Check out Dan Tyree's interview with Kyra Pretre
On the final day of the week-long USATF National Junior Olympic Track & Field Championships, California high school-age athletes excelled unlike any other day of the event, claiming five titles in the 15-16 and 17-18 age divisions.
In competition that concluded Sunday at Sacramento State University's Hornet Stadium, Harper McClain added a second distance title, Kyre Pretre outlasted a teammate, the Marshall brothers swept the 110-meter hurdles and a rising quarter-mile star from San Jose peaked perfectly.
McClain, a rising junior at St. Helena (NC) competing unattached who is relatively new to track, ran a 70.1 last lap to add a 1500-meter title in the 15-16 age group to the 3000-meter title she won Saturday night. McClain's winning time of 4:36.38 was enough to hold off Berlyn Schutz of Lincoln Community Track Club, who crossed second in 4:37.04.
Not long after McClain's title, Woodside Menlo (CC) rising senior Kyra Pretre cranked up a 71.6 final lap to hold off Menlo i Greyhounds club teammate Emma Madgic to win the Girls 17-18 title for 1500 meters. Pretre crossed in 4:46.14 with Madgic, a 2019 graduate of San Mateo Aragon (CC), second in 4:47.05.
Check out Dan Tyree's interview with Jamar Marshall
Jamar Marshall, a rising senior at Stockton St. Mary's (SJ), won the CIF-State Championship in the 110 hurdles in May running a windy yet stunning 13.31. Last month, Marshall did himself one better, running a CA state record time of 13.22 while chasing a pair of college runners at the U20 championships in Florida.
On Sunday, competing for God Speed Track Club, with a long summer almost behind him and no one in the field to really challenge him, he cruised to another 110 hurdles title, this time in 13.57 seconds with a 0.8 meters-per-second legal wind. Terry Smith Jr., a 2019 Graduate of Frisco (TX) Independence headed to Mississippi State who was competing unattached, was second in 13.80.
Jamar wasn't the only Marshall walking away with a National JO title on Sunday. His younger brother, Jadyn, a rising sophomore, cruised to victory in the 15-16 division 110 hurdles, running 14.17 (1.2). Zavion Harper, also competing for God Speed TC, was second in 14.65.