SACRAMENTO, California — It was another day of strong field performances on day four of the USATF National Junior Olympic Track & Field Championships, highlighted by a repeat champion and the closest finish in the meet so far. Michael Pinkney (Eclipse Track Club/USATF New York) avenged his close shot put loss to Roury McCloyen (Greenville Track Club/USATF Southern) in today’s men’s 17-18 discus throw, winning the event with a 61.79m/202-08 heave to add a second national title to his existing hammer crown. Pinkney and McCloyen were clear standouts, with Pinkney besting McLoyen’s 57.37m/188-02 toss by four meters. Mary Taylor (Dave Bethany T.C./USATF Gulf) prevailed in a nailbiter of a girls 13-14 triple jump final, where the top three finishers were separated by a mere centimeter, topped by a tie for the silver medal. Taylor, Zenobia Witt (Alpha and Omega Athletics/USATF Colorado) and Milena Sciullo (Swift Arrow Track Club/USATF USATF Three Rivers) entered the final two attempts as the only three competitors to clear 11m, but took it another level when all three jumped over 11.30m consecutively in the fifth round. Taylor’s mark of 11.32m/37-02 narrowly gave her the gold position over Witt and Scillio’s shared mark of 11.31m/37-01, setting the podium of an unforgettable final. The excitement continued with the boys 15-16 triple jump, champion Brandon Cheeks II (CTG Development/USATF San Diego-Imperial) won comfortably with his 8.84m/22-05 jump in the sixth round, but the second through fourth finishers were separated by only two centimeters. Jerald Martin (West Coast Speed/USATF San Diego-Imperial) leapt 6.72m/22-01 in both the fourth and fifth round to narrowly take silver, with Jackson Norris (Track Houston Youth Track Club/USATF Gulf) and Tommy Schreiner (Team NoDak Youth/USATF Dakotas) taking third and fourth in 6.71m/22.00 and 6.70m/21-11.
Brandon Cheeks - CTG Development - 6.84m
Sophia Beckmon - The Inner Circle Track Club - 5.91m
Jace Coleman - Northwest Flyers Track Club - 1.35m
Jalen Lott - North Texas Jackrabbits - 1.75m
Kyeese Hollands - Albina Roadrunners - 44.09
Michael Pinkney - Eclipse - 61.79m
Jiovanni Davis - Covina Shooting Stars - 8.04m
DuQuay Buckhanon II - Afterburners Track - 14.32m
Isaac Ackerman - Boys and Girls of Midland - 16.07m
Oona Atofau - Palmdale Bullets - 27.09m
Elle Coco - Mt. Pleasant Track Club - 38.14m
Jathiyah Muhammad - Mission Valley Track & Field - 4.05m
Mary Taylor - Dave Bethany T.C. - 11.32m
Sydnee Burr - Track Houston Youth Track Club - 11.91m A full list of results can be found here. Watch all the action live on USATF.TV+. Join the conversation with USATF on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook using the hashtag #USATFFutureStars.