth athletes ages 7-18 converged on Staten Island March 21-23 for the USATF National Youth Indoor Championships. More than 150 national youth titles were awarded across the three day competition at the state-of-the-art Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex.
SPRINTS / HURDLES
In the boys 8 & under division, Avery Rey (Valley United Track Club) took both the 55 and 200 sprint titles. His 8.14 in the 55 bested the field by a whopping .15 seconds, and he was the only athlete to run sub-30 in his age division with a 29.31 200. In the 11-12 division, it was a completely different story in the 55. Noah Concepcion (Central CT Jaguars) and Naji Barton (288 Track Club Coney Island) duked it out all the way through the line, with Concepcion ultimately getting the nod as the pair crossed in 7.59. 16-year-old Adam Braccioforte (Unattached) made his name known in the boys 15-16 55, crossing the line in 6.71 to Monroe Passmore Jr.’s (Unattached) 6.81.
Breaking one minute in the boys 11-12 400, Shayden Boyd (AZ Speed) clocked a speedy 58.76 to take the national title by more than a second and a half. Alex Poje (Brooklyn Speed and Power) led a competitive 17-18 400, taking the win in 48.80 over Rahieum Lee II’s (Runnin’ Renegades) 49.33.
In similar fashion to the boys 8 & under sprints, Salimata Coulibaly (Ruff Kutz) swept the girls 55 and 200, leaving nothing to chance. She sped through the 55 in 8.70 - .3 seconds faster than second place before taking the 200 title by more than a second with her 31.25 to Euriah Hewitt’s (Capital City Track Club) 32.56.
In the girls 9-10 division, teammates Kanai Anderson (Speedster) and Paige Johnson (Speedster) went 1-2 in the 200 in 27.69 and 27.78. In the 11-12 55, Raina Jones (Fliers23) ran away with the gold in 7.52. Olivia Akpan (Maximum Speed Track Club) swept the 55 and 200 in the 13-14 division. She clocked a 7.34 in the 55 and 24.80 in the 200 for an impressive double-gold campaign.
Renna Rubenstein (Chelsea Greyhounds) clocked a 23.98 to win the 15-16 girls 200, winning her division by more than a second and a half before dominating the 400 in 55.33. Abigail Robisky (Ocean Breeze Wave Runners) clocked a 56.09 to win the 13-14 400 national title by nearly two seconds over Najada Thomas (Ruff Kutz) 57.94.
In the boys 15-16 55 hurdles, Chelsea Greyhounds teammates Judan Joseph and Darren Bailey Jr. took the top two spots. Joseph got the gold in 8.46 with Bailey just behind in 8.54. On the girls side, Ava Mensa (Unattached) nabbed a large margin victory with her 8.89 clocking over Simone Beyers’ 9.71 for silver. Kayla Kelsick (Unattached) clocked an 8.38 to take the 17-18 win over Madison Praylow (Chelsea Greyhounds), who tok silver in 8.74.
DISTANCE
In the boys 8 & under 800, Zion McIntosh (Mt Airy Track) clocked a 2:36.76 to win over Micahel Miller’s (Olympia Track) 2:40.50. McIntosh went on to 5:35.93 in the 1500 over Bode Bagley (Speed Skills), who got silver in 5:58.08.
George Gitt (Prospect Park Youth Running) won the 11-12 division in the 800 as he went 1-2 with teammate Harvey Hightower. Gitt got through the line in 2:18.09 while Hightower clocked a 2:22.28. He went on to take the 1500 win in 4:44.81 - a three and a half second margin of victory.
Alexander Riley (VO2Max Track Club) and Keannu Lawson (Ruff Kutz) battled to the finish in the boys 13-14 800. RIley got the gold at the line in 2:09.18 over Lawson’s 2:09.86. In the 17-18 division, Rahieum Lee II upgraded his 400 silver to gold as he dipped under two minutes with his 1:59.21 win.
In the girls 9-10 800, Emily Bouktache (Unattached) ran a 2:36.30 to earn a spot atop the podium. Abigail Riley (VO2Max Track Club) and Eden Temple (US Express Track Club) went head-to-head in the 11-12 girls 800. Riley leaned at the line for a 2:26.22 win over Temple’s 2:26.23. In the women’s 15-16 800, Fallon Siriban (Sports Performance Group) made a statement with her 2:19.78, which took the win by nearly five seconds. The 17-18 division, Kamora Ruelas (288 Track Club Coney Island) clocked a 2:15.72, winning by nearly seven seconds for one of the most dominant performances of the meet.
The boys 9-10 was a thrilling race between Everett Voyles (Palatine Pack TFCC) and Collis Temple IV (US Express Track Club). Voyles clocked a 5:01.27 over Temple’s 5:01.42 and the pair were eight seconds ahead of the pack.
Vidal Macchia (Unattached) clocked a 4:25.20 to win the boys 15-16 1500 by an impressive margin. His nearest competitor was Bryson Anderson (V-Tesse Track Club of Long Island), who finished in 4:33.78.
It was a close race in the girls 13-14 1500 as Kate Ferris (Hershey Blaze) and Maeve Heck (Ocean Breeze Wave Runners) both set personal records as they crossed the line. Ferris won in 4:55.33 over Heck’s 4:55.70 - three seconds faster than the rest of the field.
Teammates Kamora Ruelas (288 Track Club Coney Island) and Aneika Owalabi-Fajana (288 Track Club Coney Island) dominated the girls 17-18 1500. Ruelas added another gold to her weekend tally with a 4:49.72. Owalabi-Fajana took silver with her 5:16.86 clocking, 20 seconds ahead of the bronze medalist.
Saiin Patel (AOC Amber Track Club) was the lone competitor in the boys 11-12 1500 race walk, taking home gold in 7:44.22. Similarly, in the girls 9-10 1500 race walk, Kateryna Towstopiat (Unattached) was the lone walker, finishing in 11:41.96 for gold.
In the boy’s 15-16 3000, Henry Bissell (Prospect Park Youth Running) ran an incredible 9:41.21 for a large-margin victory. Bissell’s runner up was Kieran Danko (Santa Fe Athletic Club) who clocked a 10:28.09 for silver. A different set of cards was in play for the 17-18 division as Ariel Yaron (Prospect Park Youth Running) and Gabriel Diamante (Unattached) fought to the finish. Yaron ultimately got the win with a 9:16.09 clocking over Diamante’s 9:16.84. The pair bested the field by 30 seconds.
Miriam Wajid (VO2Max Track Club) took a decisive win in the girls 11-12 3000 as she clocked a 10:24.00 personal record. Her time was 19-seconds faster than the silver medalist, Kalliah Boddie (Maryland Blaze Track Club), who clocked a 10:43.76.
In the 13-14 girls 3000, every single finisher clocked a personal best. Leading the crew was Berkeley Marcelis (AOC Amber Track Club), who took nearly a 20-second win with a 10:19.91 clocking. The streak of dominance in the girls 3000s continued in the 15-16 division as Alaina Keller (Orange Runners) broke the tape with a 43-second margin in 11:02.14.
In the girls 13-14 3000 race walk, Isabella Chu (AOC Amber Track Club) was the lone competitor. She brought home gold as she walked a time of 19:21.97.
THROWS
Maison Crayton (Ben Hill ATL Tigers) was the star of the show in the boys 9-10 shot put. He was the only thrower to land a mark over the 10-meter line with the six-pound implement with his personal record 11.22m mark, which was more than four meters further than the silver medalist.
In the 15-16 division, Damon Harper II (Tri-State Elite Track Club) launched an 11.94m throw with a 12-pound shot to take the title decisively as the nearest throw was more than three meters back. Brendan Hopkins (Unattached) threw a personal record of 12.45m to win the 17-18 division.
It was a close competition in the girls 8 & under shot put. Throwing a two kilogram shot put, Zariah Means (The Camp) and Kaulini Karthik (Maximum Speed Track Club) were in competition to the last attempt. Means landed a personal record of 3.80m for gold while Karthik took silver with her 3.78m heave.
In the 11-12 division, Eden Rose Harmon (Ruff Kutz) launched a 9.67m throw with a six-pound shot for the age-group gold - a meter further than silver. Brielle Hudson (New York Starz Track) was a clear winner with her 12.12m throw in the 13-14 division.
Moving up to the four-kilo shot put was no match for Teneigh Williamson (Ruff Kutz), who was ready for a big throw. Williamson threw a personal record of 9.47m for gold with Alexa Roy (Unattached) in second with an 8.95m throw.
In the boys 17-18 weight throw, Owen Allen (Unattached) had a dominant showing. His best throw of the day was a 19.77m heave, which was nearly three meters further than anyone else in the field. In the girls 15-16 weight throw, Teneigh Williamson (Ruff Kutz) launched a 7.55m personal best for gold.
JUMPS
Jonathan Johnson (Win Sportswear) cleared a personal best bar of 1.70m in the boys 13-14 high jump. His clearance was a full 10 centimeters above second and third place finishers Lance Odums (River Cities Athletics) and Jayvon Russell (Arizona Speed).
In the 15-16 division, a winner was decided based on misses as Tristen Valera (Jersey Devils Elite) and Abuzuwa Reid (Metro Eagles Track & Field) both cleared 1.60m. A similar scenario played out in the girls 13-14 division as Sydnie Becker (Chatham Gold/Morris Association) and Ayrian Walters (Ruff Kutz) both cleared personal best bars of 1.50m for gold and silver, respectively.
Jack Smith (Unattached) took the win in the 13-14 division boys pole vault. He cleared 3.05m over Bryce Leslie’s (Junior Highlanders Track) 2.45m for silver. In the boy’s 17-18 division, Brendan Hopkins (Unattached) raised the bar with his 3.75m personal record clearance for gold.
In the girls 13-14 pole vault, Chelsea Levisay (Unattached) was the lone competitor, earning gold with a 1.85m personal best clearance. Aleah Morgante (Unattached) also competed solo in her age division as she worked her way to a 3.15m clearance.
Adding to his success on the track, Zion McIntosh (Mt. Airy Track) won the boys 8 & under long jump as he sailed to 3.90m. In the 9-10 division, all three on the podium earned personal bests. Benjamin Cartwright Jr. (Dashing Dons & Divas) lept 4.14m for the win, Kaiden Boyd-Carter (Capital City Track Club) was second with a 3.95m jump, and Kingston Johnon (Baltimore City White Knight Track) was third with a 3.91m leap. In the boys 17-18 division, Akeem Pollard Sr. (Golden Eagle Elite) launched himself to a 6.71m winning mark - 21 centimeters further than the second place competitor.
Aubrey Powell (Speedsters) won the girls 8 & under long jump with a 3.41m leap leaving no room for doubt. In the 9-10 division, Kenadie Forbes (Track Minnesota Elite) was the only jumper to surpass the four-meter mark with her 4.03m winning leap.
In the 11-12 division, Catherine Robisky (Ocean Breeze Wave Runners) added a long jump title to her home meet success as she launched herself to a 4.64m win. In the 15-16 division, Addison Dove (Island Elite Jumping) was the only jumper to surpass five meters with her winning 5.14m jump.
In the boy’s 13-14 triple jump, Adrian Matos (Trenton Track) took a decisive win as the only jumper into the double digits. Matos leapt 11.14m for gold and a personal record while Amare Wickham (Metro Eagles Track & Field) jumped 9.98m for the silver medal. In the 17-18 division, Lucas Lundh (Unattached) jumped a personal best of 13.75m to take the gold.
Island Elite Jumping took four of the top five spots in the girls 17-18 triple jump. Ashley Ervolino led the way with a personal best winning jump of 11.11m. Her teammates took second, fourth, and fifth while the sweep was broken up by Madison Praylow (Chelsea Greyhounds) who jumped 10.81m for bronze.
RELAYS
The 8 & under division was the highlight of the boys 4x200 relays. The Metro Eagles Track & Field team of Mason Williams, Kyle Newland, Khari Tippett, and Noah Brown sped to a 2:02.38 to take a five-second win over the USA - JA team.
Highlighting the boys 4x400s was the 11-12 division. The Arizona Speed quartet of Baylor Wood, Jakhari Russell, Holland Holt, and Shayden Boyd went head to head against Prospect Park Youth Running’s Victor Wills, Harvey Hightower, Justice Melendez, and George Gitt. Arizona Speed lived up to their name as they took the title right at the line with a 4:17.05 to Prospect Park’s 4:17.57.
On the girls side, the 9-10 division highlighted the 4x200s. The Central CT Jaguars team of Jhalyn Hyde, Monae Dixon, Brittany Ford, and Cree Simms took the national title by a quarter of a second with their 2:06.04. The Golden Knights TC quartet of Zoey Furano, Sadie Shuford, Olivia Lawrence, and Cora’Rae Bovell clocked a 2:06.29 for silver.
In the 15-18 division, the Chelsea Greyhounds left it all on the track. Kardene Anderson, Madison Praylow, Nyanne Clementson, and Renna Rubenstein clocked a 3:58.86 for a 20-second win.
Island Elite Jumping fielded an impressive team of Ja’Nasia Johnson, Kalia Wheeler, Jessica Reiter, and Sophia Deja to win the 15-18 girls 4x55 shuttle hurdle relay in 36.50.
A full list of results from the 2025 USATF Youth Indoor Championships, including team points standings, can be found here.