Best Girl Performances At The AAU Junior Olympic Games
08/10/2020
Check out MileSplits top 5 girl athletes at the AAU Junior Olympic Games.
Article originally posted on MileSplit.
BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. - The 2020 AAU Junior Olympic Games was one to remember.
Athletes from all over the country came to compete at Satellite High School in Florida for a chance to put up some big times and record some massive marks -- and during a pandemic, no less.
But despite the less than ideal circumstances, national records were broken and new personal bests were set.
Let's take a closer look at five female athletes who came away with the event's best performances of the week.
Shelby Frank, A New National Record Holder
Frank became one of the first athletes to break a national record at the AAU Junior Olympics in the 17-18 age group. The recent graduate of Grand Forks Red River (ND) and the University of Minnesota recruit set a personal best of 169-1 last year at the Iron Wood TC Throws Classic. The national record for her age group of 163-11 was set in 2012 by Jessica Woodard, another athlete from North Dakota.
Frank won her first AAU Junior Olympic Games title, national record and gold medal with a throw of 164-0.
Talitha Diggs Dominates In The Sprints
The recent Saucon Valley (PA) graduate and University of Florida recruit earned two gold medals in the 100m and 200m sprints last week at the AAU Junior Olympics. In the 200m, she stopped the clock at a US No. 2 time of 23.79, a mere 0.30 seconds shy of Morolake Akinosun's national record set in 2011. Diggs also won the 100m the following day with a US No. 4 all-conditions time of 11.60 over Montgomery, Alabama's Chanice Spicer, who finished in 11.77.
Her first championships of the week was a timed final in the 400mH, where she ran blindly from lane eight. With 150m left to go, she pumped her arms with her left hip number stuck to her left knuckle, crossing the finish line in 59.00, just a half-second off her personal best.
A few days later, she lined up for the 400m and 800m final. She ran a 56.09 to place fourth in in the former category, then, hours later, went ahead in her last race.
She crossed the finish line in 2:08.04, exactly one second off the national record set by Gabrielle Wilkinson four years ago.
Sadie Engelhardt Breaks A National Record
Ventura, California's Engelhardt arrived at the AAU Junior Olympics to compete in the 1500m and 3000m. Her and Kailey Littlefield battled each lap of this race. Coming down the home stretch for the final time, they both put on the jets, but Engelhardt had more speed left in her tank. She crossed the line and broke Melissa Benner's 34 year-old-record of 4:34.1h.
Engelhardt took the national title, national record and gold medal with a time of 4:34.18. Littlefield was close in second with a 4:35.51.
A few days earlier, Engelhardt stepped on to the track to compete in the 3,000m. She won another gold medal that week with a time of 10:05.34, beating her competitors by 36 seconds.
Engelhardt set personal bests in both the 1,500m and 3,000m at the AAU Junior Olympics and will be an athlete to look out for in the future.
Skyler Franklin Pockets Three Gold Medals
Franklin, 13, won three gold medals at this year's AAU Junior Olympics.
But maybe Franklin got a little lucky, as an early flinch in the blocks didn't prevent her from getting a chance to run the final. The field was able to have a reset, and while Franklin didn't have her best start the second time around, she was able to play catchup in the short sprint. Franklin moved from around fourth place to the lead with 40m left to the finish line. She crossed the line in 12.18, just a few steps ahead of Aaliyah Barnes.
Later in the 200m, she ran a personal best of 24.61 to claim first place. During her outdoor season, she was undefeated in this event.
Finally, in the 400m she won 56.29. During this outdoor season, she was undefeated every time she competed in the quarter-mile and improved her season's best. She opened her season with a 58.34 in mid-July, to a 57.64 in the prelims, to a low 56.
HONORABLE MENTION:
BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. - The 2020 AAU Junior Olympic Games was one to remember.
Athletes from all over the country came to compete at Satellite High School in Florida for a chance to put up some big times and record some massive marks -- and during a pandemic, no less.
But despite the less than ideal circumstances, national records were broken and new personal bests were set.
Let's take a closer look at five female athletes who came away with the event's best performances of the week.
Shelby Frank, A New National Record Holder
Frank became one of the first athletes to break a national record at the AAU Junior Olympics in the 17-18 age group. The recent graduate of Grand Forks Red River (ND) and the University of Minnesota recruit set a personal best of 169-1 last year at the Iron Wood TC Throws Classic. The national record for her age group of 163-11 was set in 2012 by Jessica Woodard, another athlete from North Dakota.
Frank won her first AAU Junior Olympic Games title, national record and gold medal with a throw of 164-0.
Talitha Diggs Dominates In The Sprints
The recent Saucon Valley (PA) graduate and University of Florida recruit earned two gold medals in the 100m and 200m sprints last week at the AAU Junior Olympics. In the 200m, she stopped the clock at a US No. 2 time of 23.79, a mere 0.30 seconds shy of Morolake Akinosun's national record set in 2011. Diggs also won the 100m the following day with a US No. 4 all-conditions time of 11.60 over Montgomery, Alabama's Chanice Spicer, who finished in 11.77.
As this was Diggs' last high school race before heading off to be a Florida gator, she reflected on her experience at the AAU Junior Olympics and what she's looking forward to in the future.
Michaela Rose Strikes For Two Gold Medals
One of the many athletes that had a busy week was Michaela Rose. The senior from Virginia Beach, Virginia earned two gold medals at the AAU Junior Olympics in the 400mH and 800m in the 17-18 age group.Her first championships of the week was a timed final in the 400mH, where she ran blindly from lane eight. With 150m left to go, she pumped her arms with her left hip number stuck to her left knuckle, crossing the finish line in 59.00, just a half-second off her personal best.
A few days later, she lined up for the 400m and 800m final. She ran a 56.09 to place fourth in in the former category, then, hours later, went ahead in her last race.
She crossed the finish line in 2:08.04, exactly one second off the national record set by Gabrielle Wilkinson four years ago.
Sadie Engelhardt Breaks A National Record
Ventura, California's Engelhardt arrived at the AAU Junior Olympics to compete in the 1500m and 3000m. Her and Kailey Littlefield battled each lap of this race. Coming down the home stretch for the final time, they both put on the jets, but Engelhardt had more speed left in her tank. She crossed the line and broke Melissa Benner's 34 year-old-record of 4:34.1h.
Engelhardt took the national title, national record and gold medal with a time of 4:34.18. Littlefield was close in second with a 4:35.51.
A few days earlier, Engelhardt stepped on to the track to compete in the 3,000m. She won another gold medal that week with a time of 10:05.34, beating her competitors by 36 seconds.
Engelhardt set personal bests in both the 1,500m and 3,000m at the AAU Junior Olympics and will be an athlete to look out for in the future.
Skyler Franklin Pockets Three Gold Medals
Franklin, 13, won three gold medals at this year's AAU Junior Olympics.
But maybe Franklin got a little lucky, as an early flinch in the blocks didn't prevent her from getting a chance to run the final. The field was able to have a reset, and while Franklin didn't have her best start the second time around, she was able to play catchup in the short sprint. Franklin moved from around fourth place to the lead with 40m left to the finish line. She crossed the line in 12.18, just a few steps ahead of Aaliyah Barnes.
Later in the 200m, she ran a personal best of 24.61 to claim first place. During her outdoor season, she was undefeated in this event.
Finally, in the 400m she won 56.29. During this outdoor season, she was undefeated every time she competed in the quarter-mile and improved her season's best. She opened her season with a 58.34 in mid-July, to a 57.64 in the prelims, to a low 56.
HONORABLE MENTION:
- Makeriah Harris
- Christin Facey
- Lucheyona Weaver
- Halyn Senegal
- Falon Spearman
- Mekenzie Rogers
- Laila Jones
- Magdalena Kandt
