Burrell adds 400 crown to boys 15-16 record in 200; Davis sweeps 15-16 girls 100 and 200 championships, with several impressive hurdling performances also highlighting final day of competition

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Sean Burrell was one of the most active athletes at the 52nd USATF Hershey National Junior Olympic Track and Field Championships, running eight races over the final five days at North Carolina A&T’s Aggie Stadium in Greensboro.

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The Zachary LA sophomore was also one of the most successful competitors, capturing a pair of national titles and adding a personal best in the 110-meter hurdles Sunday for good measure.

Burrell, representing Greater King David Track Club, won the 15-16 boys 400 title in 46.03 seconds and placed second in the 110 hurdles in 14.04, with LC Clear Springs TX sophomore Kirk Collins securing the title in 13.99.

“Me and Kirk have been going back and forth in the hurdles all the time,” Burrell said. “We’ve been racing since 80-meter hurdles (in the 11-12 division), so it was just fun racing him again because we’re close friends.”

Burrell became the fifth 15-16 male athlete in meet history, including the third in the past four years, to sweep national titles in both the 200 and 400. Burrell, who was 11th in the 200 and second in the 400 last year, ran a meet-record 20.85 to win the 200 championship Saturday.

“I feel really good about my performance here throughout the week,” Burrell said. “I got the 200 record and I was going for the 400 record because my PR is 45.74, so I was trying to push for that, but I came up short on it. But it’s all good.”

Gainesville FL freshman Tamari Davis, representing Empire Athletics, captured her second 15-16 national title in as many days, running a wind-legal 11.38 in the 100 after setting the all-time Junior Olympic 200 record Saturday with a wind-legal 22.55.

“I was pushing for something lower, but I was happy I got the win,” Davis said. “The meet was great. The track was wonderful and I enjoyed the meet.”

Davis became the third 15-16 female athlete in five years and 17th in meet history to sweep the 100 and 200 national titles in the same meet.

Kayla Davis of the North Carolina-based Run U Xpress, who set the 13-14 girls meet record 52.54 in the 400 last year, followed with a 15-16 national championship Sunday by clocking 53.03.

Bullis MD sophomore Leah Phillips won the 15-16 girls 400 hurdles title in 1:00.57, after placing second in the 100 hurdles final in a personal-best 13.68.

Phillips, competing for Comets of Charles County, also ran a personal-best 59.50 in the 400 hurdles prelims Wednesday, helping her become the only 15-16 athlete in meet history to run under 14 seconds in the 100 hurdles and sub-60 in the 400 hurdles in the same year.

“It was a blessing to be out there. I didn’t know I could run that fast, but all the training I’ve had really paid off,” Phillips said. “When I saw myself running 13.6, going from a 13.97 (in the semifinals), it just made my courage go up. And for the 400 hurdles, I just knew I had to stay relaxed and let all of that kind of go away, so I could run the race.”

DeSoto TX freshman Jalaysiya Smith, representing the North Texas Cheetahs, won the 15-16 girls 100 hurdles in 13.62, the fastest time nationally by a ninth-grader this year. Smith also placed fourth in the 400 hurdles in 1:02.62.

“Afterwards, it was a lot of emotions – happy, proud, the hard work is over and now I get to rest. It was a lot,” Smith said. “It was amazing. I had a good time, a lot of people ran fast and I really liked the experience of going against some nice competition. It didn’t do anything but push me and make me better.”

After setting the 17-18 women’s meet record in the 100 hurdles by clocking 13.33 in Saturday’s semifinals, Alia Armstrong of St. Katharine Drexel LA captured the national title Sunday in 13.40, ahead of New Balance Nationals Outdoor champion Grace Stark of White Lake Lakeland MI, who took runner-up in 13.61.

“Honestly, it’s a blessing. I’ve been practicing for months and months, and it’s taken a lot of hard work and dedication, but it’s worth it,” Armstrong said. “This whole season has been a blessing. I’ve had no injuries and I’ve come a long way and I feel like I’m blessed as an athlete overall.”

Following a second-place finish Saturday in the 17-18 women’s 200 in 23.73, Semira Killebrew of Brebeuf Jesuit IN won the 100 national title in a wind-legal 11.59.

“I felt like my start was really good, and just the whole race, my acceleration phase was really good,” Killebrew said. “I PR’d in my 200, but of course, I wanted to win the 100. Both of them I’m very thankful for. I’ve worked really hard for it.”

Kamden Jackson of West Feliciana LA, competing for Future Track, captured the 17-18 men’s 100 title in a wind-legal 10.57. Nathan Price of Maynard Jackson GA, representing Atlanta Lightspeed Track Club, earned the 15-16 boys 100 championship in a wind-legal 10.64.

Rancho NV graduate Gizelle Reid, representing Las Vegas Blazin One’z, won the 17-18 women’s 400 title in 54.37.

Derrick Price of Carver Collegiate LA, competing for New Era Track, captured the 17-18 men’s 400 crown in 47.69.

James Smith of Westwood AZ, representing the Arizona Flames Track Club, prevailed in the 17-18 men’s 400 hurdles final in 51.53. Sandy Creek GA sophomore AJ Hale won the 15-16 boys 400 hurdles title in 53.00.

Spencerport NY junior Vanessa Watson, competing for Maximum Velocity Track and Field Club, captured the 17-18 women’s 400 hurdles crown in 1:00.03.

Cameron Murray of Westlake GA, a member of Quicksilver Track Club, secured the 15-16 boys 110 hurdles championship in 13.52.

Jackie Addy of Holy Innocents GA earned her second 17-18 women’s national title, following her 3,000 victory with a 1,500 win Sunday in 4:36.00.

Menlo CA standout Jason Gomez, representing Menlo i Greyhounds, doubled up in the 17-18 men’s division, securing a 1,500 victory in 4:03.59 to go along with his 800 title Saturday.

Jack Vincent of Claremore OK, competing for the Oklahoma Jaguars Track Club, added another 15-16 boys championship, winning the 1,500 in 4:06.13 after prevailing Saturday in the 800 final.

El Paso Franklin TX freshman Eva Jess, a member of Team Bliss, earned the 15-16 girls national 1,500 title in 4:41.25.

Charles McBride II of Apex NC, representing Carolina Eagles Track and Field Club, outlasted Nitro WV graduate Luke Nichols in a jumpoff in the 17-18 men’s high jump final with a 7-2.50 (2.20m) clearance. McBride and Nichols, competing for the Capital City Striders, both cleared 6-10.75 (2.10m) on their second attempts  during the competition.

Travis Snyder of Thornton Academy ME, representing Patriot Pole Vault Club, cleared 15-5 (4.70m) on his first attempt in the 17-18 men’s pole vault final to secure the title after two other competitors needed two opportunities to successfully make the height.

Mifflin County PA junior Skylar Ciccolini, competing for the Juniata Valley Striders, won the 17-18 women’s javelin with a second-round throw of 158-8 (48.37m).

Sydney Juszczyk of Trinity Catholic CO, the top freshman in the country, prevailed in the 15-16 girls javelin for Ultimate Speed Academy with a fifth-round throw of 152-10 (46.60m).