Some of Missouri's top current and former high school athletes took their talents to South Beach this weekend for the USATF U20 Outdoor Championships. This event is one of the best track meets in the country just behind the U.S. Olympic Trials and NCAA Championships.
Hazelwood West and Gateway City United Track Club Junior Justin Robinson entered the competition in the 400m after running a dazzling 44.84 a few weeks ago at the Great Southwest Classic in New Mexico. He followed up that awesome performance with another one this weekend. Robinson took home the gold medal and is the U20 national champion with a time of 45.59, besting several collegians and was nearly a full second ahead of second place.
Winning that race guaranteed Robinson a spot in the U20 Pan American Games representing Team USA next month in Costa Rica. Prior to competing this weekend however, Robinson had already been invited to join the Team USA Senior team in the Pan American Games in Peru. The accolades just continue to keep building for him, as his time from the Great Southwest Classic already met the Olympic Standard for the Tokyo Olympics next Summer. I have a feeling we'll be watching this young man compete at the highest level of Track & Field for years to come.
Other Missourians that reached All-American status this weekend were Grant Conway (St. James) who placed 7th in the 110m Hurdles, Tyra Wilson (Rock Bridge) placed 4th in the 400m Hurdles and ran a dazzling 13.39 in 100H prelims which obliterates the State Record. Courtney Williams (Nerinx Hall) took 8th place in the 200m. Missourians placed first, third, and forth in the Womens Javelin as well. Liberty North Alum Ava Curry now with MIZZOU took home the national title with a 160-05, with Sydney Juszczyk (Trinity Catholic) placing third with a throw of 154-05, and Megan Fortner (Northwest-Cedar Hill) placed forth with a throw of 148-09.