U.S. Junior Title, American Record Highlights Third Day of USA Championships for Women’s Track & Field
Rising sophomore Courtney Okolo bettered her career best in the 400 meters for the sixth time in seven races with a time of 51.04 seconds to win the junior national title. With the win, Okolo earns a spot on Team USA for the 2013 Pan American Junior Athletics Championships to be held August 23-25 in Medellin, Colombia.
Also headlining the day for Texas was former Longhorn Michelle Carter, who set a new American record in the shot put. The now four-time USA Outdoor champion tossed her event-winning mark of 20.24 meters (66-5) in the fifth round to claim the nation’s top mark, also guaranteeing her place on the U.S. squad for the IAAF World Championships August 10-18.
Three additional current and former Longhorns competed in event finals. Texas Ex Sanya Richards-Ross placed sixth in the 400m with at time of 51.92. Rising senior Shanay Briscoe tied for 10th in high jump with a leap of 1.79m (5-10.5). Rising sophomore Melissa Gonzalez rounded out UT’s representation in the junior sections, running to a fifth-place finish (59.01) in the final of the 400m hurdles.
A trio of Horns was also in action on Saturday in the first round of the senior 200m. Texas Ex Chauntae Bayne was the top finisher of the three, posting third overall in 22.39 to advance automatically to Sunday’s semifinals. Also moving on was fellow former Longhorn Bianca Knight, who ran a 22.86 for 13th. Chalonda Goodman also raced and finished 20th (23.13).
TEXAS RESULTS – USA OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS
SATURDAY, JUNE 22
# - American record | * - denotes career best | Q – advanced automatically | q – advanced on time
Final
Shot put
1. Michelle Carter, 20.24m/66-5#
400m
6. Sanya Richards-Ross, 51.92
High jump
T10. Shanay Briscoe, 1.79m/5-10.5
First Round
200m
3. Chauntae Bayne, 22.39Q
13. Bianca Knight, 22.86q
20. Chalonda Goodman, 23.13
TEXAS RESULTS – USA JUNIOR OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS
SATURDAY, JUNE 22 | * - denotes career best
Final
400m
1. Courtney Okolo, 51.04*
400m hurdles
5. Melissa Gonzalez, 59.01
