Henning, McCullough earn first ever medals in World Junior hammer – Bydgoszcz, Poland – US Track & Field – NEWS

Bydgoszcz, Poland – Walter Henning extended his American Junior record to 76.92m/252-4 in the process of winning gold and leading a U.S. 1-2 finish in the hammer at the 12th IAAF World Junior Championships. Teammate Conor McCullough claimed silver with a personal best and high school record of 75.88m/248-11.

Three more gold medals were attained by Team USA with Teona Rodgers supplying one in the 100 hurdles while both 4 x 100 relays produced winning marks.

A total of five medals were added to the Americans total on Saturday, the fifth day of the World Juniors, of which four were gold.

With one day remaining in the 12th edition of these championships, the United States currently has a total of 14 medals with nine of them gold, three silver and two bronze.

Cuba, Germany and Kenya have 8 total medals apiece while Ethiopia has attained seven and Russia has six.

LSU's Henning led the competition from his first round toss of 76.14m/249-10 and ended it with a sixth round toss of 76.92m/252-4. It's the first time any Americans have medaled at the World Juniors in this event.

Through the first three rounds, with the field being trimmed from 12 to 8, the U.S. throwers led the hammer with the top two marks of the day. Following Henning's opening round effort, McCullough (Canoga Park, California) hit a personal best of 75.88m/248-11 in the third round to move from 10th to second for a position in the final three rounds.

Aleh Dubitski of Belarus challenged the two Americans with a 75.42m/247-5 that garnered bronze. Meanwhile the home crowd favorite, Poland's Pawel Fajdek was in the medal hunt with a 75.31m/247-1. The PA system belted out 'Eye of the Tiger' each time Fajdek threw in the final three rounds.

Running into a headwind of 2.4mps didn't hamper the goal Florida State's Rodgers set out for herself. With nothing less than a gold medal on her mind, she sped to a winning time of 13.40 in the 100 hurdles and finished with shouts of delight as she crossed the line ahead of the field.

Jamaica's Shermaine Williams pursued Rodgers the whole way, taking silver in 13.48 as Cuba's Belkis Milanes earned bronze with a 13.49.

In winning the World Junior title, Rodgers becomes just the third American to do so in the 100 hurdles, joining 1996 winner Joyce Bates and 2004 champion Ronnetta Alexander.

The U.S. junior team displayed its speed in the 4 x 100 relay with a pair of gold medal performances.

The women won in 43.66 seconds with the same crew they ran in the prelims – Jeneba Tarmoh (San Jose, California), Shayla Mahan (South Carolina), Gabrielle Glenn (South Carolina) and Tiffany Townsend (Baylor). It marked the third consecutive victory for the Americans and sixth overall. Other wins were attained in 1986 (43.78), 1996 (43.79), 1998 (43.52), 2004 (43.49) and 2006 (43.49).

Jamaica finished second to the United States with a time of 43.98 while Brazil placed third in 44.61 to edge out Bahamas, who posted the same time.

The American men defeated Jamaica with a time of 38.98 as it marked the fourth consecutive time the two countries finished 1-2 in these championships. Jamaica, winners in 2006 after being runner-up in 2002 and 2004, posted a time of 39.25.

South Africa turned in a solid performance of 39.70 for third place ahead of a pair of 39.89s from Japan and Great Britain.

Remaining with the same squad that ran in the prelims, the U.S. crew consisted of Dante Sales (Lakeland, Florida), Antonio Sales (South Carolina), Marquise Goodwin (Rowlett, Texas) and Terrell Wilks (Florida). In running the third-fastest winning time at this meet the 2008 relay joined five previous American champions from 1988 (39.27), 1990 (39.13), 1996 (39.36), 2002 (38.92) and 2004 (38.66).

After a lead group of five pulled away from the field in the 3,000 meters, Laurynne Chetelat (Davis, California) led the chase group and finished sixth with a time of 9:15.11. The first five finishers included a pair of Kenyans, two Ethiopians and a Russian. Mercy Cherono of Kenya won the race in 8:58.07.

In the heptathlon, Ryann Krais (Eagleville, Pennsylvania) moved from 13th to ninth with the 800 meters. Her time of 2:19.15 led to a total score of 5,457 points. Germany's Carolin Schafer won the seven-event contest with a score of 5,833. Erin Sampley of Kentucky did not contest the multi on day two.

Pole vault competition resulted in a seventh place tie for Tennessee's Joe Berry while Maston Wallace of Texas placed 10th. Berry cleared 5.10m/16-8.75 on his second attempt, but wasn't able to get over 5.20m/17-0.75. Wallace opened at 5.00m/16-4.75, passed 5.10m/16-8.75 and then went out at 5.20m/17-0.75.

Qualifying in the 110 hurdles was a mixed bag for the U.S. as Booker Nunley (Garner, North Carolina) won the third heat in 13.55 for the second fastest time of the semifinal round. But in the second heat Ronald Brookins of Sacramento State placed fourth in 13.80 and was unable to make the final as a time qualifier.

In 4 x 400 relay qualifying, the Americans raced to comfortable wins and impressive times as both took over the world junior leading marks for the 2008 season.

The women posted a leading time of 3:29.54 in the first heat. Australia ran 3:35.22 as the runner-up team in the same heat while Ukraine took heat two in 3:37.12 while Jamaica finished fifth in 3:38.00 and didn't advance.

Running on the U.S. squad were Lanie Whittaker (53.1 – Miami, Florida), Jessica Beard (51.1 – Texas A&M), Erica Alexander (52.4 – Friendswood, Texas), and Porche Byrd (53.0 – South Carolina).

In the men's 4 x 400 the Americans ran in the third heat and answered the Jamaican's 3:09.17 from heat one as well as the 3:06.85 posted by the British in heat two with a 3:05.25. Germany finished as runner-up to the U.S. with a 3:07.35.

The men's crew consisted of Marcus Boyd (46.3 – Baylor), Bryan Miller (46.7 – Texas A&M), Ryan Bailey (46.1 – Albany, Oregon) and Christian Taylor (46.2 – Atlanta, Georgia).

QUOTES

Walter Henning, Hammer, Gold Medalist

"It hasn't really hit me yet. I'm sure it will during the plane ride back to the United States. I'm really excited that Conor and I could make history like this. I'm speechless, I really don't know what to say. It's awesome.

(On first throw): "Conor and I chatted last night and we thought that 74 meters would win it. I went out there and decided I wanted to throw a big throw on my first attempt to get everybody else scared a little bit. That's what I did and it held up.

(Last attempt): "I was able to relax, since I knew I had already won, and release another big throw in the last round.

(US sweep): "That's what we're trying to do, we're trying as hard as we can to get the hammer exposed and hopefully we'll keep throwing the hammer like we are now and into the professional ranks.

"I think I was still feeling the jet lag during the qualifying round the other day. I also went into the round with a bit of a big head, thinking I would be able to throw 74 pretty easily. I didn't since the circle was a little slow and I had to get used to that. I'm happy that it all came together today when it counted.

"Ever since I went to Moracco in 2005 I put all my training towards winning this meet on this day. I am happy that my peak went well and that the rest of the US team helped out a lot with the cheering. Pretty much the entire team is out here today.

"To carry the flag during the opening ceremony is a tremendous honor. I was able to do that last year in Brazil during the Pan Am Juniors. It's phenomenal to be able to carry the flag, win a gold medal, set a PR and an American record."

Conor McCullough, Hammer, Silver Medalist

"It was all or nothing in the third round. That's when all the hundreds and hundreds of throws pay off, is in that kind of situation where you let your body do what it needs to do.

"I knew it was going to get me into the final, but I didn't realize it was going to put me into second place. That put a huge smile on my face.

"As far as I know it's the first time ever for a U.S. 1-2 in this event. It's pretty exciting to accomplish that.

"I think I was able to PR today since I had a bit more time to rest and adjust. It's the first time all year where I've had less volume and my body actually gets to rest. Then I was able to put a big mark out there.

"The atmosphere here was really awesome. I enjoyed it."

Marcus Boyd, 4 x 400 Relay – First leg

"Well, today we focused on getting the stick around in first place. I didn't want to push it too hard, my legs are still a little tired. Now we just need to get ready for the finals and drop a big time tomorrow."

Bryan Miller, 4 x 400 Relay – Second leg

"This was amazing, especially since it was the first time I've run on the track since I've been here. With the crowd and everything, it's just a great experience.

"I just ran smart and cruised. I wanted to give my team the lead so we'd have a good spot in the finals.

"It feels good to represent your country in an event like this. Now we have the target on our back. We just need to execute and do the best that we can."

Ryan Bailey, 4 x 400 Relay – Third leg

"It was amazing hearing the crowd screaming and everything. It just made want to push it that much harder. We've got to bring home the gold for USA."

Christian Taylor, 4 x 400 Relay – Fouth leg

"I'm glad that I could contribute. From the anger and disappointment I had from my two jumping events here I took it out on the track so I could help the team get into a good lane for the final."

Booker Nunley, 110 hurdles

"Sloppy. It was very, very sloppy. I got distracted and didn't focus on what I was suppose to. It kind of slowed me down.

"The last five hurdles are usually my best. It's the start that I have to work on. It's just a matter of time.

"Now I'm looking forward to the final, I want to win it."

Teona Rodgers, 100 Hurdles, Gold Medalist

"Amazing. If I need to go through all of it again, I will. Over and over. You never get tired of the feeling of crossing the line ahead of everybody else in the finals. That feeling will never get old.

"I'm proud of my time, especially since we ran into such a strong headwind. I felt decent in the race, but in the middle I got a little rocky. But I had to bring it back up since I saw them gaining on me. I told myself 'I'm going to get gold, I'm going to get gold, I'm going to get gold.' So, I got gold.

"I can see that running a college season is the same type of experience. The only difference is I can tell I'm stronger now than I was back at the ACC conference meet. During the ACC's we had to contend with Queen Harrison running 12s. Nobody was running a 12 here."

Erica Alexander, 4 x 400

"It was awesome, I never thought I'd be on a relay that hit 3:20-anything. Plus running it at a world meet like this and knowing we can go faster because we were all cruising.

Lanie Whittaker, 4 x 400

"It's a great feeling. At first I was a bit nervous since we were in the eighth lane. Jessica kept telling me to calm down, it's okay. I just got out and handled my business and handed the stick off to her. I heard everybody cheering for me. That was a great feeling, plus I liked the time we ran.

"It was a beautiful scene. Everybody made their passes clean and everybody did their jobs.

"I'm proud of myself and of my season. I was the youngest competitor in the 400 final and I'm glad that I came to the World Junior Championship as part of the U.S. team."

Jessica Beard, 4 x 400

"We were just trying to get out there and run a good time for the finals. When we saw what we ran today and knowing we all didn't run as fast as we are capable, now we're going for the junior record. That's our goal and we're planning on getting the record and the gold medal.

"Even though I had a fast split, I felt I could have run faster. Tomorrow I'm going to give it everything I have and let it all out on the track.

"It means a lot to be part of the U.S. relay team. I'm the oldest know, and the others are newcomers. It's a good feeling knowing I can depend on them like they depend on me. We're going to have each others back, regardless."

Tiffany Townsend, 4 x 100 anchor

"This is great, because yesterday I didn't have a good race in the 200 final. This is just awesome.

"At the exchange I knew somebody was with me, but I just knew I had to run. If I did what I needed to, then I knew we would win."

Terrell Wilks, 4 x 100 anchor

"They ran three strong legs and I knew I just had to do my job. It's great to do that for them.

"I watch the whole race until the third leg hits his mark. It gives me an idea of what I'm going to need to do and how hard I need to press. When they brought it around to me, there wasn't too much more that I needed to do. I just had to run my leg.

"There was nobody around us when we made the exchange. It feels good to take one from the Jamaicans, because they took the 100 from us. We knew we had to come back and show them who the dominate country was and we did that."

Shawn Price
Special to USATF
communications@usatf.org